How to Remove Something from the Internet (Permanently)

If something about you is online and causing problems – whether it’s an old post, a news article, or your personal details – you’re probably wondering if it can get taken off.

The short answer?

Sometimes.

You can easily delete certain things from the internet (like your own social media posts), however things posted by others can be much harder to remove. But, that doesn’t mean you’re out of options.

Overview

Harmful content can have a huge impact on your career, personal reputation, and privacy. 

This guide breaks down the best strategies for removing something from the internet (and Google search results) –  from contacting website owners and submitting takedown requests to legal options and Google removal tools. 

And, if deleting isn’t possible, we’ll show you what you can do instead. 

There are 10 ways to get something off the internet:

1. Do a Social Media Purge
2. Keep Track of the Links
3. Ask the Writer to Delete Things
4. Ask the Writer to Change It
5. Ask the Publisher to Delete It
6. Use Google’s Results About You Tool
7. Submit a Google Removal Request
8. Opt Out of Data Broker Websites
9. Seek Legal Help
10. Suppress Something on the Internet
Summary & Next Steps
FAQs

How to Delete Something From the Internet (10 Steps)

Take a deep breath, and don’t panic. Follow these steps to get something off the internet about yourself. 

1. Do a Social Media Purge

When you need to clean up your online reputation fast, your first stop should be your social media profiles. Even if the content you’re worried about isn’t on your profiles, your social media history can still impact your reputation.

Employers, clients, and even acquaintances often check social media before making decisions about you – so it’s important to make you remove things that could come back to haunt you. 

Here’s how to do a quick and effective social media purge:

• Set your personal accounts to private: Limit who can see your posts by switching your accounts to private and only connecting with people you know and trust. 
• Delete anything that paints you in a bad light: Go through old posts, photos, and comments and remove anything inappropriate, controversial, or unprofessional. Even if it doesn’t seem like a big deal to you, a future employer or client might see it differently. 
• Google yourself (in incognito mode): Search for your name, username, and any old accounts you might have forgotten about. If you find inactive or embarrassing accounts, delete them. 
• Update professional profiles: If you have any professional profiles you need to keep public (like LinkedIn), make sure they reflect the image you want to present. Add a professional photo and update your bios. 

Doing this won’t erase everything from the internet, but it will help you gain control over your digital footprint and reduce the risk of things resurfacing when you least expect it. 

2. Keep Track of the Links

Before you start requesting removals, it’s a good idea to document everything. Keeping a record of the harmful content will help you stay organized and track your progress (or you can bring that information to an online reputation management professional).

Create a Paper Trail

Set up a Google Doc or spreadsheet to track every piece of content you want to remove. For each link, include:

• The URL, copy and pasted
• A screenshot of the content in case it gets edited or deleted.
• The type of content (personal information, defamation, copyright infringement, leaked images, etc)

Search Yourself in Google Incognito Mode

To find negative content, open an incognito (private browsing) window and Google yourself using:

• Your full name
• Your full name + location
• Your business name or job title
• Any usernames you’ve used on forums or social media

This will give you a more accurate view of what others see when they search for you. 

(Note: It’s really important to use incognito mode during this step. Googling yourself in a regular window may push negative content further up in rankings. Plus, the regular window tailors your search results, giving you a skewed view.)

3. Ask the Writer to Delete Things

If an article, blog post, or social media post about you is causing harm, try contacting the writer directly. 

Some writers may be open to revising or removing something if approached directly – especially if the information is outdated, incorrect, or negatively impacting you. 

Call Them on the Phone

If possible, call the writer first. A conversation allows you to explain the situation clearly and makes it harder for them to ignore your request. 

When calling, keep these tips in mind:

• Be polite and professional: Avoid being confrontational or overly emotional, as this may make them defensive. 
• Explain the issue clearly: Let them know how the content is negatively impacting your life.
• Offer a reason for removal: If the content is inaccurate, outdated, or misleading, point this out. If it contains private information, emphasize the privacy concerns.

Content Them by Email

If a phone call isn’t an option, or if you don’t have their number, an email is the next best approach. Keep your message short, professional, and to the point.

Example Email Template:

Subject: Request for Content Removal

Hi [Writer’s Name],

I hope you’re doing well. I recently came across an article you wrote titled “[Article Title]” (published on [Date] at [URL]). I’m reaching out because this piece contains information about me that is negatively impacting my [career/privacy/personal life].

Specifically, [briefly explain the issue—e.g., “it includes outdated or incorrect details about my business” or “it shares personal information that I would like to keep private”].

