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"About half of the online adult population has looked up themselves or someone else online, according to a survey released Sunday.

A good 36 percent said they have searched the Web for someone with whom they've lost touch, and 9 percent have dug up information on someone they were dating.

At the same time, 60 percent said they are not worried about how much information about them is on the Internet.

The findings, published by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, reflect how people are sharing more and more of their lives on the Internet, as well as how Web 2.0 sites such as YouTube, Flickr, Facebook and MySpace are encouraging users to post their home videos, photographs and personal profiles online, including data ranging from their favorite movies to their cell phone number.

"People aren't being super cautious about what they're doing or presenting online," said Mary Madden, co-author of the report and a senior research specialist with Pew."


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The Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project is one of seven projects that make up the Pew Research Center. The Center is supported by The Pew Charitable Trust.