Reputation Defender, a response to Social Networking Sites

Source: Cyberlaw Stanford.edu

By: Stuart Soffer

This morning I passed the offices of Reputation Defender in Menlo Park. Intrigued by the name, I checked out their site. Their business scours the web -- social network sites in particular -- for potentially adverse commentary. An additional service works to eradicate offsensive content.
http://www.reputationdefender.com

(Sue Scheff): Reputation Defender Founder, Michael Fertik on The Cyber Savvy Show with Erika-Marie Geiss

Michael Fertik, founder of ReputationDefender was on The Cyber Savvy Show with Erika-Marie Geiss last evening. Listen here: You will learn more about protecting yourself and your kids online.

As a client of ReputationDefender, I am extremely pleased with their services and their expanding realm of services such as MyChild, MyPrivacy, MyEdge and more. In today's ever expanding Cyberworld - a few keystrokes can literally destroy a reputation, a college application or even a getting a potential job.

Since I was nearly destroyed on the Internet - and even with an $11.3M jury verdict for damages that was done to me online, I know the value of a service such as ReputationDefender.

Sue Scheff: ReputationDefender Launches Another Priceless Service

Since signing up with ReputationDefender after winning my $11.3M jury verdict for damages done to me on the Internet, I have proudly spoken out about this priceless service. Even winning my unprecedented case, it didn't eliminate the horrific, malicious defamatory statements online about me.

I retained ReputationDefender and was amazed at how they were able to have my Online image match up with my in person reputation. In a matter of months, my Online Profile was back to normal and I felt like a new person.

Now they have launched their latest service ReputationDefender MyEdge which is a personal PR for the web for you! Now everyone is able to maintain their reputations and most importantly promote themselves and regain their reputation online.

Lastly, I continue to encourage parents to review/sign up for ReputationDefender/MyChild to help maintain their child's privacy online especially in the growing social networks.

I am not a spokesperson for ReputationDefender and I am not in anyway reciprocated for my endorsement of them - I am simply a person that has used this service and believe they are priceless and truly believe everyone needs to protect themselves online today.

Sue Scheff: Net Users Wake Up To Price of Indiscretion

New Zealanders are employing "reputation protection" companies to eliminate inappropriate content about them on internet sites such as Facebook, fearing it could damage their employment or dating prospects.


Dubbed "digital housekeeping", the online clean-up is one of the issues trend-spotters say will emerge in 2008 as the public wakes up to the potential dangers of social sites, blogs and online reviews.

American company Reputation Defender is spearheading the trend and has five Kiwi customers on its books. Director Michael Fertik says four of them are paying the company US$9.95 a month to undertake detailed internet searches hunting for inappropriate, hurtful or inaccurate information and negotiating its removal if required.

Fertik says customers mainly use the service to ensure they impress employers who routinely check social networking sites such as Facebook, Bebo and MySpace before going ahead with job interviews. But many clients are also concerned about potential dates digging up dirt that could damage a blossoming relationship.

In New Zealand, recruitment agencies are running online background searches.

"It's becoming incredibly common," says Julie Cressey, organisational development manager for Madison Recruitment. Facebook is one of the common sites her agency checks, using it to see who potential employees network with.

Cressey says expressing your personality online is fine but the red flag comes out for those posting "inappropriate photos" or making "outlandish commentary".

New Zealand-based public speaker and author of Reputation Branding Hannah Samuel says people need to be educated about the long-term effects of internet content especially young people and their parents, who are often blissfully unaware of the real consequences of the virtual world.

Internet users can at least control what sites they join and what they post about themselves.

Samuel's checklist includes asking how parents, employers or a potential life partner would feel about the material and: "would I cringe in embarrassment or be ashamed if it appeared again?"

But once material is online, removing it becomes difficult.

"Nothing is secret and whatever you put out there can stay out there forever," says Eaden McKee, director of web development company Webforce.

Fertik says Reputation Defender staff have a "broad suite of solutions available", from asking for content to be removed to legal action.

And internet users are taking the initiative themselves, in some cases voluntarily shutting down their online profiles. In what has been dubbed "Facebook suicides", some Facebook users leave notes or give their friends one final "poke" before leaving their profiles behind. The Facebook Mass Suicide Club website says: "Fed up with Facebook? Don't like having your info shared with the world? ... Have you ever thought about just deleting your account and freeing yourself? If Facebook is controlling and consuming your life then this is a group for you."

McKee says individuals or businesses can use Google Alerts to notify them when any relevant material is posted.

But experts agree the best protection is not posting inappropriate pictures or comments in the first place.

Sue Scheff on Reputation Defender

This past week I was privileged to be in the Fox News Morning Show with Mike and Juliet. The subject was Internet Gossip and joining me was the CEO of Reputation Defender, Michael Fertik.

I know I have written about their priceless service many times before, however it never ceases to amaze me how much Reputation Defender does for so many people. Being a victim of vicious attacks online, or a victim of a person that wants to humiliate you with embarrassing photo's can be extremely frustrating as you feel helpless as to where to turn.

More importantly, Reputation Defender will monitor your child's online identity - and being a Parent Advocate, this is another service that I believe parents should consider if they have kids or teens that are active on the Internet.

For the record, again, I am not a spokesperson for Reputation Defender, I am a person that was nearly destroyed online - however after being vindicated with an $11.3M jury verdict for damages, it wasn't until I retained Michael Fertik and the team of Reputation Defender/MyEdge that my life came back together.

Introducing the New Website of Reputation Defender!

Gotta love it! They are always improving their services to help people and families.

With today Internet high usage - parents should monitor their child's online profile. Check it out!

Sue Scheff Working Against Internet Defamation

Check out my Blogspot of current articles on the subject of Internet Defamation.