{"id":8305,"date":"2023-10-02T13:06:41","date_gmt":"2023-10-02T17:06:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/?p=8305"},"modified":"2024-10-11T19:43:27","modified_gmt":"2024-10-11T23:43:27","slug":"how-to-remove-my-life-from-google","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/how-to-remove-my-life-from-google\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Remove My Life From Google?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block uk-card-default uk-padding-small\" style=\"font-size:16px\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h4>Table of Contents<\/h4><nav><ul><li><a href=\"#how-to-remove-my-life-from-google\">How to Remove My Life From Google<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#how-to-remove-google-from-your-life\">How to Remove Google from Your Life<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#how-to-remove-my-life-from-google-fa-qs\">How to Remove My Life From Google FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>After hearing stories about people\u2019s private details winding up in strange places online, I wanted to find out how to remove my life from Google.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This guide will catch you up on what you need to know when it comes to Google\u2019s data collection practices. It will also walk you through how your personal information ends up on Google Search and other places online.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This guide is divided into two parts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>How to Remove My Life From Google<\/strong>, i.e., how to delete your personal data from Google itself as well as Google services such as Google Search. Plus, other sites on the internet.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>How to Remove Google From Your Life<\/strong>, i.e., how to start the process of \u201cdegoogling.\u201d&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-remove-my-life-from-google\">How to Remove My Life From Google<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how I removed my life from Google &#8211; and how you can do the same.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"data-google-has-about-you\">Data Google has about you<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>First, I started by removing the personal information that Google had collected about me throughout the years of my using its products and services. Although Google does not sell this data per se, it is used for targeted advertisement.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To remove all the data Google has about you in each service or app that you use, do the following process on each device that you\u2019d like to remove the data from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to your <a href=\"https:\/\/myactivity.google.com\/myactivity?pli=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">My Activity<\/a> page on Google and sign in as needed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Above the list of your activity, you\u2019ll see a \u201cDelete\u201d button.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can then click \u201cAlways\u201d or \u201cAll time,\u201d depending on the operating system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Alternatively, you can remove your activity from a certain time period.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/0-2Bom7FUXNtaJRFwYvfCU3FVHZYsEKCIMMImkllNkIm4wzAxif7t7I9eHBeIwH3KILXyU56iriRdOWkAwguaVGOjf738NZbVK5FnQfVvSA3ImUlXnlMmEMfWnueN3BY4Hss3hVOanVXjJG7SwaDPkY\" alt=\"&quot;Deletion complete&quot; Google pop up \"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you only want to remove your Google activity from specific Google products or services, <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/how-to-delete-google-data-step-by-step-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this guide<\/a> walks you through how to remove your data from Google\u2019s various apps step-by-step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tip: <\/strong>Use <a href=\"https:\/\/takeout.google.com\/?hl=en&amp;utm_source=ga-ob-search&amp;utm_medium=takeout-card\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google Takeout<\/a> to see (and export) the data that Google has collected about you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"personal-information-on-google-search\">Personal information on Google Search&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, I tackled the personal information that appeared about me in Google Search results. Google lets users remove personal data that threatens their privacy and safety, including contact details and private documents.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Start with a Google search on yourself. After typing in your name, browse through the results page until you find a site with information you\u2019d like to remove. Once you\u2019ve found one, click the three dots next to the result and click \u201cRemove result\u201d at the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/5UpV6YA-RKHV9h5_LYkvbk1drOezKVVdehAHHDn65ajdSSM4Iwvoq19-UJcAeT0SVMEX1T35g2KdC4rEirWoopy43s1Hjj53jPjicmtXGXFnMYpWEjgw--lZv3waYFwjraWP2duMzuh9VeCvhSrZlFs\" alt=\"&quot;More options&quot; for a search result on Google\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At this point, you\u2019ll be prompted to pick a reason for asking for the removal of the information. If it includes your address, phone number, or other contact information, you can select \u201cIt shows my personal contact information\u201d as the justification. This can help you avoid doxxing, identity theft, and other threats.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatively, you can fill out <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/websearch\/answer\/9673730\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this form<\/a> to file a personal data removal request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"information-other-sites-have-about-you\">Information other sites have about you&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Removing my personal information from Google Search results did not actually remove it from the original source, i.e., the website it was posted on.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To delete my data from these sources, I had to go to each site hosting my information and either a) remove my data myself (if I owned the site, like a blog or social media page) or b) contact the website owner.