The talented Ms. Chopra
This week, I got a very strange messege in my Facebook inbox:
Bad grammar aside, there was a legitimate claim here. Basically, a Delhi-based girl on Orkut, a popular social network in Brazil and India, is using my picture as her very own!
As I have mentioned before, I have a number of friends on dating sites. On Shaadi.com, Jdate, etc. they often watermark the images for authenticity. Although the altered identity may not be such a big deal on a social networking site as a dating site, it’s still an odd feeling to come across yourself in fake form.
Should contemporary social networks start adding more protection from identity grabbers? At some point,Friendster must have thought about this urge to steal photos off of someones profile.
With the added ability to literally “grab” the photos of your friends, Friendster not only enables but somewhat encourages this strange behavior. To their credit, you can see who has “grabbed” your photos and if it’s your creepy ex boyfriend–be worried. I currently have this disabled on my account, and would rather not be part of anyone’s profile album but my own.
Even without built-in snagging abilities, trusty ‘right click+save image as’ works just as well. My albums on Facebook are private, except for my profile pictures which I would not want to make private, even if given the option. However, that is where my photo was lifted from and re-purposed.
More than anything, I just think this whole incident is strange. I mean, why me? Why not Jessica Alba or Aishwarya Rai? It reminds me so much (to a lesser extent) of “The Talented Mr. Ripley.” Plus, she apparently has like 200+ friends, which is funny since I have like one Orkut friend. Trust me, it’s fine–I do not use Orkut unless I have to research something. Anyway, Ms. Chopra, if you are reading this please stop pretending to be me. I am sure you have a great picture of yourself that you can use!
umm…yeah, THIS would freak me out.
Wow! That is so creepy and just strange in so many ways. Did you try to get a hold of her?
Will you marry me? :) Please please please please. I am nice.
Yeah! This happens all the time! Such people need to get a life!
@above : ROTFL!
Why you and why not Jessica Alba? Simple, you’re way more beautiful, Neha. :)
Neha Chopra… Hehe
By the way its you, not Jessica Alba, because you are wayyy prettier! ;)
Anyway, one girl on Orkut made a profile with my sister’s picture.. Then everyone abused and reported her till she was banned by Orkut.. I guess we would have to do the same!
And yeah, Orkut is spammed up and it is the worst there is….
Facebook rules!!
Anyway Neha I love your shows, Popsiren and Social Brew!
Ciao,
Aniruddh
Jessica Alba or Aishwarya Rai are no Neha T - they’re just average.
While creepy as heck that someone would use your pic - if I were a female, I would pick your pick too.
Social Networking Sites- Your electronic footprint….
Now a days this is not strange.
Do you really have any rights to your photo once you publish it online?
Hello Guru, what made you want to write on The talented Ms. Chopra? I was wondering, because I have been thinking about this since last Saturday.
Have you ever noticed how young Indian kids on the web all use that same atrocious grammar? What the hell is that about?