GeekChic: 04 December 2011

Here is a public service announcement ahead of the silly season with its office parties and general festive mayhem: there is always a person with a fancy phone or little digital camera. Stay away from him or her.

Everyone knows these people, the seemingly harmless ones documenting "fun times" and using the mobile upload function to update Facebook. Some send moment-by-moment pictures to their Twitter or Google Circles profiles.

As guaranteed as a hangover from caramel vodka shots, if you are on a social network, after a weekend of debauchery there will be photographs of you online. Ditto family braais and year-end parties.

Do a quick search of your name in Google Images if you think it has never happened.

I used to be that happy snapper and would upload new pictures on many Mondays. Mostly because I like taking pictures, and as a reminder of the fun, laughter and memories.

Until I did the images search on myself.

Along with unflattering pictures on blogs and old byline pictures, there were my holiday snaps, work events and reminders of partying in 2002. Of course I updated my privacy settings immediately.

For future reference, Facebook can ask for a confirmation if someone wants to tag you in a picture or at an event. But that picture someone snapped at a book launch from 2005 remains, bad hair day included. It is even at the top of the images search of my name, because people have viewed it most often, probably in shock.

Thanks to my own regret at allowing the photographer to take the picture, it has made me think twice about posting pictures of other people. Truth is, if I can do an image search on myself, unfriended-friends-turned-stalkers, a future employer and perhaps the government can too.

Not that a person should be prejudiced because of happy snaps, and nobody should be ashamed of what they do in their private time (unless it is illegal). Sure, table dancing in a pink wig is not who you really are. But impressions do last. Particularly if you were thinking of applying for that diplomatic post in 2012.

ON THAT NOTE

Ever notice how things on your mind pop up in Facebook adverts? It isn't telepathy, but clever tracking of what you put online. The European Commission plans to stop Facebook from selling user information which allows advertisers to target our specific interests.

At home though, expect more ads based on your likes and dislikes, random things you mention in statuses and what you write on friends walls, even if your privacy settings are watertight.

COOL TO HAVE:

Anything that doesn't need the electricity grid is a great idea. Riso Africa's Risola mass duplicating print machine, which runs off a 12-volt battery and solar panel, got rave reviews at the COP17 conference in Durban this week. While it is not a home-based system yet, this lean, green machine is punted for schools, especially those that are not electrified. It uses eco-friendly soya-based ink as opposed to regular toner. The system sells for R26000 excluding VAT.

LAST BYTE:

Ahead of your festive travels, follow @TheGautrain, @ER24EMS and @TrafficSA for updates from the roads.

• Shanthini is @ShantzN on Twitter.