Imagine your online presence as a house filled with rooms you’ve forgotten about. Each room holds personal information, old photos, and bits of your digital life that you no longer need or use.
Now, think about the doors to these rooms being left wide open, inviting anyone to come in and snoop around. That’s essentially what happens when you leave old accounts and profiles unattended on the internet.
Leaving these digital doors open can expose you to risks like data breaches and identity theft.
It’s not just about tidying up; it’s about safeguarding your privacy and ensuring that your personal information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the 6 steps to take inventory of your online accounts, locate deletion options, and effectively close those digital doors for good.
Let’s get started.
Step 1: Take inventory of your online accounts
Now that we’ve set the stage for why it’s crucial to close those digital doors, let’s dive into the first step—taking inventory of your online accounts.
This might sound like a daunting task, but trust me, it’s easier than you think and absolutely worth the effort. You can’t secure what you don’t know exists, so let’s uncover those forgotten corners of your digital domain.
Check email accounts
Your email inbox is a treasure trove of information about your online activities.
Start by searching through your emails for account creation confirmations, newsletters, and any other correspondence that might hint at an account you’ve created.
Use keywords like “welcome,” “confirm,” “activate,” and “subscription” to help narrow down your search.
Use password managers
If you’re using a password manager (and you should be), it can be an invaluable tool in this process.
Password managers store all your login credentials, making it easy to see a list of accounts you’ve created over the years.
Review the saved logins and take note of any accounts you no longer use or recognize.
Check browsers
Your web browsers likely have a wealth of saved passwords and autofill data.
Head to the settings of your preferred browsers and look for the password management section.
This will give you a rundown of websites where you’ve saved login information. It’s another quick way to jog your memory and identify old accounts.
Use tools
There are also specialized tools designed to help you find accounts associated with your email addresses.
Services like Have I Been Pwned? can show you where your email has been used, especially in the context of data breaches. This can be a goldmine for discovering accounts you’ve forgotten about.
Taking inventory is the foundation of this entire process.
Once you have a comprehensive list of your online accounts, you’ll be in a much better position to start closing them out and securing your digital footprint.
Step 2: Locate account deletion options
With your inventory in hand, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and start finding out how to delete these old accounts.
This step is like finding the keys to those digital doors we talked about. Each platform has its own way of doing things. So, let’s break it down and make it as straightforward as possible.
General tips
First, some general tips to get you started.
Many account deletion options are tucked away in the settings or privacy sections of a website.
Look for headings like “Account,” “Profile,” or “Privacy.” If you’re having trouble, the help or support section of the site often has guides on how to delete your account.
- Look for account settings: Navigate to the account settings, usually found under your profile or user icon.
- Search for official support pages: Many websites have dedicated support pages or FAQs that provide step-by-step instructions for account deletion.
- Use JustDelete.me: This handy site offers direct links to the account deletion pages of numerous services, saving you time and hassle.
Search engines
Sometimes, the quickest way to find what you’re looking for is a simple Google search. This option also has the benefit of being free. Just enter what you’re looking for in the search bar.
Type in the name of the service along with “delete account” to find specific guides or user experiences that can point you in the right direction.
For example, searching “delete Facebook account” will bring up Facebook’s official deletion page and other helpful resources.
Locating the account deletion options is a crucial step in this process. It’s like finding the right tools to lock those digital doors securely. Once you know where to go and what to do, you’ll be well on your way to cleaning up your online presence.
Step 3: Delete or deactivate accounts
Now that you’ve located the account deletion options, it’s time to take action. Deleting or deactivating accounts is like locking those digital doors for good.
Here’s how to do it for some of the most popular social platforms.
Social media platforms
Earlier, you did an inventory of your social platforms. But if you’re not sure which platforms to check, you can find the most common ones below, as well as what actions you can take.
Facebook:
- Deactivate: Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Your Facebook Information > Deactivation and Deletion. Choose Deactivate Account and follow the prompts. Deactivation hides your profile and content but allows you to reactivate it later.
- Delete: Follow the same path but select Permanently Delete Account. Be aware that deletion is delayed for a few days, and it may take up to 90 days to remove all data from backup systems.
Twitter:
- Deactivate: Sign in to twitter.com on the web. Go to Account settings > Deactivate your account. Your account will be queued for permanent deletion after 30 days. You can reactivate it within this period by logging in.
Instagram:
- Temporarily disable: Log into instagram.com from a browser. Go to your profile > Edit Profile > Temporarily disable my account. This hides your profile and content but allows reactivation by logging back in.
- Delete: Visit the Delete Your Account page on a browser. Select a reason for deletion, re-enter your password, and click Permanently Delete My Account. This action is irreversible.
LinkedIn:
- Close Account: Go to your profile avatar > Account Preferences > Account Management > Close Account. Follow the prompts to permanently delete your LinkedIn profile and data.
Other services
There are other services you don’t want to ignore in this process, like email or e-commerce platforms you might have but no longer actively use.
Email accounts:
- Gmail: Go to Google Account settings > Data & Privacy > Delete a Google service. Select Gmail and follow the instructions to delete your email account.
