profile info in google searches

    • Gold Top Dog

    profile info in google searches

    I was doing a dog related google search and not surprisingly some links to this forum popped up.  I was surprised though to see a couple of members full name (first and last) appear next to their user name on the google page.  These were links to the members' profiles.  I did some random google searching and came to the conclusion that the names are whatever the member intentionally entered into their profile. 
     
    But the only place that I can see where these names appear on the members' profiles is in the "friends" area.  If one doesn't have any friends listed, I cannot see any other place in their profile where their full name (or whatever they entered) is displayed, yet they still show up on a google search.
     
    I guess my point is that it's possible some members may think some information (such as a last name) isn't public because it's not showing up on their profiles, when in fact it is being displayed on google.  I hope I'm not just being dumb and missing something obvious, but feel free to let me know if I am.
    • Gold Top Dog

    I'm glad you brought this up. I see it, too. I haven't been able to see my name, but I see some others.

    Not good...
     

    • Gold Top Dog

    Disturbing.  Has anyone Higher Up seen this? 

    • Gold Top Dog

    I have, now.  Thanks for bringing this to my attention, I'll raise it with the other admins tomorrow.   

    • Gold Top Dog

    I saved a couple of the google shortcuts in case admin wants to see an example of what I'm talking about.  Let me know if you want to see them and who to send them to. 

    • Gold Top Dog

    I think I have got to the bottom of why this is happening.  Profile info here is indexed by google, whereas on the old forum it wasn't.  Some people on the old forum had their surnames in their profiles, and that information got brought over here in the software change.   

    ETA:  On the old forum, you had to be a member to view a profile.  Here, as I have just learned, you don't.  I have just sent an email regarding this issue to the other admins.