Why You Should Regularly “Google Yourself” (or Ask ChatGPT)
Do you have any idea what a simple internet search can reveal about you?
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That recent news about the Minnesota lawmaker shootings renews calls for each of us to develop better online privacy protocols. You cannot count on legislation to save you. Each of us can—and should—proactively audit our own web presence. Here’s why:
Risks of an Unchecked Digital Footprint
Old information stays online: Personal details posted years ago—addresses, phone numbers, family info, even old news articles—linger indefinitely and may still be found by search engines.
Data broker profiles proliferate: Companies collect public records, sometimes supplying them to scraping sites. Unless you actively monitor results, new exposures can pop up unexpectedly.
Recruiters, criminals & strangers search: Whether you're job-seeking or just going about your day, anyone can easily find personal details with a quick search. Criminals, fraudsters and pranksters can readily take your information and in a few minutes for very little expense generate an AI-backed, knowledgeable, audio & video in real time avatar to use against you or as you.
AI tools compile profiles: ChatGPT-style models can cobble together info from disparate sources. Try prompting “What do you know about me?” to see how much it “knows” publicly.
A regular self‑search—both traditional Google searches and AI-assisted queries—can highlight what’s easily discoverable and help you assess seriousness of the exposure.
Found Something Unwanting? What Now?
If your searches reveal something you’d rather hide, here are your main options:
DIY removal: Manually delete old posts, disable comments, or send removal requests to people‑search sites. But this is labor‑intensive, and sites can re‑scrape info.
Automated tools: Services like DeleteMe or Incogni handle recurring requests and monitor for reappearances.
Pro-level reputation firms: These agencies specialize in cleaning up online searches, removing harmful content, and boosting positive presence.
What is out there on the internet about you?
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