Your Online Past Isn’t Private Anymore
Once you become a parent, your online reputation becomes your family’s business. Not because your toddler is checking your search results—but because they will someday. And it’s better if you clean things up before they learn how to spell your name. Your old usernames, social posts, game handles, and even dating profiles can live forever. So can news articles, blog comments, and court records. If it was ever public, it might still be searchable.
Kids Google Their Parents—Yes, Really
Curiosity Starts Early
A Pew Research study found that 60% of teens have searched for people online, including parents. Some do it for school projects. Others just want to know more. And once they can type, they can find you faster than you think. Your daughter might not care that you ran a World of Warcraft guild in 2009. But she’ll ask about the username “x_DragonMommy_x” when it shows up in a class slideshow.
You Can’t Erase Everything From Memory, But You Can Try the Web
Let’s be honest: it’s weird seeing your old dating profile show up in a search when your kid’s friend types your name. One parent shared, “I didn’t even remember signing up for OKCupid. Then my 11-year-old saw a screenshot on Reddit from someone with my username.” You may not be able to erase history, but you can take control of what shows up first.
Start With a Name Search
Google Your Full Name
Search with and without middle names. Try adding your city or past usernames. Check Google Images too. Scroll past the first page. Go five or six deep. Search your old gamer tags, Reddit handles, or forums you remember using. If you can find it, so can your kids—or their classmates.
Check Social Sites You Forgot
Look at:
- Twitter (now X)
- Myspace (yes, still exists)
- Tumblr
- Dating apps
- Old email-based sites like Yahoo Answers or Ask.fm
One dad found his gamer rant from a 2007 Halo forum. It was linked to an email he still uses for work.
What to Remove (and How)
Inactive Accounts
Search “How to delete [platform] account.” Some sites let you deactivate. Others make it hard. If you don’t have access, use the site’s contact or support form to ask for removal. If you can’t log in, try a password reset with your old email. Once inside, clean your bio, delete posts, and change your username.
Embarrassing Photos or Posts
Delete what you can. On sites like Facebook, change privacy settings on albums or posts. On Twitter/X, you can use tools like TweetDelete or TweetEraser to clean things up faster.
Dating Profiles
If you’re married now, that old Match.com profile isn’t doing you any favors. Log in, unpublish it, or contact support. If it’s been copied or scraped somewhere else, you may need help getting it taken down.
Search Results You Don’t Control
This includes:
- News stories
- Court records
- Forum threads
- Third-party gossip blogs
If something shows up in Google and you can’t remove it from the site directly, request removal from Google using their “Remove Outdated Content” tool. For more serious issues, like old criminal cases or local press hits, use a news article removal service. These companies specialize in taking down or suppressing public content you can’t erase alone.
Make New Content That Pushes Old Stuff Down
Set Up a Personal Website
Buy your own name as a domain if it’s available. Post a short bio, maybe a resume, and a family-safe photo. Google ranks personal websites high when the name matches.
Create Updated Profiles
If your LinkedIn or Facebook has old info, update it. Add your current role. Share something that reflects your life now. Google often shows the most active profiles first.
Start Posting Content That Reflects Who You Are Now
One post a month is enough. It could be a blog, article, or just a shared link on LinkedIn. Keep it clean, consistent, and family-friendly.
Be Honest, But Be Prepared
Kids Will Still Ask Questions
You don’t need to hide everything. But you don’t want surprises either. If you had a wild phase or were in the news for something rough, prepare how you’ll explain it. Don’t wait for them to find it first. “I told my kids I used to do stand-up comedy,” one mum said. “They laughed—until they found an old YouTube video where I bombed on stage. I wish I’d warned them first.”
Set The Example
Kids model what they see. If you talk about why you cleaned up your online footprint, they’re more likely to take theirs seriously later. You can even make it a family project. Sit down and check what shows up when you search each other. Use it as a way to teach them about privacy, safety, and long-term thinking.
Don’t Wait Until It Becomes a Problem
Employers Check Too
Your boss might not care about your old Tumblr. But your kid’s school principal might. Or your neighbor. Or your teen’s friends when they start Googling your name out of boredom. Reputation lingers online. And when you’re a parent, it’s not just about you anymore. One mum said, “I had a weird blog in my twenties. I forgot about it. Then my son showed me a meme someone made using one of my posts. I deleted the site the same day.” If that sounds avoidable—it is.
Final Word
Your online past doesn’t have to follow you forever. But you have to clean it up. Especially once you have kids who know how to use search. Remove what you can. Replace it with better. Get help for anything serious. Services like a news article removal service can help with tougher issues. And if you think no one’s looking—you’re wrong. Your kid will look you up. Be ready when they do.
