Delete Yourself from the Internet

Comprehensive guide to removing your personal information from the internet

Your personal information is scattered across thousands of websites, databases, and social platforms. While complete deletion is nearly impossible, this guide shows you how to significantly reduce your digital footprint and reclaim your privacy.

Step 1: Delete Social Media Accounts

Social media platforms hold vast amounts of personal data. Here's how to delete your accounts permanently:

Facebook

Settings → Your Facebook Information → Deactivation and Deletion → Delete Account

Note: 30-day grace period before permanent deletion. Download your data first if you want a backup.

Instagram

accountscenter.instagram.com → Personal Details → Account Ownership → Deactivate or Delete → Delete Account

Note: Deletion is permanent after 30 days. Cannot be undone.

Twitter/X

Settings → Your Account → Deactivate your account

Note: 30-day deactivation period, then permanent deletion. Your @username becomes available to others.

LinkedIn

Settings & Privacy → Account Preferences → Account Management → Closing your LinkedIn account

TikTok

Settings → Manage Account → Delete Account

Note: 30-day grace period before permanent deletion.

Step 2: Remove from Data Brokers

Data brokers collect and sell your personal information—name, address, phone, email, property records, court records, and more. Opt out of major brokers:

Major Data Brokers to Opt Out:

  • • Whitepages: whitepages.com/suppression-requests
  • • Spokeo: spokeo.com/optout
  • • BeenVerified: beenverified.com/optout
  • • PeopleFinders: peoplefinders.com/opt-out
  • • Intelius: intelius.com/optout
  • • MyLife: mylife.com/privacy-policy (Contact support for removal)
  • • TruthFinder: truthfinder.com/opt-out
  • • Instant Checkmate: instantcheckmate.com/opt-out

Note: There are 200+ data brokers in the US. Manual opt-out is time-consuming (20-40 hours) and brokers often re-add your data. Consider automated removal services like Privly for comprehensive coverage.

Step 3: Remove from Google Search

Even after deleting accounts, Google may still show your cached information in search results.

Request URL Removal from Google:

  1. 1. Visit google.com/webmasters/tools/removals
  2. 2. Sign in with Google account
  3. 3. Click "New Request" → "Remove this URL"
  4. 4. Enter the URL you want removed
  5. 5. Select reason (e.g., "Contains personal information")
  6. 6. Submit request

For Personal Information:

Use Google's "Remove personal information" form: support.google.com/websearch/answer/9673730

Google prioritizes removal requests for doxxing, financial info, nude/intimate images, and government IDs.

Step 4: Delete Old Accounts & Online Profiles

Most people have dozens of forgotten accounts from old forums, shopping sites, and apps. Here's how to find and delete them:

Tools to Find Your Accounts:

  • Email Search: Search your email inbox for "welcome", "verify", "created account"
  • Password Manager: Review saved logins in Chrome, Safari, or password managers
  • JustDeleteMe: Directory of account deletion links for major services
  • AccountKiller: Ratings of how difficult it is to delete accounts from various sites

Priority Deletions:

  • • Shopping accounts with saved payment info
  • • Dating apps and relationship sites
  • • Old forums and community sites
  • • Abandoned blogs and websites
  • • Gaming accounts no longer used

Step 5: Ongoing Privacy Maintenance

Deleting yourself from the internet isn't a one-time task. Data brokers re-add information, new breaches occur, and content can resurface. Maintain your privacy with these habits:

  • Google yourself quarterly to find new results that need removal
  • Re-submit data broker opt-outs every 6 months (they often re-add you)
  • Use privacy-focused alternatives: DuckDuckGo (search), ProtonMail (email), Signal (messaging)
  • Minimize future data sharing: use email aliases, fake birthdays, PO boxes instead of home address
  • Enable privacy settings on accounts you keep (limit data collection, ad targeting, public visibility)

Privly's Complete Internet Deletion Service

Automated Data Broker Removal

We handle opt-outs from 200+ data brokers and continuously monitor for re-additions

Google De-Indexing

We file removal requests to eliminate your personal info from Google search results

Account Discovery & Deletion

We find and delete forgotten accounts associated with your email addresses

Continuous Monitoring

We monitor for your information resurfacing and automatically request removal

Delete My Internet Presence

Related Privacy Guides

Data Broker Removal Service

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Dark Web Monitoring

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