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For data broker sites, I had to make an <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/opt-out-guides\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">opt-out request to each broker<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"personal\">Personal<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>By far the easiest websites to remove your personal data from are the ones that you own.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"blog-or-website\">Blog or website&nbsp;<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have a website or blog with your contact information on it, consider limiting what you\u2019re sharing and anonymizing what you can. Use a contact form instead of putting your full email address on a webpage. Similarly, rather than naming the exact city that you live in, share the region instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is something that I was long overdue to do &#8211; I constantly get messages to my personal email because I had shared my contact details on a personal blog years ago.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"social-media-profiles\">Social media profiles<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Your social media pages can hold a wealth of information, too. Make your social media accounts private or visible to only friends. Hide your identifying details, such as your date of birth, home address, and place of work, from public viewers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I hadn\u2019t shared much on social media to begin with, but after reviewing my accounts, I noticed that my Facebook profile had my date of birth on it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/cQUMoXTHbpJDjWpBNPs3sRyI71oH_aLYixEDkBL-NciHJzZI0s4Nq4yhEHgE9cCKskbl0uZtYh_bvbUJ0ho4iNT_5DZieUYMT5WlhPe3Djp9PIU8HiDGd1_ZCMwITRmBN6-Urkh4f6Ju2gjje6KKuIU\" alt=\"&quot;Basic info&quot; section on Facebook\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not a big deal, but I changed it to \u201cOnly Me\u201d for the audience. Especially if you use your date of birth as part of a password or passcode (which you shouldn\u2019t, but that\u2019s another article), that kind of information can put you at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"other-personal-websites-accounts\">Other personal websites\/accounts<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Lastly, if you have a forum profile or maintain a user profile on any other website (such as Amazon), make sure you limit or entirely remove information that personally identifies you for optimal online privacy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I learned this the hard way after several people on Reddit, an online forum, were able to track down my LinkedIn and personal email &#8211; even though I thought I had not shared any identifying details. In this case, it\u2019s always best to have several Reddit accounts for different communities and avoid sharing anything too personal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"external\">External<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>External websites can be a bit tricky, as it is generally up to the person who owns the site to determine whether or not they should remove your personal information.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your first step should be to contact the owner directly. If an email address or contact form is visible on the site, use that and express clearly, politely, and succinctly what information you would like removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some websites don\u2019t make it clear as to who owns them. In those instances, your best bet is to go to <a href=\"https:\/\/whois.domaintools.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Whois<\/a> and enter the URL that you\u2019d like your data removed from. Once the report comes back, you should see an entry under \u201cRegistrant email.\u201d Reach out to that email and request that your information be removed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"data-brokers\">Data brokers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Data brokers are something else altogether. These websites exist exclusively to harvest your personal (and professional) information &#8211; including your full name, aliases, home address, phone numbers, email address, social media profiles, education, occupation, details on family members, and even photos &#8211; and sell it to others.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can read more about data brokers in <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/what-are-data-brokers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">our comprehensive guide on them<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what a typical data broker profile looks like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/_5xMdpCcUMGfz4hSrCsX4W2z2S5zcwm3mJQfokn47P84GJFSTzh5EKp2wOl5FiBageA9xnrmqL0omxRUCzsAJ3511tRQMi0lI54cCG1yUGzNaNY3XVNXdBVGaJLgxu5DpOFC6h6nzCG0R36N_ANK8Nc\" alt=\"Data broker profile example\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Often, these profiles appear on the first page of Google when someone searches for your name:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/r4sWbqU1nWjWaMjrvlgdXADKBnrYJz84zYV7KJKKLXbkpkCsEs0lg5X18mTcQ1XydhLymowRrRC-JW4Jd-RMWlIajUDILnb069y0JWLuYBKSwbIl2eGV0uUlVA5FU73a9Udcrlg1n2zdUV4XQnbNnJo\" alt=\"Data broker first result on Google\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Because it\u2019s their business model, removing your personal information from these websites can be a hefty task to take on.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll need to contact every single data broker to complete the opt-out process (by filling out a form on the website or sending an email). Follow our <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/opt-out-guides\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">opt-out guides<\/a> to learn how to do so (the steps differ from one broker to the next).