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Summary
It can be frustrating to find easily accessible information about yourself on Google and feel like you have no power over it. Thankfully, Google is giving you more control over the personal information that appears in Search results.
Previously, Google accepted requeststo remove phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses, and other personally identifiable information from Search results. However, you may not have even known about this since it was hidden away in the History settings.
Google is now rolling out a redesigned “Results About You” dashboard and it has greatly simplified the process for requesting content removals.
Take Control With “Results About You”
The “Results About You” dashboard has been revamped to make it easier to find and remove search results that contain your personal information, like your phone number, home address, or email address.
To access theResults About Youtool:
Once there, you’ll be asked to enter the information you’d like Google to keep an eye out for. That includes your name and any variations you’d like, your home address, phone number, and email address. You can also set up notifications through email or the Google app to be alerted when new results containing your personal information appear.
Simplified Content Removal
Google has also streamlined the process for requesting content removals. Now, when you click the three dots next to a search result, you’ll find an updated menu that clearly outlines what content is eligible for removal. This makes it easier to submit a removal request with just a few clicks. If you’d like, it can also be used to request an update to an outdated search result.
Keep in mind that removing information from Google Search doesn’t erase it from the internet entirely. The information will still exist on the source webpage, but won’t be discoverable through Google. To remove the information from the source, you’ll need to contact the website owner directly.
In my brief testing, the new tool seems to work well. When you find a result that you’d like to remove, simply click the three-dot menu next to it and choose “Remove Result.” After you choose why you want to do it, Google will ask you to confirm the details on the page, which it will then check to ensure it matches. The removal process appears to be pretty quick, too. In the time it took me to write this article, I was able to submit a request and get it approved.
These new features from Google put you in the driver’s seat when it comes to managing your personal information online. You should take advantage of these tools to protect your privacy and maintain control over what people see when they search for you. It can often feel like a losing battle, but not utilizing the controls at your disposal ensures that it is.
