In this day and age, is there any point in pretending we can quit Facebook or Google?

For the 99.998% of the population that didn’t notice, Facebook quietly launched their latest application, Brave New World “Find Friends Nearby”. Basically, when you’re at your next party, you can jump on your Android phone and log into a Facebook site that automatically connects you with others in your geographic vicinity. How does it do this? It tracks you, and then remarkets that information back to you in the guise of being social; with your permission, of course. Although it does sound tempting to some, perhaps we’re getting a little too comfortable with just how much of our info is out there.

But some people are fighting back, if you could call it that. IT WORLD’s Tom Henderson . A also explored the concept, noting that the EU has been critical of Google’s privacy policy, calling it ‘invasive’. Considering Europe’s position on cookies, this isn’t a surprise; but can you actually function as a technologist or a geek in this day and age and actually avoid Google-assisted and/or owned technologies?

Leaving isn’t the answer. It is hardly realistic. I’m all about privacy, but I’m also a realist. Caching personalized information does improve individual results, making the Internet the virtual playground we all know and love. But, more importantly, my job and the success of our clients revolve around this data. For any SEO to ‘quit’ Google is professional suicide: refusing to work with anything that Google has touched is pretty unrealistic, if not outright stupid. No Google Maps? Perhaps possible, there’s always Bing. No YouTube? Boring; but possible. No Analytics? No chance. We’re having a difficult enough time coping with non-referral data but a total lack of data, not a chance.

Am I 100% onboard with the idea that everything I do is tracked? No, but more on that another time. I am, however, onboard with the reality of the situation. At this stage of the Internet’s evolution, trying to eliminate all data mining would not only be futile, it would limit the effectiveness of search and social media applications. Furthermore, you should get used to the idea that everything you do online is recorded; somewhere in the world is a constantly growing cache of information with your name on it. Google, Facebook, Twitter, your ISP; everyone is tracking everything.

People can accept CCTV cameras in the streets, but can’t accept the idea that a multitude of organizations are tracking their online habits? Quit picking and choosing your arguments, and go down to the shops to get that Galaxy Bar. Facebook already knows you want it, anyway.

Jim Hedger

Jim Hedger is an organic SEO and digital marketing specialist. Jim has been involved in the online marketing industry since 1998 and a SEO since 1999. Best known as a broadcaster, interviewer, content writer and search industry commentator, Jim is a frequent conference speaker and organizer. He hosts the search focused radio show Webcology on WebmasterRadio.FM and is a WebmasterRadio.FM conference interviewer. Jim brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, passion and creative thinking to each project. Preferring a teamwork approach, Jim strives to inform and train his clients and their staff to run and maintain their own search and social media efforts.

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