How to Clean Up Your Digital Footprint

Everything you've posted, signed up for, and been tagged in over the years forms your digital footprint — and people look. A periodic clean-up protects your reputation and shrinks what scammers can exploit.

See what's out there

• Google yourself (and in an incognito window) to see what employers and dates find.
• Check image results and social media that shows up.
• Note anything outdated, embarrassing, or revealing.

Clean it up

• Delete old accounts you no longer use — forgotten profiles are a data and security risk.
• Tidy your social media: remove or hide old posts, review tagged photos, lock down privacy settings.
• Request removal of personal details from data-broker sites where you can.
• Contact site owners to take down genuinely harmful content; some search engines allow removal requests.

Keep it clean going forward

• Post as if a future employer will see it — because they might.
• Separate public and private accounts if you want a personal space.
• Do a quick audit every year.