There are many reasons why people decide that they are ready to take their phone number off the internet. If you're hoping to do that, though, you might be wondering about the process that you can follow to get it done. To help you out, we have compiled a list of tips below that can guide you toward achieving this aim.
Opt Out of People Search Websites
There are a lot of different people search websites out there these days, but they all serve the same basic purpose: getting information about someone by simply typing their name into a search box. To get an idea of how it works, go to Spokeo. Once there, do a search using your name to see if there are any listings showcasing your personal details, including your phone number. If there are, don't fret, as you can just go to the Spokeo opt out page to figure out how you can request removal of that information.
To determine which people search sites are displaying information about you, do a search on Google using your full name. Then, visit each site and request to have your listings removed. Another example of a people search website that might have your information is Intelius. Again, by following the Intelius opt out instructions, you can have your phone number removed.
Even if certain people search sites don't show up in your Google search, it's worth visiting them directly, just in case. For example, Radaris is another popular database that you can search to find people's contact details, so you might need to go to the Radaris opt out page too.
Remove Your Phone Number from Your Social Media Accounts
It can be easy to share too much of your personal information on social media, including your contact details. But if your social media pages are public, and if they show up in search engine results when people look for you, it's wise to make sure your phone number is not displayed on your profiles.
For example, if your Facebook profile is public, and your settings allow for it to be shown in Google search results, you definitely don't want your phone number to be on display. Otherwise, people would be able to access it rather easily by simply browsing your profile.
Check If Other Websites Have Your Phone Number on Display
Various other websites where you might have created an account, such as forums or gaming platforms, might have asked you for your phone number when you signed up. And if your profile details are public, they might include your contact information.
If that is the case, you'll need to go to each account individually to figure out what their particular instructions are for having your phone number removed, or at least made private, so the public won't be able to see it.
Remove Your Phone Number from Your Google Account
In addition to removing your phone number from search results on Google, you might also want to remove your number from your Google account itself. This is also easy to do. Just go to your settings and select the option to delete your phone number.
As you can see, there are several ways that you can remove your phone number from Google if that's the route you'd like to take to secure your personal information from strangers.