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of our popular opt-out guides include:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How to <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/how-to-remove-yourself-from-whitepages-standard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remove yourself from Whitepages<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/how-to-remove-yourself-from-spokeo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remove yourself from Spokeo<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/how-to-remove-yourself-from-beenverified\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remove yourself from BeenVerified<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/how-to-remove-yourself-from-peoplefinders\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remove yourself from PeopleFinder<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/how-to-remove-yourself-from-radaris\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remove yourself from Radaris<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/how-to-remove-yourself-from-people-background-check\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remove yourself from People Background Check<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/how-to-remove-yourself-from-truthfinder\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remove yourself from TruthFinder<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/how-to-remove-yourself-from-mylife\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remove yourself from MyLife<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/how-to-remove-yourself-from-intelius\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remove yourself from Intelius<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/how-to-remove-yourself-from-fast-people-search\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remove yourself from Fast People Search<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/how-to-remove-yourself-arrests-org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remove yourself from Arrests.org<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/how-to-remove-yourself-from-checkpeople-com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remove yourself from CheckPeople.com<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/how-to-remove-yourself-from-instant-checkmate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remove yourself from Instant Checkmate<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind that data brokers renew their databases when they collect more information about you, meaning you\u2019ll need to repeat the process again and again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can avoid being on the data broker opt-out treadmill by subscribing to a data broker removal service like DeleteMe to handle all that work for you. Read <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/reviews\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reviews of our service here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Either way, getting out of the data broker marketplace is an important step for your privacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-remove-google-from-your-life\">How to Remove Google from Your Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is certainly possible to \u201cDeGoogle\u201d your life, and if you\u2019re serious about leaving minimal tracks online, it\u2019s the way to go.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, remember that some of Google\u2019s features rely on user data for convenience, such as storing URLs, bank account information, addresses, and your video watch history. If you can live without those features, these are the steps you\u2019ll want to take to get DeGoogling.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I am still on this journey. I\u2019ve only managed to replace Chrome &#8211; not much, but it\u2019s a start. If you\u2019re truly serious about DeGoogling your life, it might help to join a community like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/degoogle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DeGoogle on Reddit<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some product and service suggestions that might be a good replacement for Google. But &#8211; make sure you do your own research, too.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"chrome\">Chrome<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With its built-in Google Search feature, Chrome is a popular choice for many users. But in Mozilla\u2019s \u201cTerms of Service; Didn\u2019t Read,\u201d a community project that look at major internet sites\u2019 terms of service and privacy policies, it gets a <a href=\"https:\/\/tosdr.org\/en\/service\/2844\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">grade of D<\/a> for privacy &#8211; not very good.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/cEtS01GS_629fbv8d1KVFwQbOZhG__Jdxg4cbB6VNyySVgGVvMDevYeQtwSpWeeg2aWUg3qD_EHAGbkzwupVWypChHEKTmrlAPpi-sEP_SU8KgUG_5xt53f-p4VpIBxrczKZBvIFc5S1n-fFFv8Warc\" alt=\"Google Chrome icon with a &quot;Grade D&quot; rating on Terms of Service; Didn't Read community forum\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Opt out of Google Chrome\u2019s data collection practices by choosing another browser like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mozilla.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Firefox<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/vivaldi.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vivaldi<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/safari\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Safari<\/a>, depending on your device. The New York Times has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/03\/31\/technology\/personaltech\/online-privacy-private-browsers.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a list of browsers<\/a> that are better at respecting your privacy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Personally, I use Brave. What I like about it is that it shows how many trackers and ads it blocked. By blocking these, it also works faster (<a href=\"https:\/\/brave.com\/#:~:text=Simply%20put%2C%20the%20Brave%20Browser,you&#039;re%20much%20safer%20online.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">three times faster<\/a> than Google Chrome, according to Brave themselves) because less stuff needs to be loaded on every page you go onto.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/qwDaK69gTJtnRLXyfMMFQQI9GFcAGRccRyhanNcf8PzqakWZfbRaMwguBllOovKhmUEqvRHcUH1hHgczTxJxbCp3R-Lu4P5fRPZ_SvkFI-3L-F_wpT1qfTiHSZAco8AfiOdqNvKC-Vs2J4HYfDspCKw\" alt=\"Brave screenshot\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"google-search\">Google Search<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The amount of tracking Google performs with each logged-in search can be extreme.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for a way to search online without giving up your privacy, consider using <a href=\"https:\/\/duckduckgo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DuckDuckGo<\/a> or another privacy-friendly search engine. Comparitech has a list of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.comparitech.com\/blog\/vpn-privacy\/best-private-search-engine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">best private search engines<\/a> that won\u2019t snoop on you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brave also has its own search engine, but I find Google more convenient.