Let’s face it, sometimes things get out of hand. A news article pops up about you, your business, or your cat’s celebrity moment (when it ate a whole pizza), and suddenly, it’s everywhere! And if it’s not the greatest, you might want to make it disappear—poof! Just like that.
Don’t worry, we’ve got your back! We’re going to break it down for you in a fun, easy way so you can remove that article from Google and the internet. Ready to take control of your online presence? Let’s dive in!
Step 1: Assess the Situation
Before you go full ninja mode, it’s good to evaluate how bad it really is. Is the article something embarrassing from your teenage years? Or is it an inaccurate story that needs to be corrected? Once you’ve got the context, you can figure out the best course of action.
If it’s a news story that’s defamatory or false, that’s a lot easier to address than if you just don’t like the headline. Take a deep breath, and let’s move on to the next step.
Step 2: Contact the Publisher Directly
News articles are typically published by media outlets or websites. So, the first step is to go straight to the source. Find the contact information of the publication that wrote the article. They might have an online form or an email address like “editor@newspaper.com“—basically, the kind of address that makes you feel important just to write to.
Here’s what to do:
- Go to the article.
- Look for the “Contact Us” or “About” section (usually at the bottom).
- Shoot them an email. Politely. Be clear and concise. Try something like, “Hey, I was wondering if you could remove or update this article. It’s not really accurate anymore.”
- Wait. They might say no. If they do, don’t be discouraged—there are still other steps!
Step 3: Use Google’s Removal Tool (For Google-Related Stuff)
If the article is still popping up on Google search results and you’ve tried reaching the publisher, you can try Google’s own removal tool. It’s like asking the big guy in the room to help you out. Google has a tool that allows you to request the removal of outdated content or personal information that shouldn’t be online.
Here’s how:
- Go to Google’s Removal Tool.
- Follow the steps to enter the URL of the article.
- Google will evaluate your request. If they think it’s appropriate (no cat-related pizza articles, please), they’ll take it down.
But—important reminder—Google doesn’t remove articles just because you don’t like them. You’ve got to have a good reason, like if it’s outdated or it involves personal, sensitive information that shouldn’t be publicly available.
Step 4: Request Removal from Other Search Engines
If you’re dealing with more than just Google (Bing, Yahoo, etc.), you might want to go through their removal processes too. Each search engine has its own guidelines. Usually, they want the same basic info you provided to Google, so prepare accordingly.
Step 5: Consider Legal Action (If Needed)
We hate to say it, but sometimes the nuclear option is necessary. If the article is defamatory, harassing, or false, you might want to consult a lawyer. They can send a legal takedown request on your behalf. This could help you get the article removed, or at least get a retraction or correction published.
It’s not fun, but hey, better to keep your reputation intact than let it slide.
Step 6: Wait It Out
Okay, now comes the part where you need some patience.
Removing content from the internet can take time. Don’t expect everything to vanish in 24 hours. It’s more like waiting for your favorite TV show to come back for a new season. You’ll probably need to check back a few times to see if the article has been removed.
Step 7: Try SEO Magic
If the article is still out there, you can try to “bury” it with more positive content. How? By creating new, fresh, positive content about yourself.
This could be a blog post, an interview, or a LinkedIn article. As more positive and recent articles get indexed, they can push the negative stuff further down in search results. It’s like trying to make the bad article harder to find—like burying a treasure chest in a really big field.
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
Q: Will removing the article from Google remove it from the entire internet?
Nope! Removing something from Google only removes it from search results. If the article is still hosted on a website, it’ll still exist there unless you also ask the publisher to remove it.
Q: What if the publisher says no?
If the publisher refuses to remove the article, your next best option is to update it or bury it with new, positive content. If it’s defamatory or harmful, consider legal action. But, sadly, if they say no, there’s not much else you can do.
Q: How long does it take to remove something from Google?
It depends! It could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Google needs to re-crawl the page and update its search results. Patience, young grasshopper.
Q: Can I just delete my internet history and make it go away?
If only, right? Sadly, your browser history won’t erase articles from the internet. You’ve got to take action with the steps above to deal with it.
Q: What if the article is still showing up months later?
If it’s still there, it could be due to caching or other technical issues. Sometimes, re-requesting the removal or contacting the publisher again is needed. It’s not fun, but persistence is key.
Final Thoughts: You’ve Got This!
Removing a news article from Google and the internet may seem like a mission impossible, but it’s totally doable! Be patient, follow the steps, and keep your sense of humor intact. With a little persistence and some clever moves, you can regain control of your online reputation.
Good luck, and remember: the internet might never forget, but you can certainly make it harder to find that embarrassing article!