You cannot remove all your information from the internet, but you can remove it from the places that matter most

The internet does not have a delete button that works everywhere at once. Your data lives in many places — search engines, social media platforms, data broker websites, old forum posts, news archives — and each one requires a separate request or action. Some sites will remove information quickly. Others will ignore you. A few are legally required to respond.

The realistic goal is not to vanish completely, but to remove your information from the sources that show up first when someone searches for you, and to stop new information from being collected and sold about you going forward. You can do both of these things yourself, without paying a service to do it for you.

Key Takeaways

  • Google and Bing let you request removal of specific pages from their search results, though the original page stays online — you are just hiding it from search.
  • Data brokers like Spokeo, BeenVerified, and Whitepages buy and sell your personal information; most will remove your data if you submit a removal request through their website.
  • Social media platforms have their own deletion processes — deactivating an account is not the same as deleting it, and deleted posts may still exist in archives.
  • You can prevent future data collection by opting out of data sales through your state's privacy law, if your state has one.
  • Removal requests take time and may need to be repeated; there is no single form that works for every website.

Remove yourself from Google and Bing search results

When you search for your own name and see results you do not want visible, you are seeing links that Google or Bing indexed from other websites. Removing the link from Google's search results does not delete the original page — it just stops the search engine from showing it to people who search for you.

To remove a page from Google search results, go to Google Search Console (google.com/webmasters/tools/removals). Sign in with a Google account, add the URL of the page you want removed, and submit a removal request. Google will hide the page from search results for about six months. After that, the page may reappear unless you also contact the website owner and ask them to delete it permanently.

For Bing, go to Bing Webmaster Tools (bing.com/webmasters). Sign in, select your site, and use the "Remove URL" tool. The process is similar to Google's — you are asking the search engine to stop showing the page, not asking the website to delete it.

If the page is on a website you own or control, you can delete it directly from that website. If it is on someone else's website — a news site, a forum, a social media platform — you will need to contact that website's owner or use their removal process instead.

Request removal from data broker websites

Data brokers are companies that collect personal information from public records, online sources, and data purchases, then sell that information to other businesses or to the public. Common data brokers include Spokeo, BeenVerified, Whitepages, TruthFinder, and Intelius. If you search for your name on these sites, you will often find your address, phone number, relatives' names, and sometimes financial or legal information.

Most data brokers have a removal process on their website, though they make it deliberately hard to find. Look for a link labeled "Remove My Information," "Privacy," or "Opt Out" — usually at the bottom of the page. Click through to their removal form. You will typically need to provide your name and the URL of your listing, and sometimes verify your identity by email or by uploading a photo of your ID.

Here is what to expect from the major brokers:

  • Spokeo: Go to spokeo.com/optout. Enter your name and email, then follow the verification steps. Removal usually takes two to four weeks.
  • BeenVerified: Go to beenverified.com/optout. You will need to verify your email address and may need to upload an ID photo.
  • Whitepages: Go to whitepages.com/opt_out. Enter your name and address. Whitepages also has a paid "Whitepages Premium" removal option if the free removal does not work.
  • TruthFinder: Go to truthfinder.com/opt-out. Complete the form and verify your email.
  • Intelius: Go to intelius.com/optout. Verify your identity and submit your removal request.

After you submit a removal request, the data broker will usually send you a confirmation email. Keep that email — you may need to follow up if the listing does not disappear within the stated timeframe. Some brokers will remove your information but then re-add it months later when they update their database. If that happens, you can submit another removal request.

Delete your social media accounts completely

Deactivating a social media account is not the same as deleting it. When you deactivate, the account goes invisible to other users, but the company keeps your data and can reactivate the account if you log back in. Deletion is permanent — the company removes your account and your posts, though they may keep some data for legal or backup reasons.

Facebook and Instagram: Go to Settings > Deactivation and Deletion. Choose "Delete Account" (not "Deactivate"). Facebook will delete your account and most of your data after 30 days, but some information may remain in backups or if other users have saved your photos or messages.

Twitter (now X): Go to Settings > Account > Deactivation. Choose "Deactivate Account." Your account will be deleted after 30 days of inactivity.

