Advanced tips for online reputation management and the Right to be Forgotten
In this article, we’ll build on our beginner’s guide to online reputation management by offering actionable tips for the main social media channels and search engines. Remember, Internet Erasure is a top-rated online reputation management company specialising in the Right to be Forgotten.
Tips for online reputation management through Facebook
Check how others see your profile
Use Facebook's "View As" feature to see what your profile looks like to people who search your name on Facebook or find your profile via Google search.
Limit who can see your old posts
Facebook has a handy feature called "Limit Past Posts" in your privacy settings. With just one click, you can change all your old public posts to "Friends Only", meaning the general public won't be able to see what you've shared on the platform.
Control who can tag you
In your "Profile and Tagging" settings, you can set up a review process for when someone tags you in a post. This gives you control over what shows up on your profile, so you don't have to worry about friends posting stuff that may reflect badly on you.
Be mindful of your interactions in groups
Remember that your comments in Facebook groups can often be seen by anyone AND THEY APPEAR IN GOOGLE YEARS LATER. Avoid getting into heated arguments or commenting on controversial topics, as these interactions could be screenshot and shared. It's best to keep your group activity positive and professional, especially in industry or networking groups where potential employers might be members.
Facebook’s Privacy Centre has more tips, too.
Tips for online reputation management through X
Think twice before you tweet
Remember, your tweets (they are still called this despite the rebrand to X) are public by default. And unlike with Facebook posts, you can't change the privacy setting for individual tweets.
Use Lists for a cleaner feed
Create private Lists for different topics or groups of people. This helps you stay informed without cluttering your main feed or showing everyone what you're interested in.
Be careful with retweets
Your retweets show up on your profile and can be seen by anyone. They're often taken as endorsements, even if you don't mean them that way. If you retweet an offensive or controversial post, it will reflect badly on you and could affect you ten years later!
Tips for online reputation management through Instagram
Clean up your feed
Go through your posts regularly and delete anything that might look bad. This is especially true with old posts from when you first joined as people were less aware of online reputation and privacy back then. Don't forget to check your Story highlights too - they stick around unless you remove them.
Use Close Friends for personal stuff
Keep your main profile clean by using the Close Friends feature for stories. This way you can share your private life with the people you choose, rather than it being available for all to see.
Tips for online reputation management for all social media
Make your profiles private
Switch your accounts to private mode whenever possible. This gives you control over who sees your posts and personal information. On platforms like Instagram and Facebook, it's easy to do this in your privacy settings. Remember, even if your profile is set to private, your profile picture is still available for all to see, as is your cover photo on Facebook and Twitter, and your bio on Instagram.
Be mindful of your likes and follows
The accounts you like and follow are often visible to others and can say a lot about you. Go through your followed accounts regularly and unfollow any that might be controversial or offensive. This goes for Facebook pages, Instagram accounts, and X profiles. Your interests are part of your online image, so keep them clean and professional.
Consider using a different name
Think about tweaking your name on social media. Use a username on X and Instagram, while on Facebook, try using just your first name and last initial. This makes it harder for people to find you through a quick Google search.
Tips for online reputation management on Google
Set up Google Alerts
Create alerts for your name. Google will email you when new content about you appears online.
Search thoroughly
Don't just search your name. Try your name plus your city, job, or even words like 'fraud'.
Look beyond basic results
Be sure to search for images and news, not just normal web results. It's also a good idea to search on a mobile device too, as they can show different things from desktop searches. Don't forget to look past the first page of results.
What to do if you find negative news or content about you online
Unlike with social media, you generally can't control what appears about you in search engine results and the wider internet, including news websites. Luckily, there are steps you can take using your Right To Be Forgotten. These are particularly helpful if your past mistakes, like a minor criminal conviction, are published online for all to see.
Request removal from search engines
Use Google, Bing, and Yahoo's removal request pages. Each has its own form for Right to be Forgotten requests. Be clear about how the links affect you and why they're no longer relevant. You’ll also need to submit a copy of your ID.
Contact the source website
If search engines say no, try contacting the website directly. Ask them to take down or update the content. Be polite and diplomatic in your communications, and be sure to explain how the articles are affecting your reputation.
Complain if your request is rejected
If both search engines and websites refuse, contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) to lodge a complaint.
The Right to be Forgotten and Internet Erasure
Internet Erasure has helped hundreds of people clean up their online reputation and break free from their past mistakes. Check out more information for removing articles using the Right to be Forgotten and who can apply. Our free guide even has a template you can use.
Sadly, according to the Google transparency report, private individuals are usually only successful in getting their arguments accepted and links delisted (removed from search results) just over 50% of the time. Fortunately, Internet Erasure can act for you until EVERYTHING is removed. As experts in the Right to be Forgotten, our caseworkers have successfully removed thousands of reputation-damaging links. As we only accept cases we know we can win, you can feel confident working with us.
Our reviews on Trustpilot speak for themselves.
"There was an article in the public domain about me that made me very uncomfortable and caused a great deal of anguish and that I just wanted gone. Having found Internet Erasure Ltd online I contacted them regarding my dilemma. The kindness shown to me by the company and the speed at which the article was removed was breathtaking! I can't thank them enough and recommend them 1000%, I now finally have closure and that is priceless!"
Sadly, according to the Google transparency report, private individuals are usually only successful in getting their arguments accepted and links delisted (removed from search results) just over 50% of the time. Fortunately, Internet Erasure can act for you until EVERYTHING is removed. As experts in the Right to be Forgotten, our caseworkers have successfully removed thousands of reputation-damaging links. As we only accept cases we know we can win, you can feel confident working with us.
Our reviews on Trustpilot speak for themselves.
"There was an article in the public domain about me that made me very uncomfortable and caused a great deal of anguish and that I just wanted gone. Having found Internet Erasure Ltd online I contacted them regarding my dilemma. The kindness shown to me by the company and the speed at which the article was removed was breathtaking! I can't thank them enough and recommend them 1000%, I now finally have closure and that is priceless!"
