With all the talk about identity theft, it seems odd to me that no one has brought forth the concept of identity gift.

There appears a clear irony in our society today when there is a cross culture fear of individual identity theft, and at the same time, record growth on social network sites where users display their lives for the world to see.

The Identity Theft Resource Center states that as many as 10 million Americans a year are victims of identity theft. Statistics show that 47 percent of this group has trouble getting credit or a loan as a result of identity theft. As far as how the information was used, 66 percent of instances a new credit account was opened,            28 percent to purchase a new phone service and in 12 percent of the cases an actual warrant was issued in the name of the theft victim.

Among the many ways identity theft is committed is by diverting mail via change of address, sending spam and pop up advertisements on your computer requesting that you reveal personal information in your response. Clearly, caution is advised on unexpected prize winnings, government agency impostors or the all-familiar personal pleadings from all corners of Africa.

Although some of us might like our identity to be stolen most of us live in cautious fear that somehow their private trash, accumulated pin numbers or member list of their high school graduation class may slip into the wrong hands.

The issue is not that identity theft be taken lightly but the question that if this fear of loss is well documented why are all ages of our society insisting on posting their life history and daily whereabouts online in a handheld electronic billboard?

iStrategyLabs reports “2009 Facebook demographics and statistics report 276 percent growth in 35-45 year old users.”

Forrester Research reports that “the use of social media among those 35-45 jumped 60 percent in the past year, and that half of the adults online in the United States interact on social networks.”

The report showed 1,382 percent growth of the social network “Twitter” from February 2008 to February 2009 is further evidence of our insatiable desire to go public.

This said, analyst Pete Cashmore reports that      60 percent of first-time users fail to return the following month indicating a clear fad factor.

Adding Twitter to Facebook, MySpace and other social networks opportunities abound to share your statistics and secrets with a select audience or the world at large.

Even without social networks, a simple Google search often provides enough information to build a complete economic, social or demographic profile.

This national obsession with indecent exposure runs head-to-head with risk of identity theft or other forms of tampering with your privacy.

As a friend did recently,    I am tempted to turn from this technology trend and go the other direction; reducing my presence to a coveted post office box number known only to intimate friends and family.

There is certainly empathy and sympathy for those who fall victim to any form of personal intrusion or invasion. At the same time, by over-exposing yourself on social networks you may be providing an identity gift that could result in identity theft.

Charles Bogue is a real estate broker in Napa. He can be reached at 486-5511 or e-mail: cbnapa@napanet.net