Hey everyone, I haven't posted much before, but I'm looking for some guidance on data privacy. Since I was a kid, my dad created an email for me that includes my full name, and I didn't think much about my online presence back then. Now that I'm older, I want to start fresh and minimize my digital footprint because I'm worried about things I did as a kid potentially coming back to haunt me. I want to know the best ways to wipe myself off the internet as much as possible. I understand the basics like deleting photos and logging out of accounts, but I'm really concerned about platforms I might have forgotten about that may still have my information. What steps can I take to remove my past online presence?
3 Answers
It's good that you're taking this step! Start by Googling your full name to see what information is out there about you. Check people-search sites and data broker platforms; submit opt-out requests to get your info removed. There are services like Optery that make this easier and actually show you screenshots of where your info is listed. Just a heads-up, I’m a part of the team at Optery, so I can vouch for them!
I highly recommend creating a new email address. You can set up your old email to forward messages to your new one. Over time, update your accounts with the new email while keeping the old one for anything important. This way, you can gradually cut ties with your old accounts and gain more privacy. It might take time, but it’s worth it! You could also consider using a service like Optery to help remove your information from search sites. It’s a helpful tool for this kind of thing!
A while back, I joined a Facebook group with others who share my name, and it was surprising how many people there were! If your name isn't super common, you might find it tough to avoid being connected. Services like DeleteMe can help with removing your digital footprint, though I haven’t used them myself. Just be mindful that not everyone is going to track you down based on a name unless you’ve shared a lot of details.
That's true! My name is pretty common, so I'm worried someone might still find me easily. Have you used any of these services?