Before the internet era, the only way to find out about people was by either asking around or if someone had wrote about them in a media outlet (e.g. newspapers, tv, magazines, etc).  The internet has finding out about people easier than ever.  You are now able to go to any search engine and type in their information.

I am guilty in doing this.  Whenever I meet someone or are going to, I get on my computer and google his/her name.  I usually type in the following information:

1. Name
2. Username
3. Email
4. Name + Location
5. Name + Email

What if you find something that is not very flattering on someone else’s site?

1.  Contact the Site’s Webmaster - The best way to handle it is by going directly to the source.  Email the Webmaster, and see if he/she has pity on you and removes it.

2.  Fill Out a Removal Request (Google Only) – Google has a Removal Request form that you can fill out and send to them to remove a web page:

https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/removals

I checked Yahoo and Ask.com, and they do not have a similar tool.

3.  Hire a Lawyer – If it’s something that could prevent you from getting jobs or dates, and you really want it off, you could hire a lawyer and write a cease and desist letter.

Remember that people are now viewing you from what they search on search engines, so if you care about how you are perceived, be careful about what sites you register with, angering the wrong geek, and/or what you post on your own site.

I decided to Google myself.  Here is what came up (double-click if too small):

Tags: Ask.com, Cease and desist, Google, google yourself, googling people, Search, Search Engines, Web page, Web search engine, webmaster, Yahoo