Lab Activity One (EgoSurfing)
First, read an article about the practice of "Ego Surfing": http://www.buffalo.edu/news/fast-execute.cgi/article-page.html?article=66380009
Second, go to Google and enter search terms to bring back results about you. You may need multiple parts to the search. For example, to get results about me, I might use:
"nicole melander" oracle OR microsoft OR "american university"
If you need help with syntax, use Google's Advanced Search: http://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en
Third, go to Google Alerts and enter these search terms so you'll be notified of new search results: http://www.google.com/alerts
Done? Now have a little fun: start a "googlefight" with another student in the class: http://www.googlefight.com/ and check out the more formal "Google Trends" at: http://www.google.com/trends
Lab Activity Two (No More Privacy?)
Search yourself or your friends on "People Search" sites:
Spock: http://www.spock.com
Wink: http://www.wink.com/
Peek You: http://www.peekyou.com/
See what information can be found about you (pulled from various online sites) using Rapleaf
http://www.rapleaf.com
Lab Activity Three (Control Your Brand)
Join FriendFeed http://www.friendfeed.com
Feel free to create a new email address for this activity
Choose several people to follow.
See what you can see about the people you follow.
Explore your profile options. If you want, add some of your accounts so your "feed" includes Facebook, etc.
(Note: You can remove these accounts later so your feed is empty.)
Lab Activity Four (The Privacy Policy)
Every website must post their privacy policy. It's the law. Explore your rights online by reviewing some privacy policies.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/policy.php
Google: http://www.google.com/privacy.html
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=468496