TikTok: Go to Settings > Account > Delete Account. TikTok will delete your account when ready, though videos you posted may still exist if other users saved or shared them.

LinkedIn: Go to Settings > Account Preferences > Closing Your Account. LinkedIn will delete your account after 10 days.

Before you delete an account, read your data if the platform offers it. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn all have data read tools in their settings. This gives you a copy of your posts, photos, and messages before they are deleted.

Contact websites directly to remove old posts and pages

If your information appears on a website you do not control — a news site, a forum, a blog, a directory — you can contact the website owner and ask them to remove it. This is not may provide to work, but many website owners will remove outdated or sensitive information if you ask politely and explain why.

Look for a "Contact Us" page on the website. If there is no contact form, try emailing the site owner at info@[domain name] or admin@[domain name]. In your email, include the URL of the page you want removed, explain why you want it removed, and ask them to delete it or at least remove your personal information from it.

For news articles, contact the publication directly. Many news organizations have policies about removing articles, especially if the information is outdated or if you have a privacy or safety concern. Be specific about what you want removed — the entire article, or just certain details like your phone number or address.

For forum posts and comments, look for a delete or edit button on your own posts. If the post is old and you cannot find a delete button, contact the forum moderator or administrator and ask them to remove it.

Opt out of data sales through your state's privacy law

If you live in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, or Washington, your state has a privacy law that gives you the right to opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information.

These laws work differently by state, but most let you submit a single "opt out of sale" request that applies to multiple companies at once. Some states use a centralized opt-out portal. Others require you to submit requests to individual companies.

To find your state's process, search "[your state name] privacy law opt out" or visit your state's attorney general website. California's law (CCPA) has an opt-out portal at oag.ca.gov. Virginia's law (VCDPA) requires you to submit requests to individual companies, but the state attorney general's website lists which companies are covered.

Opting out tells companies not to sell your data to third parties, but it does not remove information that has already been sold. It also does not stop companies from using your data for their own purposes — it only stops them from selling it to others.

Understand what you cannot remove

Some information cannot be removed, no matter how many requests you submit. Public records — court documents, property records, marriage licenses, criminal records — are maintained by government agencies and are not controlled by data brokers or search engines. You cannot remove them from the internet, though you may be able to seal or expunge them through the court system if you meet certain legal criteria.

Information that has been archived or saved by third parties is also difficult to remove. If someone took a screenshot of your social media post, saved a copy of a webpage, or shared your information in an email, you cannot force them to delete it. The Internet Archive (archive.org) maintains snapshots of old websites. You can request that they remove a page from their archive, but this does not remove copies that other people have saved.

News articles are rarely removed, even if you ask. Most news organizations consider their archives permanent records and will not delete articles unless they contain serious factual errors or legal violations. If an article about you is inaccurate, you can ask for a correction or a right-of-reply, but removal is unlikely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay a service to remove my information from the internet?

No. All of the removal processes described here are free. Services that charge money to remove your information are offering to do the same work you can do yourself. They may be faster or more thorough, but they are not doing anything you cannot do on your own.

How long does it take for information to be removed?

It varies. Data brokers usually take two to four weeks. Search engines may take a few days to a few weeks. Social media platforms may take 30 days or longer. Some websites may never respond to your removal request. There is no may provide timeline.

If I remove my information, will it stay removed?

Not always. Data brokers sometimes re-add your information when they update their databases. Search engines may re-index pages you asked them to remove. You may need to submit removal requests multiple times over the years. Removal is not permanent unless you also prevent the original source from collecting your data in the first place.

What should I do if a website refuses to remove my information?

If the website is a data broker and you live in a state with a privacy law, you can file a complaint with your state's attorney general. If the information is defamatory or violates your privacy, you may have legal options, though pursuing them usually requires a lawyer. For most other situations, your options are limited if the website owner refuses to cooperate.

Can I remove my information from the Internet Archive?

Yes. Go to archive.org/about/exclude.php and submit a removal request. The Internet Archive will remove snapshots of your website or pages you control. If you do not control the website, you can still request removal, but the Internet Archive may deny it if the content is considered historically important.