You cannot erase yourself completely, but you can remove most of what search engines show

The internet does not forget, but search engines can stop pointing to you. When you search your own name, you see what Google and Bing have indexed — pages they found and catalogued. Removing yourself from search results means either deleting the pages that mention you or asking search engines to stop showing them. You cannot delete pages you do not own, but you can request removal from search results. You also cannot reach every copy of your information across the entire internet, but you can target the places where people actually find you.

The practical goal is not total erasure — that is technically impossible once information has been shared — but reducing what appears when someone searches for you. This takes weeks or months and requires handling different types of information separately: social media accounts you control, data brokers who sell your information, old web pages, and search engine listings.

Key Takeaways

  • Delete or deactivate your own social media accounts, email accounts, and old website profiles — these are the fastest removals because you control them directly.
  • Request removal from Google Search and Bing using their official removal tools, which takes a few days to a few weeks per page.
  • Contact data brokers like Whitepages, Spokeo, and BeenVerified to remove your listing — many require you to verify your identity before deletion.
  • For pages you do not own, contact the website owner or use the DMCA takedown process if the page contains your private information without permission.
  • Search results will continue to show new pages about you as they are created, so this is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix.

Delete accounts and profiles you control

Start with the accounts and profiles you own. Search your own name on Google, Bing, and social media platforms to see what appears. Make a list of every account, old blog, forum profile, or website where you have a login. This includes email accounts you no longer use, old social media profiles, dating app accounts, and any website where you created a user profile.

For each account, look for a delete or deactivate option. Most platforms have this in account settings under "Privacy" or "Account Management". Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube all have account deletion options — though some offer "deactivation" first, which hides the account temporarily before permanent deletion after 30 days. Gmail accounts can be deleted through your Google Account settings. Old Tumblr blogs, Medium profiles, and personal websites you built yourself should be deleted or taken offline entirely.

Deletion takes time. Search engines may continue showing cached versions of deleted pages for weeks. You can request faster removal using Google Search Console or Bing Webmaster Tools once the page is actually gone.

Request removal from Google Search and Bing

Once a page is deleted, you can ask Google and Bing to remove it from their search results faster. Use Google Search Console (search.google.com/search-console) to request removal of specific URLs. Sign in with the Google account associated with the website, or use the URL removal tool even if you do not own the site — Google will process the request, though removal may take longer. Enter the exact URL of the deleted page and request removal.

For pages you do not own, use Google's removal request form at google.com/webmasters/tools/removals. Bing has a similar tool at bing.com/webmaster/tools. Both tools work best when the page is actually deleted — if the page still exists, the search engine will re-index it. Removal typically takes a few days to two weeks.

You can also use the "Remove outdated content" tool in Google Search Console to request removal of cached versions of pages that have changed. This does not delete the page itself, but it removes the old version from Google's cache.

Contact data brokers to remove your listing

Data brokers collect public information about you — your address, phone number, age, relatives' names — and sell it to other companies. When you search your name, you often see results from Whitepages, Spokeo, BeenVerified, Intelius, and similar sites. These companies buy information from public records, then resell it. Removing yourself from these sites requires contacting each one separately.

Most data brokers have an "opt out" or "remove my information" link on their website, usually at the bottom of the page. Click the link and follow the instructions. Many require you to verify your identity by entering personal information or clicking a link in an email. Some charge a fee for removal, though many offer free removal if you request it. Keep records of when you submitted each removal request.

Major data brokers include Whitepages (whitepages.com), Spokeo (spokeo.com), BeenVerified (beenverified.com), Intelius (intelius.com), and Pipl (pipl.com). Removal from one does not remove you from others — you must contact each site individually. Removal typically takes two to four weeks, and some sites may re-list you later if they obtain updated information.

Contact website owners to remove pages about you

If a page about you appears in search results but you do not own the website, you can contact the site owner and request removal. Look for a "Contact Us" page or email address on the website. Send a polite email explaining that the page contains your personal information and requesting removal. Include the exact URL of the page.

Website owners are not legally required to remove pages about you unless the information is false, defamatory, or violates your privacy rights. However, many will remove outdated or sensitive information if you ask. If the page contains false information that damages your reputation, you may have grounds for a defamation claim, though pursuing this is expensive and time-consuming.

If the website ignores your request and the page contains private information you did not consent to sharing, you can file a DMCA takedown notice. This is a legal request that requires the website host to remove the content. You will need to provide specific details about why the content violates your rights. DMCA notices are complex and may require a lawyer, so use this only as a last resort.

Manage what new pages say about you

As you remove old information, new pages will continue to appear. News articles, court records, business directories, and social media posts create new search results about you. You cannot prevent these pages from being created, but you can influence what appears when someone searches your name.

One strategy is to create positive content about yourself — a personal website, LinkedIn profile, or professional portfolio — and optimize it for search. If you control pages that rank highly for your name, they push down less flattering results. This takes months and requires ongoing updates, but it gradually shifts what appears in search results.

For pages you cannot remove, you can request that Google de-index them using the removal tools mentioned earlier. This removes them from search results without deleting the page itself. The page still exists, but fewer people will find it through Google.

Understand what you cannot remove

Some information cannot be removed because it is part of the public record. Court documents, property records, business filings, and arrest records are maintained by government agencies and appear on official websites. You cannot delete these records, though you may be able to request that they be sealed or expunged depending on the type of record and your location.

Information that has been widely shared — screenshots, archived versions, copies on multiple websites — is nearly impossible to remove completely. Once something is shared online, copies exist in places you cannot control. Internet Archive (archive.org) maintains historical snapshots of websites. You can request removal of your information from Archive.org, but copies may exist elsewhere.

Removal is also temporary. If you remove yourself from a data broker, the broker may re-list you months later when it obtains updated information. Search engines may re-index deleted pages if they are recreated or if the deletion was incomplete. This is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to remove myself from search results?

Deleting your own accounts takes minutes to hours, but search engines may show cached versions for weeks. Data brokers typically take two to four weeks to remove your information. Requesting removal from Google or Bing takes a few days to two weeks per page. The entire process of removing yourself from major search results usually takes one to three months.

Can I remove myself from Google Images?

Yes. Use Google Search Console to request removal of specific image URLs, or request removal of images from a particular website. If the image is on a website you own, delete it and request removal. If it is on someone else's website, contact the site owner and request removal. Google will de-index the image from search results, though the image file itself remains on the website.

What if a data broker will not remove my information?

Some data brokers make removal difficult or charge fees. If a broker ignores removal requests, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Some states have laws requiring data brokers to remove information for free upon request. Check your state's attorney general website to see if your state has data broker removal laws.

Will removing myself from search results delete my information from the internet?

No. Removing yourself from search results only stops Google and Bing from showing those pages. The pages and information still exist on the websites that host them. Someone could still find your information by visiting those websites directly or using a different search engine. True deletion requires removing the actual pages and information from the websites that host them.

Can I remove old news articles about me?

No, you cannot force news organizations to delete published articles. News sites are protected by free speech laws. You can request removal, but most news organizations will decline. You can request that Google de-index the article from search results, which removes it from Google Search but leaves it on the news site. Some European countries have "right to be forgotten" laws that allow removal of certain outdated information, but the United States does not.