Egosurfing
Encyclopedia
Egosurfing is the practice of searching for one's own given name
, surname
, full name, pseudonym, or screen name
on a popular search engine
, to see what results appear. It has become increasingly popular with the rise of popular search engines, as well as free blog
ging and web-hosting services. It is sometimes combined with third-party tools when several people egosurf together, or with Pimp My Search
when people create their own search engine, or accessed by SMS through services which people SMS their name to a number and an "egosearch" is performed on that name and returned (egotexting).
Similarly, an egosurfer is one who surfs the Internet
for his or her own name, to see what, if any, articles appear about himself or herself. It may also be used by professionals to reassure themselves no embarrassing information is readily available about themselves that could jeopardize a reputation.
The term was coined by Sean Carton
in 1995 and first appeared in print as an entry in Gareth Branwyn
's March 1995 Jagon Watch column in Wired
.
Egosurfing can be used to find data spill
s, released information that is undesirable to have in the public eye.
According to a study by the Pew Internet & American life project, 47% of American adult internet users have undertaken a vanity search in Google or another search engine.
Vanity search can also be performed as online reputation management
self-monitoring tool.
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
, surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
, full name, pseudonym, or screen name
User (computing)
A user is an agent, either a human agent or software agent, who uses a computer or network service. A user often has a user account and is identified by a username , screen name , nickname , or handle, which is derived from the identical Citizen's Band radio term.Users are...
on a popular search engine
Search engine
A search engine is an information retrieval system designed to help find information stored on a computer system. The search results are usually presented in a list and are commonly called hits. Search engines help to minimize the time required to find information and the amount of information...
, to see what results appear. It has become increasingly popular with the rise of popular search engines, as well as free blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
ging and web-hosting services. It is sometimes combined with third-party tools when several people egosurf together, or with Pimp My Search
Pimp my search
Pimp My Search was a novelty website to create a Google lookalike webpage, replacing the word "Google" with a word or phrase of the user's choice. It is a non-commercial website and is not connected to Google, Inc. Pimp My Search was started in 2006, but became popular only in 2008 after featured...
when people create their own search engine, or accessed by SMS through services which people SMS their name to a number and an "egosearch" is performed on that name and returned (egotexting).
Similarly, an egosurfer is one who surfs the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
for his or her own name, to see what, if any, articles appear about himself or herself. It may also be used by professionals to reassure themselves no embarrassing information is readily available about themselves that could jeopardize a reputation.
The term was coined by Sean Carton
Sean Carton
Sean Carton was the founder of web development company Carton Donofrio Interactive, the former Dean of the School of Design and Media at Philadelphia University, and is the author of numerous books about the Internet and video games. Dr. Carton has since left the university and is now Chief...
in 1995 and first appeared in print as an entry in Gareth Branwyn
Gareth Branwyn
Gareth Branwyn is a writer, editor, and media critic.He has covered technology, DIY media, and cyberculture for Wired, Esquire, the Baltimore Sun and other publications. He has also been an editor at Mondo 2000, and at Boing Boing when it was a print zine...
's March 1995 Jagon Watch column in Wired
Wired (magazine)
Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since January 1993, that reports on how new and developing technology affects culture, the economy, and politics...
.
Egosurfing can be used to find data spill
Data spill
A data breach is the intentional or unintentional release of secure information to an untrusted environment. Other terms for this phenomenon include unintentional information disclosure, data leak and also data spill...
s, released information that is undesirable to have in the public eye.
According to a study by the Pew Internet & American life project, 47% of American adult internet users have undertaken a vanity search in Google or another search engine.
Vanity search can also be performed as online reputation management
Online reputation management
Online reputation management is the practice of monitoring the Internet reputation of a person, brand or business, with the goal of suppressing negative mentions entirely, or pushing them lower on search engine results pages to decrease their visibility...
self-monitoring tool.
See also
- Kibozing - prior to the existence of search engines, a similar practice existed on UsenetUsenetUsenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system. It developed from the general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name.Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979 and it was established in 1980...
, known as kibozing after James "Kibo" Parry, who was well known for replying in a surreal fashion to anyone who mentioned his/her name, on any newsgroup.