What you can actually delete from the internet
You cannot delete everything about yourself from the internet, but you can remove a lot of it. Search engines like Google will stop showing your information in results if you ask them to. Websites that host your data—social media accounts, old profiles, public records databases—can be deleted or hidden if you contact the right person. Data brokers that sell your information can be told to remove your listing. What stays hardest to erase are things other people posted about you, archived versions of pages, and information that was already printed or shared widely before you tried to remove it.
The process is not automatic. Each platform, search engine, and data broker has its own removal process, and some make it deliberately difficult. You will need to spend time on each one, verify your identity, and sometimes wait weeks for confirmation. But starting with the biggest sources of your personal data—Google, Facebook, your email accounts, and the data brokers that sell information to marketers—removes most of what strangers can find about you.
Key Takeaways
- Google Search can remove your information from results if you submit a removal request through Google Search Console, though the page itself stays on the original website.
- Social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter can be deleted entirely, but deactivation hides your profile while deletion takes 30 days to complete.
- Data brokers like Spokeo, Whitepages, and BeenVerified will remove your listing if you contact them directly, though you may need to verify your identity.
- Old email accounts, forgotten accounts on shopping sites, and archived profiles should be deleted from the original website before asking search engines to remove them from results.
- Information posted by other people about you is harder to remove and usually requires contacting the person or the website where it was posted.
Remove yourself from Google Search results
Google Search does not host your information—it only links to pages where your information lives. When you ask Google to remove something, Google stops showing that link in search results, but the original page stays on the internet. This is useful if you want to hide something from casual searches, but the information is still there if someone visits the website directly.
To remove a page from Google Search, go to Google Search Console (search.google.com/search-console), sign in with your Google account, and add your website if you own it. If you do not own the website, you can still request removal by going to google.com/webmasters/tools/removals and entering the URL. Google will ask you to verify that you own the page or have permission to request its removal. For pages you do not own, Google may deny the request, but you can still ask the website owner directly to delete the page.
Removal from Google Search takes a few days to a few weeks. You can check the status in Search Console. Keep in mind that removal from Google does not remove the page from Bing, Yahoo, or other search engines—you will need to submit removal requests to each one separately.
Delete social media accounts and old profiles
Social media accounts are often the biggest source of personal information about you online. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Snapchat all let you delete your account, but the process varies. Most platforms offer two options: deactivation (your profile hides but your data stays on their servers) and deletion (your data is removed after a waiting period).
On Facebook and Instagram, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then scroll to the bottom and click Deactivate or Delete. Facebook gives you 30 days to change your mind before permanent deletion. Twitter lets you deactivate your account from Settings and Privacy, then Account, then Deactivate Your Account—you have 30 days to reactivate. LinkedIn deletion is under Account, then Settings and Privacy, then the Account tab, then Close Account. TikTok deletion is under Settings and Privacy, then Account, then Delete Account.
Before you delete, read your data. Facebook and Instagram let you read your photos, messages, and posts from Settings and Privacy, then read Your Information. Twitter has a similar option under Settings and Privacy, then Your Account, then read Your Archive. This takes a few hours to prepare, and Twitter emails you a link. Keeping a copy protects you if you change your mind or need proof of what you posted.
Old shopping accounts, forum profiles, and dating app accounts should also be deleted. Search for your email address on sites you used years ago. If you find an account, look for a Delete Account or Close Account option in settings. If you cannot find it, contact the website's support team and ask them to delete your account and associated data.
Remove your information from data brokers
Data brokers are companies that collect your personal information from public records, social media, and other sources, then sell it to marketers, landlords, and employers. The biggest ones are Spokeo, Whitepages, BeenVerified, Intelius, and PeopleFinder. These sites let anyone search for your phone number, address, age, and sometimes relatives' names.
To remove yourself, visit each broker's website and search for your name. When you find your listing, look for a Remove, Delete, or Opt Out link—usually at the bottom of your profile page. Click it and follow the instructions. Most brokers will ask you to verify your identity by confirming your phone number or email, or by uploading a photo of your ID. This can take a few days to a few weeks.