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"android\">Android<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The hard truth is that it\u2019s almost impossible to avoid Google\u2019s tracking if you\u2019re using an Android device since the OS is built by Google. As such, your location and time will be pinged whenever you open an app.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your workaround to this, if you want to use a smartphone and ditch your Android phone, is opting for an iOS device. That being said, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/news\/ios-android-app-privacy-parity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">some studies<\/a> show that iPhones are no better at protecting your privacy than Android phones. Oh well, there are always dumbphones, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"gmail\">Gmail<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Suitable alternatives to Gmail that value privacy are unfortunately few in number, but there are a few recommended email services that might fit the bill. <a href=\"https:\/\/mail.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mail.com<\/a> is a simple service that runs on ad revenue, and <a href=\"https:\/\/proton.me\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ProtonMail<\/a> is another option with a free user plan. Both have paid plans for those looking for more features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"google-calendar\">Google Calendar&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Apple users can easily transition from Google Calendar to iCloud Calendar, while Windows users get a free version of Microsoft Outlook&#8217;s calendar by having a Microsoft account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"you-tube\">YouTube<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;d like to catch some clips of your favorite shows or full episodes without going onto YouTube, you can check out privacy-forward websites such as <a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vimeo<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/movies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Internet Archive<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/d.tube\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">D.tube<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/zwp7_Nf8wRfKd_rkqnlHXTT6fOw8Q7OGDqDQwqPBxSLYMxHgv4wKka7M6W6ln8vRhsh4iS2ynx6niP668fFS-jzGdpEHp2F1lnulWZm7psRsBqHiNU18mi3LI7PWPCUarHY62nBrwn7atrbEvJGPwH4\" alt=\"Movie archive screenshot \"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Avoid Twitch, Facebook Watch, and Crackle if you&#8217;re looking to dodge data tracking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"blogger\">Blogger&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Blogger users have two viable alternatives to continue being able to readily share their hobbies, passions, and interests with others. <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WordPress.com<\/a> is free to use, with paid options available to those looking to expand the available features. Another favorable choice for privacy is <a href=\"https:\/\/ghost.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ghost<\/a>, which runs tracker-free without any settings changes required by users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"google-hangouts-meet\">Google Hangouts\/Meet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are multiple free alternatives to Google Hangouts\/Meet with proven track records for user security, including Jami and Facetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"google-maps\">Google Maps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Apple users have a quick and easy method to plan their routes and get directions outside of Google Maps: Apple Maps. If you don&#8217;t use Apple or prefer a different interface, <a href=\"http:\/\/openstreetmap.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">OpenStreetMap<\/a> may be the best free option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/b7Ju-Dx8LWXyOyDvueo7V_kr2Rdd_3bfzZsjuF3T-3xuUkSUesg2vah9fMtmLoPYkm_YQj0WpM_uizFDwuV_8TExpvX2BfrHHsRNRWgRrsT0oVoa6gygxvylLL5VwTjpNkdWv0rztHTw22DAFqHDzBY\" alt=\"OpenStreetMap homepage\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"google-earth\">Google Earth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>OpenStreetMap is a viable solution for some searches, or choose <a href=\"https:\/\/zoom.earth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zoom Earth<\/a> if you&#8217;re looking for something with similar features and no privacy concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"chromebook\">Chromebook<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Chromebooks are built on Google\u2019s OS, meaning you can\u2019t do much with them without Google knowing about it. Macbooks are a good potential solution, coming with Apple\u2019s noteworthy privacy policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"fitbit\">Fitbit&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Garmin\u2019s products don\u2019t require external connections to track your runs, meaning you can keep the data accessible only to yourself. If you\u2019re in the market for a new fitness tracker, have a look at Mozilla\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/foundation.mozilla.org\/en\/privacynotincluded\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">device privacy guide<\/a> to help make your decision.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"google-pay\">Google Pay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a lot of options for making digital payments besides Google Pay when it comes to making transactions securely with minimal activity tracking. Apple Pay is a solid choice, and so is Samsung Pay or Zelle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"google-analytics\">Google Analytics&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Google Analytics can be a very informative tool for webmasters, but what they may not realize is that Google is learning a lot, too &#8211; about every single visitor to the website. You can circumvent this data collection and still access powerful tools by using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simpleanalytics.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Simple Analytics<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fathomhq.