For my technology course, at National Louis University, my instructor had us go digital mining for information on a perfect stranger. A fellow student and myself were assigned the name of a stranger and requested to investigate them on the internet. Just by Googling their name we were able to dig up all sorts of personal information on that person. With just a few more clicks on the keyboard, we obtained their age, birthdates, occupation, salary, residence, relatives and many more priceless personal nuggets.
Digital Excavation
As with any excavation, tools are required. Our digital mining tools of choice consisted of various search websites. As I previously stated, our search began with Google which provided a list of other sites that led to more in-depth information on our female target of interest. With each site searched we were able to auger our way through her life. Pinterest.com gave us a picture of our subject and on twitter we obtained her occupation and examples of her professional experiences and interest. On Illinois-teachers.findthedata.com, we retrieved her place of employment, years of service, salary and educational history. Instantcheckmate.com gave us her birthdate, age, current residence (also her previous residences) and close relatives, which allowed us to obtain the same information on each of them. If we chose to pay a fee, we would have been able to obtain all of the personal information listed below:
Civil Judgments Old Phone Numbers Foreclosures
With Chicago.blockstopper.com we were able to obtain a picture of her residence, the taxes, square footage of the home and lot along with it's parcel number. Every search site divulged more and more personal gems about a person we've never seen, met or talk to. It allowed us to tunnel our way through her life, making it an open book. No longer a Stranger
This investigative experience left me feeling that my assigned subject was no longer a stranger. Her life unfolded with every search site we examined. This caused me to reflect on all the information that computers and the internet have made available to anyone willing to dig. Each time you make a purchase, apply for a job, and sign into a new website, you leave information about yourself. Every bit of personal information you submit, leaves a permanent impression (digital footprint/tattoo) on this global social media environment. Thought and care must be taken with every transaction, and each time you log in and are required to divulge your personal information. I found this assignment to be very enlightening, valuable and yet disturbing. I believe that it definitely would be a good topic to discuss with students, making them aware of the significance their digital tattoo can have on their life.
I think your description of the assignment (enlightening, valuable, yet disturbing) is spot on. It is something we all need to be more aware of since the digital world is becoming even more prominent in our day-to-day lives. Great post.
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