The Online Reality of a Really Long Memory

In today’s world of hyper information overload it’s just as easy to forget more than you take in. We take in data at such a rapid clip that it is humanly impossible to retain it all. What is doesn’t mean, however, is that our memories are shortened. Sure that sounds like a paradox of sorts but it’s the plain truth that while there is no way to keep track of everything we take in, we don’t have to because everything is part of the modern day digital record.

The result? A lot of things that would have been forgiven and forgotten with time in the past are now recorded for anyone to dredge up at any time and for whatever reason they need.

This should create significant caution on the part of anyone because the things that used to fade from memory and had little impact going into the future are now as fresh as the day they are brought back to life in a search query.

The New York Times recently did an article in this modern day phenomenon that I will be referencing over the next few posts here at the Trackur blog. Today will be used to “set the stage” by just triggering some thinking about our increased ability to ‘remember’ everything and what the implications could be.

Just think of a few things about yourself that you believe have become just dim memories to you and a select few. Maybe, it’s the drunken escapades of college. It could be that controversial stance you took on an issue that created a rift with your friends and family. Maybe it was the association with someone that turned out to be less than ‘up-standing’ or that boyfriend / girlfriend that was actually, well, crazy.

These situations are endless and we all have them. What is happening now though is that we are sharing them in real time in a digital forum that never forgets. As a result, it is even harder for other people to forget and, maybe more importantly, forgive.

So for today, think about where you have done something that you wish could fade into the distant past with fuzzy memories at best. Now, imagine that those things may be online somewhere and are not fuzzy but are, in fact, as clear as the day they happened.

Are you watching what you are putting online and, more importantly, are you tracking what is being said about you and your business online? People don’t forget like they used to because they don’t have to. Less forgetting means less forgiving which could mean more trouble.

If you would like to learn more about how Trackur helps individuals and businesses keep track of these potential online pitfalls, contact us for more information.

Don’t forget because everyone else won’t either.