- Yahoo Mail: Visit the Yahoo Account Deletion page, sign in, and follow the prompts to delete your account.
Shopping sites:
- Amazon: Contact Amazon customer service and request an account closure. Ensure all orders are completed and subscriptions are canceled before proceeding.
- eBay: Go to Account settings > Close account and follow the steps to permanently delete your eBay account.
Miscellaneous:
- Tumblr: Deleting your primary blog will delete your entire account. Go to Account settings and follow the instructions to delete your blog.
- Blogger: If you can’t access your account, try to recover it first. If you’re unsuccessful, fill out the form to request deletion of your blog.
Deleting or deactivating accounts ensures that your personal information is no longer accessible or at risk. It’s a critical step in maintaining your online privacy and security.
Step 4: Manage accounts that can’t be deleted
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you’ll come across accounts that simply can’t be deleted.
Maybe the platform doesn’t offer a deletion option, or perhaps it’s tied to essential services you still need.
Don’t worry; there are still ways to manage these accounts and protect your privacy.
Scramble information
If you can’t delete an account, the next best thing is to make the information within it useless.
An effective way to do this is to change your personal details to random data that doesn’t link back to you. Here’s how:
- Change personal details: Update your name, email address, phone number, and any other identifiable information to something nonsensical.
- Randomize security questions: Alter security questions and answers to random phrases or characters that don’t make sense.
Deactivate accounts
If deletion isn’t an option, deactivation can still reduce your digital footprint. Deactivated accounts are often hidden from public view and search engines, minimizing the risk of exposure.
- Find deactivation options: Look for deactivation settings in the account management or privacy sections.
- Follow platform guidelines: Each platform will have its own process for deactivation. Follow the steps carefully to ensure your account is properly hidden.
Managing accounts that can’t be deleted is all about minimizing the risk. By scrambling your information and deactivating accounts where possible, you can still protect your privacy and keep those digital doors securely locked.
Step 5: Remove personal information from search engines
Even after you’ve deleted or deactivated your old accounts, traces of your personal information can still linger on search engines.
This step is about cleaning up those remnants to ensure your digital footprint is as minimal as possible. Let’s explore how to remove your personal information from search engines effectively.
Google is the most widely used search engine, and it offers several tools to help you manage your personal information. If you find outdated or harmful content in Google’s search results, you can request its removal.
- Outdated content removal: Google provides a form to request the removal of outdated content. This is useful if the page has been updated but the old version still appears in search results.
- Harmful content removal: For more serious issues, such as non-consensual explicit images, fake pornography, or sensitive personal data (like financial or medical information), Google has a separate form. You’ll need to provide evidence of the content and explain why it should be removed.
People search sites
People search sites like Whitepages, MyLife, and Spokeo aggregate personal information from various sources. These sites often have opt-out procedures that allow you to request the removal of your data.
- Opt-out procedures: Visit the site’s privacy or help section to find their opt-out form. You’ll usually need to provide some personal information to verify your identity and complete the removal process.
- Third-party services: If you find the process too cumbersome, consider using third-party services like ReputationDefender, which can handle the opt-out requests on your behalf. Just be sure to read the privacy policy of any company you are considering doing business with before you share your data with them.
Step 6: Use legal protections if necessary
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you might encounter stubborn companies that refuse to delete your data. This is where legal protections come into play.
Leveraging regulations like GDPR and CCPA can give you the upper hand in ensuring your personal information is removed.
GDPR and CCPA
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States provide robust frameworks for protecting your data.
These regulations give you the right to request the deletion of your data from companies that hold it.
- GDPR: Under GDPR, you have the “right to be forgotten.” This means you can request that a company erase your personal data.
To do this, contact the company’s data protection officer (DPO) or use their data request form. Be clear and specific about what data you want deleted.
- CCPA: Similar to GDPR, CCPA allows California residents to request the deletion of their personal information.
Companies must provide a way for you to submit these requests, often through a web form or email. Make sure to follow up if you don’t receive a response within the required timeframe.
Contact authorities
If a company fails to comply with your deletion request, you can escalate the matter to the relevant authorities. This step can be particularly effective in confirming that your rights are respected.
- Data protection agencies: In Europe, you can file a complaint with your national data protection authority. They have the power to investigate and enforce GDPR compliance.
- Attorney General’s office: In California, you can report non-compliance to the Attorney General’s office. They can take action against companies that violate CCPA regulations.
Using legal protections can make sure companies take your data privacy seriously. By understanding and leveraging these regulations, you can enforce your right to have your personal information deleted, even when companies are reluctant to comply.
Final thoughts
Taking proactive steps to secure and remove these digital remnants of your identity, can protect your privacy and reduce the risk of data breaches.
One of the best places to start before you go off spending enormous amounts of time to do this yourself is to check your online reputation with a free reputation report card.
This resource from ReputationDefender can give you all the insights you need about what the internet is displaying about you right now. It will tell you exactly what data people can see about you online and help you organize your strategy.
Grab your free reputation report card today and take control of what people find about you online.
This post was contributed by Rockey Simmons, founder of SaaS Marketing Growth.