Have you ever looked up your name on Google and found something you wish you hadn’t?
It could be an old address or a job you used to have. You can now control what shows up in Google search results. “Results About You” is what it’s called.
We’ll talk about what “Results About You” is, how to get to it, what kinds of content can be deleted, and why this is important in this article. We’ll also talk about how to remove information from search engines and when you should call a service like NewReputation for more help.
What Does “Results About You” Mean?
You can use Google’s “Results About You” tool to ask them to take down personal information from search results. This includes things like email addresses, phone numbers, and home addresses. If you see this information in search results and don’t like it, you can do something to hide it.
If you take information out of Google search results, it doesn’t mean it’s gone from the internet. It just keeps that information from showing up in Google searches. The information might still be on the original website.
Types of Content Google “Results About You” May Remove
Knowing what can be removed is important. Not all information is eligible. Here’s what might qualify:
Personal Information:
- Phone numbers
- Home addresses
- Email addresses
Sensitive Information:
- Social Security numbers
- Bank or credit card details
- ID images
- Medical records
Content That Poses a Risk:
- Data that could lead to identity theft.
- Information that could cause financial harm.
Non-Consensual Content:
- If explicit content was shared without your consent, you can request removal.
Some data, like court records or news articles, may remain visible even if you ask for it to be removed.
How to Access “Results About You”
Ready to use this tool? Here’s how:
- Sign in to your Google account.
- Go to the “Results About You” page. You may find this shortcut in your Google profile settings.
- Click “Get Started” and follow Google’s instructions to fill out what information you want to remove.
- Set up notifications to get email alerts if your information appears online.
You can also remove specific search results:
- Click the three dots in the top right of a search result.
- Choose “Remove Result.”
- Select “It Shows My Personal Contact Infomation.”
- Complete the form and submit it.
Google will review your request and let you know the outcome.
What’s Next?
After you ask, Google will look over your request. Support may ask for more information to confirm your claim. You won’t know for sure if you’ll get approval, but you’ll get an update when a decision is made.
What Does It Mean to De-Index Information?
You might be thinking, “Does this mean my data is gone?” No, the answer is no. Google de-indexes information when it takes search results down. This means that it won’t show up in search results anymore, but the information is still on the original website. You need to get in touch with the website owner and ask them to take the information down.
How to Remove from Index What Google Knows About You
When something is de-indexed, it won’t show up in search results on sites like Google. If your request to remove information from search results is granted, it won’t show up when people look for it. The content is still on the original website, though.
If an old article with your phone number is no longer indexed, it won’t show up when someone searches for your name on Google. But you can still get to the article by going to the website directly.
Using Google Alerts
It’s smart to keep an eye on things ahead of time. You don’t have to pay for Google Alerts. It can let you know when your name shows up online. Not enough people use this feature. It changes the game when it comes to protecting your reputation.
- Make alerts for your name.
- Change your settings so that you get updates as soon as something new is posted.
- Check your alerts often. You’ll be able to act quickly if you know about new mentions this way.
Knowing what’s out there helps you stay in charge.
Need help? Get in touch with NewReputation.com
It can be hard to keep track of your online presence, but NewReputation can help. We can protect your privacy by removing or hiding search results that you don’t want. Our professionals know how to get rid of your digital footprint.
If you need to get in touch with us:
- You can’t get rid of sensitive information by yourself.
- Google turned down your request.
- You need a plan for the long term to protect your online reputation.
Final Thoughts
“Google Results About You” is a useful tool for keeping your privacy online. It also has some problems.
Be smart about how you use it; know what you can and can’t take off. If you can’t remove it completely, think about de-indexing it. Set up alerts and stay up to date to keep an eye on your presence.
Take steps to protect your privacy, whether you do it yourself or hire a professional. For more help and advice, go to NewReputation.com.