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Warning: The Internet never forgets

Who hasn’t left a funny prank comment on a friend’s Facebook wall, or had a friend upload a goofy photo of you at a less than flattering moment? It’s all in good fun, right? Maybe not.

LOL! Wait, that’s not funny.

Who hasn’t left a funny prank comment on a friend’s Facebook wall, or had a friend upload a goofy photo of you at a less than flattering moment? It’s all in good fun, right? Maybe not.

What is posted online in jest could end up costing someone their next apartment, or even their job.

Today’s Internet user is a global publisher, spreading the latest gossip about their friends, relatives, and even customers, to unexpected audiences eager to learn more.

Most social media users have no appreciation of the legal rights of other online users. And if you post something damaging about someone else, or if it happens to you, it may be impossible to redeem your online reputation.

Yes, there is a growing industry of businesses who claim to be able to fix your online reputation, but our research has found that these services may be prohibitively expensive for many or ineffective, so great care must be taken in choosing one. See our report at http://www.consumerscouncil.com/ormreport.

We should all be much more careful about what we share about others online, and be aware of what others are posting about us. The Internet never really forgets.

Don Mercer

President,

Consumers Council of Canada