Google has released Google Dashboard – a one-stop shop to see most of the data that is associated with your Google account.
It’s just as well Google launched this – I’d forgotten how many Google services I use – 14 in total! Some I use regularly, like Gmail and Google Alerts. Others I haven’t used in years, like my Blogger account, but I haven’t got around to deleting. Now might be the time.
The Sydney Morning Herald and Mashable have also reported on this new service.
It makes me wonder – how many accounts do you and I have out there on the world wide web, for products and services that we haven’t used in a very long time? When you have some time spare, it could be worth your while trawling your email for all those confirmation emails that you receive when you sign-up for a new service, and if you no longer use the service, delete your account. There’s no point keeping an account active that you no longer use.
I’ve done this in bursts at various times – and discovered how difficult it can be to delete some accounts. For example, Mecanbe.com never answers my emails, and Plaxo continued to send emails after I’d deleted my account!
I’d suggest leaving your old blog around – unless it contains stuff you don’t want associated with you any longer.
It doesn’t hurt being there, and it provides an interesting view of yourself from years ago. Plus occasionally people look for something old, real old, and try to find it – but it’s gone!
That can be really frustrating.