Old Mullets And Tutus Evoke Digital Nightmares
As the social networking demographic, um, matures, increasing numbers of newly savvy users are posting photos that some, at least, would prefer to keep buried in the basement. People often scan potentially embarrassing old photos, post them, tag re-connected friends, and share a jolly good virtual laugh around a running commentary of self-mockery. Not everyone, though, always laughs.
Because some may post old photos without any input or approval from (former?) friends, people have very little control over what images of themselves resurface. So, the onetime college student with the mullet and Def Leppard t-shirt who is now a respected real estate lawyer has little control over what regrettable fossils of his past leak out onto the Web. Those fossils could, it seems, threaten his reputation.
If you're really worried, Facebook spokeswoman Malorie Lucich recommends maintaining "an open dialogue" with friends to make sure you approve what's posted. Alternatively, you could simply un-tag those especially cringe-inducing photos, but there's still no telling what other site might scoop them up for the world's entertainment. With the boom of popular sites devoted to surreal family photos and early '90s Picture Day mishaps, there seems to be a current comedic fixation on the kitschy styles of yesteryear. Apparently, bona fide family feuds have erupted over one rogue member raiding the photo album and sending the most ludicrous specimens to some kitsch-niche Web site.
As much pleasure as we derive from browsing through photos of times and trends (mercifully) passed, we know that in 30 years we'll probably be on the Internet and stumble across some relic of our former selves, with some snarky caption, written by a 20-something smart aleck, scoffing at our skinny jeans, flannel, and bed head. Oh, our day of reckoning is coming. Let's just hope we'll be able to laugh it off when it gets here. [From: AP]
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