What you can actually remove, and what you can't
You cannot delete your information from the entire internet — there is no master off switch. But you can remove it from the places where it matters most: search results, data broker sites, and the accounts you control. The realistic goal is to shrink your digital footprint enough that a casual search about you turns up less, and to stop new information from being collected going forward.
What you can remove: your own social media posts and photos, accounts you created, your name from data broker listings, and sometimes your address from public records sites. What you cannot remove: information already archived by the Internet Archive (Wayback Machine), posts other people made about you, news articles published by legitimate outlets, and information held by government agencies. The difference matters because it shapes which steps will actually work.
Key Takeaways
- Start by searching your own name on Google and Bing to see what actually appears about you before spending time on removal.
- Delete or make private the social media accounts and photos you control, since these are the easiest wins and often rank highest in search results.
- Remove your listing from data broker sites like Spokeo, Whitepages, and BeenVerified by visiting each site's removal page — there is no single form that covers all of them.
- Request removal from Google Search directly using Google Search Console if a page about you appears in results but you cannot delete the page itself.
- Contact websites directly to ask them to remove or update information about you, though they are not required to comply.
Search for what actually shows up about you
Before you start removing anything, search your own name on Google and Bing to see what a stranger would find. Use your full name in quotes — type "John Smith" rather than just John Smith — to narrow results to exact matches. Do this from a private or incognito window so Google does not personalize the results based on your own search history.
Write down what you find: the URLs, what information each page contains, and whether you control that page or someone else does. This list becomes your roadmap. You will likely find social media profiles, data broker sites, old blog posts, news mentions, and possibly outdated directory listings. Knowing what is actually visible saves you from removing things that nobody can find anyway.
Delete or lock down your social media accounts
Social media profiles rank high in search results and often contain the most personal information you have voluntarily posted. Start here because these are entirely within your control. Go through each account you use — Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn — and either delete it or make it completely private so only people you approve can see it.
If you want to keep the account but hide it from search, most platforms have a privacy setting that prevents search engines from indexing your profile. On Facebook, go to Settings > Privacy and set "Who can look you up?" to "Friends only" or "Only me". On Instagram, switch to a private account in Settings > Privacy > Account Privacy. On LinkedIn, go to Settings > Visibility and turn off "Allow search engines to index your LinkedIn profile". If you delete an account entirely, it can take weeks for search engines to remove it from results, but it will eventually disappear.
Review old posts and photos before making your account private or deleting it. Delete anything you would not want a potential employer or stranger to see. Search engines cache old versions of pages, so deletion is not instant, but it does eventually work.
Remove yourself from data broker and people search sites
Data brokers are companies that collect and sell personal information — your name, address, phone number, sometimes family members' names. Sites like Spokeo, Whitepages, BeenVerified, and Intelius pull this information from public records and other sources, then sell access to it. These sites often rank high in search results when someone searches your name.
Each site has its own removal process, and there is no single form that works across all of them. Visit the removal page on each site you find in your search results. Most require you to verify your identity by entering your name and address, then confirm removal through an email link. Some sites remove your information for free but charge a fee to remove it faster — ignore the paid option and use the free removal instead.
Common data broker sites and their removal pages: Spokeo (spokeo.com/optout), Whitepages (whitepages.com/suppression), BeenVerified (beenverified.com/app/optout), Intelius (intelius.com/optout), and PeopleFinder (peoplefinder.com/opt-out). After removal, these sites may re-list your information months later when they refresh their data, so you may need to repeat the process annually. Keep records of when you submitted removal requests so you know when to check again.
Request removal from Google Search results
If a page about you appears in Google Search results but you cannot delete the page itself — for example, a news article or a page on someone else's website — you can ask Google to remove it. Use Google Search Console, which is Google's tool for website owners, but you can also use it to request removal of pages you do not own.
Go to google.com/webmasters/tools/removals and sign in with a Google account. Click "New Request" and enter the full URL of the page you want removed. Explain why it should be removed — for example, "This page contains my personal address and I do not consent to it being published." Google reviews removal requests and may take the page out of search results, though they are not required to. Removal usually takes a few days to a few weeks.
This works best for pages that contain sensitive information like your home address or phone number, or for pages that are outdated or inaccurate. Google is less likely to remove pages just because you do not like them or because they contain unflattering information.
Contact websites directly to request removal or updates
If a website publishes information about you and you cannot remove it yourself, contact the site owner or webmaster directly. Look for a "Contact Us" page or email address. Explain what information you want removed or corrected and why — for example, "This page lists my phone number, which I no longer use and did not consent to publish."
Website owners are not legally required to remove information about you unless it is inaccurate, defamatory, or violates their own policies. But many will update or remove information if you ask politely and explain why. Be specific about what you want changed, not just "remove all information about me." Offer to provide corrected information if something is inaccurate. Follow up after a week if you do not hear back.
For news sites and legitimate publishers, removal is less likely — they have a right to publish factual information. But for directories, old business listings, or sites that scraped your information from elsewhere, removal requests often work.
Stop new information from being collected
Removing what is already out there is one part of the problem. The other part is preventing new information from being collected and published. Adjust your privacy settings on every account you keep: social media, email, shopping sites, and financial accounts. Turn off location sharing, limit who can see your posts, and opt out of data sharing in account settings.
When you sign up for new accounts, use privacy-conscious choices from the start. Do not use your real phone number or address unless required. Uncheck boxes that let companies share your information with third parties. On Google, go to myaccount.google.com and review what data Google has collected about you — you can delete some of it and limit what it collects going forward. On Facebook, go to Settings > Apps and Websites to see what apps have access to your data and disconnect the ones you do not use.
Consider using a separate email address for shopping and signups, keeping your main email private for people you actually know. This does not prevent data brokers from collecting information, but it limits how much new personal data gets tied to your name online.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for information to disappear from Google after I delete it?
Google usually removes deleted pages from search results within a few days to a few weeks, but it varies. Cached versions may linger longer. If you delete a social media account, it can take several weeks for Google to fully remove all posts and photos from results. You can speed this up by using Google Search Console to request removal.
Can I remove information from the Internet Archive (Wayback Machine)?
Yes. Go to archive.org/about/exclude.php and submit a removal request with the URL you want removed. The Internet Archive will remove snapshots of that page from their database. This takes a few weeks to process. You can also email them directly if you have questions about the process.
What if someone else posted information about me?
Contact the person or the website where it was posted and ask them to remove it. If they refuse and the information is defamatory or violates the site's terms of service, you can report it to the platform. Most social media sites have reporting tools for harassment or privacy violations. For serious cases, you may need to consult a lawyer, but for most situations, a direct request works.
Do I need to pay to remove my information?
No. All legitimate removal processes are free. Data broker sites sometimes advertise paid removal services that claim to be faster, but the free removal option works just as well — it simply takes longer. Ignore any service that charges money to remove your information from the internet.
Will removing my information hurt my credit or background check?
No. Removing your information from data broker sites and search results does not affect your credit score or background checks. Credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) maintain separate records for credit purposes. Background check companies use official records, not data broker sites. Removing yourself from public people search sites is separate from these official systems.