Search Engine Optimisation Web Log (BLOG)
Editor: Matt Paines

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Social media warning from search engine boss

Eric Schmidt of search engine Google has warned young people that they may one day have to change their names to escape previous online activity.

He is reported as saying that he feared they did not understand the consequences of having so much personal information about them online.

Schmidt made the remarks as the search engine attempts to bolster its social networking presence. Recently it acquired Slide and Jambool, two firms specialising in providing services for social networks and it is reportedly investing in another social network gaming firm called Zynga.

Some industry experts believe the acquisitions are a sign that the search giant is about to launch another social network - rumoured to be called Google.me - to go with its existing networks Google Buzz Orkut.

Buzz proved controversial when it linked up with people's Gmail accounts without asking their consent, meaning that their contacts were publicly visible.

Despite Schmidt's remarks in the Wall Street journal many other industry experts believe his fears are overstated.

Social media consultant Suw Charman-Anderson told the BBC that the idea that everything is stored online is untrue.

She explained that it will be quite some time before that can become true because of the enormity of the internet and archives such as Google Cache, which store older versions of websites, are selective.

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