You know who never forgets?

The internet never forgets and this is undoubtedly a cause for concern. Everything that we put online and everything that others put on the internet about us is there forever-- some of which could be embarrassing and harmful towards our online and offline identities in the future, long after the event or context has been forgotten, and of course in the present. We've all heard stories of people getting fired for stupid comments made on facebook, and no body is safe (or exempt from stupidity, it seems).

However, although the internet can so easily turn against us, we mustn't forget the internet's power to aid us. In the dinosaur comic above, T-Rex makes an interesting point.

Imagine the police being a prospective employer who looks you up online. Instead of finding photos of you being drunk and doing stupid things, an employer could come across a photo of you with your grandma, and a puppy, or something similarly as pleasant. You just have to be smart about what you put online, and you'll be fine.

You could even use 'old' social networking sites to manipulate the image of what you used to be like (if you remember your passwords). Your bebo page for example, could be changed around to what you think is 'cool' now, but still might be considered by peers as a representation of your past.

Of course, there are things that other people post, but there are ways around this too. As for photos, status updates or anything else you're tagged in-- just untag yourself, Facebook will even ensure that nobody ever tags you again in a photo you've untagged yourself from. Also, don't be like this man and give other people a ridiculous video of yourself.

It might not get rid of your internet footprint, but it'll help lesson the chance of leaving negative things behind by simply thinking before posting. As for those sites that you don't want other people knowing you visit, Incognito?