Lapbandtalk Google Search Activity History

[feelinggood 152]

Fellow lapbanders I discovered a problem I want to share with you. I did a google search on my former username and was shocked that google returned my entire history of activity on this site, including my profile and picture, every post I have ever viewed or commented on! I have since changed my username and deleted my picture because I commonly use my old username for a lot of other things and people know me by it. I was under the impression this was a private site! I have contact lapbandtalk about this issue but wanted others to be aware and also ask th at you join me to notify the site owners of this privacy issue

[2muchfun 8,927]

As long as there's no information regarding personal names, addresses and/or email addresses? What's the worry?

[SueBee01 630]

I agree with you. This is a problem! All of your friends are listed too.

[CHEZNOEL 4,061]

The guidelines for this forum clearly state that than anything you post on this forum will be visible to anyone with an internet connection. If someone wants to find me by scrolling through 7 pages of Google results... God Bless them!

[hely88 883]

interesting

[feelinggood 152]

I realize posts become public to those that are intentionally on this site, however, I do not expect all my activity history to be searchable via an internet search engine. This is something that can and should be prevented. I think this goes beyond the privacy terms as there is no mention of capturing members' activity that has nothing to do with posting and making it public. Privacy terms: your postings on this public forum will become public. Your text will be available to anyone with an internet connection.

[SassyJones 17]

Well, this sucks. Thanks so much for the update.

[Alex Brecher 10,496]

I believe we're pretty clear about this topic in our terms or service. We're similar to 99% of web sites online and allow Google to spider or index our community. Most of our members used Google to find us when they first started their WLS journey. It would be counter intuitive to disallow Google from indexing our community as they are the largest driver of traffic. Basically without Google, we'd be 5-10% of what we are today.

I suggest you use some common sense if you're trying to hide your identity online, on any website:

• Use a username that others aren't familiar with
  
• Don't post identifiable photos of yourself
  
• Don't post personal or contact info
  

If you have privacy concerns, we provide our members with the ability to change or update their display names. Members also have the ability to update or modify any information made available in their public profile.

We plan on offering our members an option in the near future to hide their profile from Google. This would only apply to your profile, nothing else.

Slightly off topic....

I find it a true shame that most people are embarrassed about having undergone weight loss surgery. It took me a few years to come out of the "WLS closet" myself. I can definitely relate! My goal over the next few years is to help people shake this stigma. I say be proud that you're taking charge of your health and lifestyle!

[feelinggood 152]

Alex, Thank you for your response. I think the greatest concern that I have with what is searchable through google is my activity history. For example, every topic I have ever viewed under my username is returned in Google search results even though I have not made any comments on the topic. I am in no way embarrassed or ashamed of having WLS, quite the contrary. I just don't like the fact that activity history is even captured. There is another weight management site that does the same thing per my recent google search. Funny that I am a member of well into 100's of sites and the only ones that are capturing the activity history and extended to search engines are these 2. I just find that bothersome. It is no one's business what topics I view. Now if I were to make a comment, that is very different because the terms are clear about that.

Having said that, I enjoy the site so no plans to leave it. Just will be more cautious.

[Alex Brecher 10,496]

After further research we've found that Google never cached any pages you viewed or visited on our site.

It looks like your username was within the sidebar content on some pages (Recent Topics, Recent status updates, Topics with No Replies or Recent Blog Entries). This is what you're seeing in your Google results.

[feelinggood 152]

Interesting. Thanks for doing the research. I really appreciate it!

[elcee 3,340]

People should be aware that when using the internet things they post are there forever. We get told this all the time. It's why you should be careful what you post on social media sites such as Facebook as it can turn around and bite you in the future.