Social Networks Will Come and Go But Your Profile Data Will Live On

It is clear that most of the social media action will belong to Facebook and Google+ for at least the next several years. But while attention is focused on these two industry giants, have you ever considered that last generation’s social networks can continue to shape the landscape now and for quite some time onwards. And it’s all because of you.

Friendster is not too far in the past to forget. After its time, many have deleted their accounts in favor or MySpace. Still, many simply abandoned theirs. Since there is plenty of evidence that deleting anything on the Net does not really delete them but are simply hidden from your view, what else can you expect from abandoned data?

Nowhere

So where do our data go? I wish I could say nowhere. But then again, I’d take that back as a wish. If it goes nowhere then it stays where it is. Truth is, it goes where the company takes, or sells, it to. It’s all about the targeted ads and profiles are a goldmine of people’s preferences.

So don’t be surprised when you keep seeing ads of cigarettes or liquor long after you quit. It just might be that you often used to post about your drunken night outs.