You enter your own name into Google. The first hit: a post you posted 5 years ago, talking about pimples in an embarrassing place. Or: a photo of you partying in a Majorca bar with a beer in hand. What if your kids see this? Fortunately, there are ways to remove unwanted results from Google.
The best way to get unwanted images or text off the internet is… contact the owner of the site that contains the material and ask them to remove the information. If they do this, the material will not immediately move away from the search engine. Google is taking some time to implement a change. Although you can no longer click through Google – but end up on an ’empty’ page – the text or the image will probably still be visible on Google itself. Have a little patience, this won’t be long.
The second option is to contact Google itself. However, this is only advisable in extreme cases: if it concerns nude photos that are distributed without your permission, if your credit card information or signature is online, or other personal information such as medical information. Phone number and address are not included.
Send Google a removal request. It can take some time, and whether they want to help you is still the question, unfortunately.
Plan B
If both the owner of the website and Google itself do not want to help you, there is an alternative. Take matters into your own hands and make sure Google shows you things you do like. Which give a representative picture of yourself. Think of social media profiles. But the best thing is to have your own website. If you do that well, this website will always appear first (and second, and third) on Google.
You can build a website with for example WIX or Squarespace. Or, if you want to go bigger, wordpress or Joomla. This does not have to be a complex, large website with several pages, like PlusOnline. One simple page with your photo and some personal information is already very good. Include a short biography. You can explain what kind of work you do, or what kind of hobbies you have. Or you place links to articles or documentaries that you find interesting. Or a photo of your favorite animal.
Whatever you post: it will be a page where you determine the rules yourself. It’s professional, you show that you’re not a complete digital literate and can use the internet, and people are less likely to see your more embarrassing results.
Source: www.mijnonlineidentiteit.nl
