With the rapid proliferation of social networks like Facebook, Twitter and Pownce we are also seeing the real development of individuals as brands that are open to being marketable commodities. In the era of social networks the openness of putting your real name out there is becoming more fashionable than using some l337 nickname.

What happens though when your name is a well known Internet brand; regardless of whether you think it is a brand or not. What happens when you are a Dave Winer or a Michael Arrington or even a Chris Pirillo and you suddenly find that your name - your brand - is being used by some-else on some new hot social network.

Such a thing has in fact has happened to Chris Pirillo on Pownce; which he uses to make a strong point about the security of your identity in this new age of social networking

Interesting. Someone just told me that I was on Pownce - which is odd, because I never signed up for an account. Lo and behold, here - I - am. I’m not terribly upset about it at this point, but that’s pretty much my identity - and the people following - me - may not know that that’s - me - or have no idea who I really am. This is indicative of the problems all these stupid-ass social network sites face

Sure this might not be someone traipsing around the globe on your credit card or getting a mortgage with your credit rating but in the age of social networking your name - your brand - is equally important. In either case your identity is being stolen by somebody.

Conversation Tags: social networks, Chris Pirillo, Michael Arrington, Dave Winer, identity theft