Most 20-something and 30-something single women know all about “Googling” when it comes to dating.

You meet a guy (or have plans to get together with a guy) when all of the sudden at work you find yourself typing his name in Google in hopes of getting a closer glimpse of his world. Has he been arrested? Is he famous for a hidden talent he has yet to disclose? Is he an avid Internet forum participator? Does he blog about his innermost thoughts?

There seem to be a million gems yet to be discovered about your man (or soon-to-be-man) while surfing the Internet.

Here is the bad news I recently discovered: It works both ways. In fact, most likely an ex, a guy I am currently seeing or possibly a guy I may date in the future will find this column in that exact way… Hello!

In any case, I was talking to a guy the other day when he asked about a story I had recently submitted for a Web site. It took me by surprise because I never told him about the story, or the site in which I posted the piece. This is when I realized he Googled me, which he admitted on his own a few minutes into our conversation.

All of a sudden I was horror-struck. Everything I ever wrote or posted came flashing through my head. It wasn’t pretty.

So, I opened up my Internet browser, brought up Google and typed my name. And yes, it was as bad as I thought.

Only a short scroll down the first page was a link to the very first Web page I created in my late teens. After hesitantly clicking on it, I found a “Web diary” in which I was surprisingly candid about my daily life and crushes. Let me just say, at the time of its creation, someone would have had to know that specific Web address to access that page, meaning, I had to give them that address. There was no Google. But flash forward a decade later, and now my ex can simply type my name to read all about why I didn’t kiss him on prom night.

There was more, including the absolute worst picture I’ve ever taken in my life (thanks a lot, Web). Let’s just say the experience was humbling; and from now on, I will think of my online appearances when scouring the Web for information on my next date.

Singletons, a look at single life by WFAA.com staffer Marjorie Owens, appears Fridays.   E-mail o8sis