I kindly ask if you would consider removing the article [or the specific section about me]. I understand this may be an unusual request, and I truly appreciate your time in considering it.

Please let me know if this is something you’d be willing to do. I’d be happy to discuss further.

Best,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]

4. Ask the Writer to Change Keywords

Writers aren’t always willing to remove a page or blog entirely, but they may be willing to edit it – especially if you make a reasonable, specific request that doesn’t compromise their work.

Try these tips:

• Ask them to remove your name or business name: If they won’t take the content down, they might agree to remove identifying details.
• Request changes to the article’s title and metadata: Search engines prioritize page titles, so even a small change can reduce visibility. (For example: instead of “Target to Discontinue Fan-Favorite Product Line”, request a change to “Large Retailer to Discontinue Fan-Favorite Product Line”.)

• Ask for minor rewording: Removing negative keywords or changing phrasing can lessen the impact while keeping the article intact.

If the writer refuses both removal and edits, your next step is to go above them. 

5. Ask the Publisher to Delete It

For larger websites (like news organizations or industry publications), the writer may not have the final say over what gets removed. If they refuse to delete the article or change the content, try contacting the publisher or site administrator.

(Note: This probably won’t work for personal blogs, where the writer and publisher are the same person.)

Find Out Who Owns the Website

• Check the “Contact Us” or “About” page: Many sites list editorial contacts.
• Look for a site administrator or editor-in-chief: Larger publications often have designated staff for handling content disputes.
• Use WHOIS lookup tools: Websites like DomainTools can help you identify the site owner.
• Search LinkedIn: If you’re dealing with a company blog or publication, you might find the right contact by searching “[Website Name] Editor” on LinkedIn. 

Ask for a No-Index Tag

If the publisher won’t delete it, you can ask them to add a no-index tag to the page. This won’t remove the article, but it will stop Google from displaying it in web search results, making it much harder to find. 

If the publisher agrees, they simply need to add this line of code to the page’s header section: 

<meta name=”robots” content=”noindex, nofollow”>

Example No-Index Tag Request:

Hi [Publisher’s Name],

I understand that [Article Title] (published on [Date] at [URL]) cannot be removed, but I was wondering if you would be open to adding a no-index tag to the page. This wouldn’t affect the content on your website, but it would prevent the page from showing up in Google search results.

This small adjustment would make a huge difference for me, and I would truly appreciate your consideration. Please let me know if this is possible.

Best,
[Your Name]

6. Use Google’s ‘Results About You’ Tool

If your personal information – like your email address, phone number, or home address – is showing up in Google Search results, you can request its removal using Google’s ‘Results About You’ tool. 

While this won’t erase it from the internet, it will prevent your information from showing up in results, making it much harder for people to find. 

How to Request Removal

1. Go to Google’s ‘Results About You’ tool. Make sure you’re signed into your account.

2. Enter your full name, address, phone number, and email address into the boxes. 

3. Enable notifications for when your information is found. 

4. In a few hours, Google will notify you if they have found any search results with your information. At that time, you can request the information be removed.

7. Submit a Google Removal Request

If something harmful about you appears in Google search results, you may be able to request its removal – but only under specific conditions. 

Unlike the Results About You tool, which focuses on removing personal contact details, this process applies to certain types of sensitive, harmful, or illegal content.

What Google Will Remove

Google won’t remove just anything from search results, but they do accept removal requests for the following:

• Personal Identifiable Information that poses a risk: This includes financial account numbers, government-issued IDs (e.g., social security number or passport number), medical records, login credentials exposed online.
• Information that could lead to identity theft or financial fraud: Leaked bank details, credit card numbers, official documents, stolen personal data. 
• Pay-to-remove sites: If a website posts your information and demands payment to remove it, Google may de-index the page so it no longer appears in results.
• Sexually explicit content (under certain criteria): This includes non-consensual explicit images (revenge porn), deepfake pornography, or leaked private images shared without your consent. 
• Copyrighted information: If someone stole and published content you own, you can file a DMCA takedown request to have it removed. 

How to Submit a Google Removal Request

1. Go to Google’s Content Removal Request page. 

2. Choose the type of content you want removed.

3. If application, include exact URLs and supporting evidence, depending on the request type. 

4. Submit the request and wait for Google’s response. 

(Note: This does not remove the content from the original website, just from Google search results. If you want it completely gone, reach out to the website owner, a reputation management professional, or seek legal action if necessary.)

8. Opt Out of Data Broker Websites

Data brokers are companies that collect, store, and sell your personal information – often without your knowledge. 

They pull data from public records, social media, and online activity, creating profiles that include your name, address, phone number, email, relatives, and even employer information.