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fathom<\/a>, both of which are paid services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"google-docs\">Google Docs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While Google Docs can be convenient for team collaboration, it also comes with Google\u2019s spying eyes. You can trade them in for Microsoft\u2019s trackers by using Office online (less recommended) or iWork if you and your team have access to Apple products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"google-drive\">Google Drive&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a plethora of options when it comes to storing your files online, meaning it\u2019s easy to break the chain from Google Drive. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DropBox<\/a> is one of the most well-known. Or choose <a href=\"https:\/\/www.box.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Box.com<\/a> to get more storage on the free plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-remove-my-life-from-google-fa-qs\">How to Remove My Life From Google FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some common questions that people have about removing their life from Google.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-remove-my-age-from-google-search\">How to remove my age from Google Search?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, you probably can\u2019t. Your age doesn\u2019t technically come under any of the content that Google <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/websearch\/troubleshooter\/3111061?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">says it will remove from Google Search<\/a>. To remove other personal information, you can submit a request to Google. If you\u2019re signed in to your Google account, simply hit the three dots next to the result on Google Search and choose the option \u201cRemove result.\u201d Then, select a reason and follow the steps that appear in front of you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-request-removal-of-personal-data\">How to request removal of personal data?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your data appears in Google Search results, you can ask Google to remove it straight from the results page. Click the three dots beside the result and select \u201cRemove result.\u201d Then, choose the appropriate reason and follow the steps that show up.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Note that this will only remove your personal data from Search &#8211; not the site it appears on. This means that people will still be able to see your personal information through the site where your details are posted and other search engines like Bing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your data is on someone else\u2019s site, you\u2019ll need to contact the owner via their email or a contact form on the website. You may need to find out who the owner is by visiting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whois.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Whois.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lastly, if your data is on a data broker website, such as Whitepages.com, you\u2019ll need to follow the opt-out process for that website (often again and again, as they will renew their databases). You can see our <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/opt-out-guides\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">opt-out guides<\/a> here or subscribe to our data broker removal service to have your personal information removed for you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-opt-out-of-google-personal-information-collection\">How to opt out of Google personal information collection?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There&#8217;s no clear path to opting out of Google&#8217;s data collection. According to Terms of Service; Didn\u2019t Read, a community project that analyzes major internet sites\u2019 terms of service and privacy policies, Google collects and stores data about you <a href=\"https:\/\/tosdr.org\/en\/service\/217\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">even if you don\u2019t interact with its services<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/how-to-delete-google-data-step-by-step-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">limit your exposure to Google\u2019s data collection<\/a> by deleting unused Google apps, clearing your account activity from the various Google services, and deleting your Google Account.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-is-all-my-information-on-google\">Why is all my information on Google?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As soon as you sign up for a Google service, you\u2019ve created an online profile that becomes attached to your digital identity. This allows unparalleled convenience and a customized user experience &#8211; at the cost of your privacy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not all Google\u2019s fault, of course. A lot of information on the internet is there because we put it there &#8211; on our social media profiles, websites, forums, and so on. Data brokers scrape this information, too, compiling it in a tidy package to sell to others, including advertisers, law enforcement, and scammers.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news is that you can take steps to remove the amount of data that appears about you on the internet. Take down personal information from personal sites and social media profiles, <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/how-to-delete-google-data-step-by-step-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">delete the data that Google has collected about you<\/a>, ask website owners to delete your personal info, and <a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/blog\/opt-out-guides\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">opt out of data brokers<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After hearing stories about people\u2019s private details winding up in strange places online, I wanted to find out how to remove my life from Google.&nbsp; This guide will catch you up on what you need to know when it comes to Google\u2019s data collection practices. It will also walk you through how your personal information [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":8307,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,26,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-data-privacy","category-privacy-tips","category-staying-private-online"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8305","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8305"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8305\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8307"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}