Some brokers make removal difficult by hiding the link or requiring you to mail a notarized letter. If you cannot find a removal option on the website, search "[broker name] removal" or "[broker name] opt out" to find instructions. You may also contact their customer service email and ask them to remove your information. Keep records of when you requested removal and what confirmation you received, in case you need to follow up.
New data brokers appear regularly, so removal is not a one-time task. Every few months, search your name in quotes on Google to see if new sites have posted your information, then repeat the removal process for any new brokers you find.
Handle information posted by other people
If someone else posted your information—a photo, your address, your phone number, or embarrassing stories—you have fewer options. You cannot force someone to delete it unless it violates the website's terms of service or breaks a law.
Start by contacting the person directly and asking them to remove it. If they refuse or you cannot reach them, report it to the website. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit all have reporting tools for posts that contain your personal information without permission. Go to the post, click the three dots or menu icon, and select Report. Explain that the post contains your private information. The website will review it and may remove it if it violates their policy.
If the information is on a website you do not control, contact the website owner through their contact form or support email. Explain that the post contains your personal information and ask them to remove it. Some websites will comply; others will not. If the information is defamatory (false and damaging to your reputation), you may have legal options, but that requires consulting a lawyer.
Clean up old email accounts and forgotten accounts
Old email accounts are gateways to your personal information. If you have Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo accounts you no longer use, delete them. Go to your account settings, find the Delete Account or Close Account option, and follow the steps. Google gives you a few months to change your mind; after that, the account is gone permanently.
Before you delete an email account, read your data. Gmail lets you read everything through Google Takeout (takeout.google.com). Outlook has a similar option in Settings under Privacy. This protects you if you need to retrieve old messages or attachments later.
Forgotten accounts are accounts you created years ago and never used again. Search your email inbox for confirmation emails from sites you signed up for—shopping sites, forums, newsletters, apps. If you find an account you no longer want, log in and delete it. If you cannot remember your password, use the Forgot Password link to reset it, then delete the account. This prevents the account from sitting on a server with your old information attached to it.
Monitor what shows up about you online
After you delete your information, check periodically to see if new information has appeared. Search your name in quotes on Google every few months. Set up a Google Alert by going to google.com/alerts, entering your name, and choosing how often you want to be notified. Google will email you when your name appears in new search results.
You can also search your name on data brokers again to see if they have re-listed you. If they have, submit another removal request. Some brokers re-list information after a few months, so you may need to remove yourself multiple times.
If you find information about you on a website and you own that website, remove it yourself. If you do not own it, contact the website owner and ask them to remove it. If they refuse and the information is false or damaging, document everything and consider consulting a lawyer about your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete information that was already shared or archived?
Archived versions of pages are stored on the Wayback Machine (archive.org). You can request removal by going to the site, finding your page, and clicking the three dots to request removal. The Wayback Machine will review your request and may remove archived versions. However, if your information was shared widely on social media or forums before you tried to delete it, copies may exist on other people's devices or on backup servers you cannot access.
What if a website refuses to delete my information?
Contact them again in writing and keep a record of your request. If the information is false and damaging, you may have legal grounds to demand removal, but this requires consulting a lawyer. If the website is based outside the United States, removal may be harder. Some countries have stronger privacy laws that require removal; others do not.
How long does it take to remove information from search results?
Google Search removal takes a few days to a few weeks. Data broker removal takes a few days to a few weeks depending on how they verify your identity. Social media deletion takes 30 days on most platforms. Removal from other search engines like Bing may take longer or may not happen at all if you do not own the website.
Do I need to pay to remove my information?
No. Google Search removal is free. Social media deletion is free. Data broker removal is free, though some brokers offer paid "premium removal" services that claim to be faster—these are usually unnecessary. If a website charges you to remove your information, that is a red flag that they may not be legitimate.
Will removing my information from Google remove it from the internet?
No. Removing your information from Google Search only hides it from Google results. The information still exists on the original website. To actually delete your information, you need to delete it from the website where it is hosted—your social media account, the data broker's site, the old forum, or wherever else it lives.