Imagine stumbling upon an old article about yourself on Google that you’d rather forget. This situation is more common than you might think, and getting that content removed can be tricky. Thankfully, Google’s John Mueller has some helpful advice on how to handle it.
What to Do When Old News Pops Up
Let’s say you were arrested for a minor offense a few years ago, but the case was resolved. Despite that, a news article about the arrest still shows up when someone searches your name. Understandably, you’d want that content gone. Here’s what John Mueller suggests:
Option 1: Complete Takedown
The best-case scenario is asking the news outlet to remove the article entirely. This would make the page return a 404 error, meaning it’s gone for good. However, publishers might not always agree to this.
Option 2: Noindex Tag
If removing the article isn’t an option, the next best thing is a “noindex” tag. This tag tells search engines like Google to ignore the page, even though it’s still live on the site. Mueller advises checking the page’s code to see if this tag is in place.
Option 3: Name Change
Another strategy is to ask the publisher to replace your name with something generic, like “John Doe.” This won’t remove the article but will make it harder for people to find when they search your name.
Option 4: Right to Be Forgotten
In some regions, especially in Europe, you might have legal options to remove personal data from search results. This is known as the “Right to be Forgotten.” It’s worth exploring if the other options don’t work.
Understanding the Process
Even after a page is de-indexed, it can take some time—up to six months, according to Mueller—for it to disappear from search results entirely. Google doesn’t keep pages indexed forever without rechecking them. If you’re not the site owner, you can use Google’s public removal tool, which prompts Google to recheck the page within a few days. This could help speed things up if the page is correctly tagged with “noindex.”
Mueller also mentioned that while there are some rare, more complex methods to hide pages from search results, they’re not common. Most sites stick with the visible “robots meta tag” to manage indexing, which you can spot in the page’s code.
He stated:
“It’s really rare (I can’t think of any case in the last year or so) that someone would use a kind of ‘hidden’ noindex; it’s complicated to set up & maintain. Most sites just use the visible robots meta tag for switching things to noindex, which you would be able to see yourself fairly quickly. If you use the removal tool, Google will also see any ‘more hidden’ noindex settings.”
Tools to Help with Content Removal
Google offers two primary tools to assist with content removal:
- For Website Owners: The “Removals and SafeSearch Reports” tool allows site owners to block certain search results quickly.
- For Non-Owners: The “Refresh Outdated Content” tool helps people who don’t own the site request updates or removals of outdated content in search results.
Using these tools won’t make your unwanted content more visible. For site owners, removals are processed swiftly, while non-owners might face a few checks to confirm the page is removed or de-indexed.
Why It Matters
Managing your online presence is challenging, especially when old or unwanted content keeps popping up. Google’s tools and Mueller’s advice offer practical steps to tackle these issues, but remember that cooperation from the publisher is often needed. It’s a process that requires patience, but understanding your options is the first step toward managing what people see about you online.
