Presenter: Greg Page from Merrimack Analysis Group

Over the past 15 years, our lives have migrated into the online realm at a breakneck pace; oftentimes, the pace of this change has exceeded our ability to grasp its meaning. Today, most hiring managers and even college admissions officers use Google and Facebook to research applicants — sometimes with results that spoil otherwise-solid applicants’ chances.  Did you know that with over 900 million unique users, Facebook’s population has grown larger than that of all but two countries in the world?  Or that one in five new marriages in the United States springs from a relationship that began through social media?  During this presentation, we will discuss several key issues related to online identity, with particular emphasis on its impacts for consumers, job seekers, teenagers, and families.  We will conclude by suggesting strategies for individuals looking to embrace available social media tools in order to optimize search results, gain greater understanding of privacy settings, and empower themselves to control their online identities.