This data is then sold to marketers, recruiters, background check companies, and even sometimes scammers, making it easy for strangers to access your personal details. 

Worse, the information they collect can sometimes be inaccurate or outdated, leading to misrepresentation. 

Unfortunately, opting out of data broker sites is not a one-click process. You’ll need to submit removal requests to multiple sites, but thankfully most of them have a straightforward opt-out process.

For more information, check out our more detailed guides:

• Remove your public records
• NumLookup
• WhitePages
• FastPeopleSearch
• TruePeopleSearch
• Trellis Law (for court records removal)

9. Seek Legal Help

If something negative about you remains online despite your best efforts, legal action may be an option, especially in cases of defamation and leaked images. 

Consult an Attorney for Defamation

If false and damaging content is being spread about you, it may qualify as defamation under the law. A defamation attorney can assess whether you have a case and, if so, take action to have it removed. 

Here’s what you need to know:

• Defamation = False + Harmful Content: To qualify as defamation, the statement must be false, harmful to your reputation, and published publicly. 
• A lawyer can issue a cease-and-desist letter: Sometimes, just the threat of legal action is enough to get a website to remove something.
• Lawsuits can be risky themselves: While winning a defamation case can result in removal, lawsuits can also attract more unwanted attention. Public court records could cause further online exposure, giving you a whole new problem to solve.
• Pair legal action with reputation management: If you pursue legal action, reputation management can control how your name appears online and prevent further damage. 

Legal Recourse for Leaked Explicit Pictures

If private, explicit, or non-consensual images of you have been shared online – or if someone is threatening to leak them – you have legal protections. 

• Revenge porn is illegal in most states: The person who posted these images could face criminal charges.
• Contact law enforcement: If you are the victim of revenge porn, blackmail, or harassment, report it to the police immediately. They can help get the images removed and hold the person accountable. 
• Submit takedown requests: Many social media platforms have policies against non-consensual content. 
• Seek an attorney’s help: A lawyer can send legal takedown notices and help you pursue legal action against the perpetrator. 

10. Suppress Something on the Internet

As you’ve probably realized from reading this blog, removing or deleting something from the internet isn’t always possible. 

Even when you’ve contacted website owners, submitted takedown requests, and explored legal options, some things just won’t budge. 

That’s where search engine suppression comes in. 

Rather than trying to erase the content completely, suppression focuses on burying negative results so they’re harder to find. 

Since most people never go past the first page of Google (only 4.8% do), pushing unwanted content down can be just as effective as removing it. 

This process involves creating lots of high-quality, SEO-optimized content and building out your online presence. The goal is to flood the first page of Google with content you control, making negative results practically invisible. 

Summary & Next Steps: Get Something Removed From the Internet About You

Removing something from the internet isn’t always simple, but as this guide has shown, you do have options. 

Whether it’s deleting personal content, requesting removal from Google and specific websites, or suppressing links in search engines, taking control of your digital footprint is possible – it just requires patience and persistence. 

Unwanted content on the internet can feel overwhelming, stressful, and impossible to remove – but you don’t have to handle it alone. 

At Reputation911, we offer specialized online content removal services and search engine suppression, helping individuals and businesses take back control of their online image. 

Don’t let negative content define you. Call Reputation911 at 866-697-3791 for a free consultation & quote. 

FAQs

How much does professional content removal cost?

The cost of professional reputation management and content removal varies based on the complexity of the case and the type of content involved. Our prices for content removal or suppression start at $500 (one-time or monthly), and we offer customized solutions tailored to your situation. 

Can you delete something from the internet?

It depends on the type of content and who controls it.

Easily removable: If the content is on your own social media profile, blog, or website, you can delete it yourself with no problem.

More difficult: If the content is on someone else’s website (such as a news article or blog), you’ll need to request removal, which they may or may not agree to.

Not always possible: If a website refuses to remove content, suppression strategies can help push it down in Google search results, making it nearly invisible.

Will Google remove something from a website?

No, Google cannot delete content from a website—they only remove search result links from appearing on Google’s Search Engine Results Page (SERP) under specific conditions.

If you want content completely erased, you’ll need to contact the website owner directly or pursue legal options if necessary. 

However, if content qualifies under Google’s removal policies (such as personally identifiable information, copyright infringement, or explicit content), you may be able to request that Google de-index the page, making it much harder to find.

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About The Author

William DiAntonio

William DiAntonio is the Founder & CEO of Reputation911, a reputation management firm he founded in 2010 that has earned the trust of its clients for over a decade by helping individuals, businesses and brands control their online search results.