Online Profile

I can't imagine; a world without the Internet!

I'm sure our grandparents survived without the World Wide Web, but, I can't visualize it ever going away! Now that it exists; even if radical changes are made to the structure and delivery of technology, the Internet, is here to stay.

Everyone, uses the ‘net to some extent. From banking, to email; the Internet, is a powerful tool and source of entertainment! World leaders are struggling, to keep up to the rapid changes in technologies, and enact legislation to both; protect its citizens, and the industry.

Like it or not; everyone has an online profile. Some more than others, due to the usage of social networks, online shopping, youtube accounts, and more "online opportunities", than this author would care to pen.

Game and software developers, realized early on, how powerful a tool, promoting people's online profile, really is. With the beginnings of MSN, and the choice to optimize your profile, including pictures, and "smileys"; other types of online social networks have emerged. There are a plethora of places to go online today, such as MySpace, Facebook, Flickster, Twitter, Friendster, Bibo, and many more! Social networks also include a variety of dating, and gaming sites. Many of these social networks require extensive development of an online profile. In the case of dating sites, the importance of being honest, as to your personality is critical! Other sites, like Facebook, allow the user to provide as much, or as little, detailed information about a person's life.

Many people, all over the planet, are preoccupied with their online profile. There is a sense of pride, for those, who meticulously sculpt their online personification! Through pictures, clever compositions, personal videos, websites, and a plethora of various externalization; the characterization of an individual, is defined.

Each type of profile is tailored to suit the needs of the individual.

Gamers create a different type of online profile, than a Facebook user, for example. Bloggers, spend great amounts of time, creating their online personality. Online dating sites, require taglines, and a host of private information; just to function, as the accurate match-making process works its "magic".

There are websites, dedicated to helping people create better online profiles! From dating to debating, a quick search on the Internet, can locate thousands of sites, with advice about developing your online profile!

With all this attention to personify a person's profile, there must be an end result. What purpose does spending time, to intricately embellish someone's individuality?

There is a fair amount of subconscious, ego-stroking, by those that partake in profile personalization. With the development, of an online presence; comes a sense of community. This is the fundamental reason why, online social networks are so successful! The sense of belonging to a particular group, establishes a precedent, for others to use, when relating to the material provided by the profile.

Sometimes, people use fake profiles.

There are many reasons why, someone would take the time to create a misleading online profile. Safety, is one such reason, why people provide misleading information on the Internet. There is a host of dangers, that accompany being active online; some being harassment, cyber-stalking, and even intrusions into other aspect of people's lives! There are groups of people, who advise against posting real-life information on social network sites, due to the many risks involved!

Another main reason that people create fake accounts, is to cause discord on online chat rooms, and discussion boards. The terms, "trolling for responses", "online fishing", or "troll", are derived, from the aspect of such actions. The imposing poster, will use a fake account to aggravate others, without fear of retaliation, and provides the individual with a sense of security to continue the destructive game, of cyber-bullying. There is a significant amount of money and effort by world governments to prevent cyber-bullying and harassment! The damaging effect by online trolling, and bullying; have caused financial pain, mental anguish, family problems, and even some to commit suicide!

Today's youth are extremely susceptible to such online calamities! With the advance of smaller "smartphones", and computers; our youth are inundated with the means to surf the net, send pictures and videos, or instantly message each other. Government officials agonize over, protecting our youth from predators, and other online dangers! New laws are created every year, to cope with the rapidly changing threats from online predators! Task units are in operation, all over North America, to combat such online threats. There are many people, that believe; social networks have had a negative impact on the lives of our children!

The dangers of creating an online profile are numerous; however, when used with care, can be a powerful tool.!

User discretion, is indeed; required.