The Google effect

by: Edward Brown

Ever since Google became the Internet’s most popular search engine a few years ago, there has been a striking emergence of Google-fueled controversies in the news media. Whether it was an employee losing a job because of what they wrote on their blogs, or a young relationship going to shambles after a little too much information was discovered via Google-search – some people’s online reputations have landed themselves in trouble.

For Boston young people, and indeed most with computer access around the country, Google has become the first stop for any information search, whether it is for people, services, products, destinations, news, entertainment or, say, a date’s social history. Companies pay top dollar to boost their Google-ability, while schools and employers have taken to using Google as a screening tool.

This multimedia story provides a sampling of the flavors of Google, helpful and damaging. Be sure to check out “Google Gaffes,” where young Bostonians tell us about their own Google catastrophies – and enjoy our Flash movie: “Googling Kolodzy,” where we put our very own professor, Janet Kolodzy, to the Google-test.