Indianapolis—
Need a quick fix to "fix" your online reputation? First, delete unwanted pictures and content. Next, become the master of reverse search engine optimization.According to Erik Deckers, Vice President of Professional Blog Service, "Reverse search engine optimization is when I try to move something from the top of Google's search results and push it down off the front page."
Deckers said the more positive images and content you post about yourself, the better your online reputation gets, because the new information causes the older information to become "deeper in search engine results."
A new study, "Reputation Management and Social Media" released by The Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project's "Reputation Management and Social Media indicates teens and young adults care more about the 'online reputation' and privacy setting than adults ages 50 to 64 years old.
"I think they're starting to realize that, 'Hey, the internet is forever and the things I put on here will be there in 10 years," said Deckers.
"To make sure that my reputation stays even more private, I just keep my first name and my middle name as my status, so that if anyone tries to search me, they have to search me by my first name and middle name," said 18 year-old Jessica Postlewaite.
Deckers' best advice: "If you don't want skeletons to be found in the closet, don't place bodies there."
