In today’s onlife world where technology is ubiquitous, a teen’s online presence holds considerable sway in shaping their reputation, both in the online and offline world. Regrettably, teens can sometimes share content online that might seem amusing today but can have lasting repercussions on their personal and professional lives in the future. This includes embarrassing photos, negative comments, or outdated social media posts. A part of digital literacy education is to impart the knowledge of how to effectively mediate, and if necessary, delete, redact, or bury such undesirable content, if possible, from the public eye.  While some may assert that the internet never forgets and has an indelible memory, it’s important to convey to teens that this isn’t an absolute truth. Presently, there exist strategies that can be employed to often help redact these problematic posts, gradually fade them from public view, or make them difficult to locate by others. Yes – sometimes postings can’t be deleted, however, many times they can. The phrase “the internet never forgets” implies that any online action, regardless of its context or relevance, will leave an everlasting impact on an individual’s reputation especially when it comes to post-secondary and employment opportunities, which is not necessarily true. This can lead to unwarranted anxiety and fear among users who may feel they are forever burdened by their past online activities.  However, with the rapid evolution of technology and data management practices, the philosophy of the internet never forgets, in our opinion, has become increasingly misleading in today’s onlife world for several reasons: 1/ With the rise of ephemeral content on various platforms, users have more control over the lifespan of the content they create, making the internet less permanent than before. Yes – this content could be copied and shared 2/ The internet is no longer a static repository of information; instead, it has become a dynamic landscape where content is constantly updated, modified, or replaced. Websites are frequently revised to reflect the most current information, and outdated content may be removed to ensure relevance and accuracy. In this context, the internet can be seen as a living organism that evolves over time, making the concept of perpetual memory obsolete. 3/ While the internet once lacked robust data management practices, today, many organizations and platforms are starting to create stringent data retention policies. These policies are designed to comply with privacy regulations and user demands for greater control over their data. Users can now request the deletion of their data from servers, ensuring that personal information does not linger indefinitely online. 4/ The concept of the “right to be forgotten” has gained traction globally, granting individuals the right to request the removal of outdated or irrelevant information about themselves from search engines and websites. This legal framework recognizes the need for individuals to move on from past events and not be perpetually burdened by historical online records. Consequently, the internet is becoming more respectful of people’s privacy and their desire to control their digital footprints 5/ Advancements in data erasure techniques have significantly contributed to rendering the statement misleading. As technology progresses, data can be permanently deleted from digital storage, ensuring that sensitive or undesirable information does not persist on the internet indefinitely. 6/ Web crawlers used by search engines might not index or archive all web pages, resulting in some content not being retained by the internet. This omission of information challenges the notion of a perpetually all-encompassing web memory. In this article, we aim to provide guidance on the steps that we have found successful in either deleting or burying problematic teen content. However, it should be recognized that nothing is guaranteed in today’s onlife world. Before following the steps below, it’s crucial to assess the content you want to remove or bury. Once reviewed, determine whether it violates a platform’s terms of service, infringes on your privacy, or poses a threat to your reputation. Here are some common types of unwanted online entries that teens and their families have brought to our attention: Step #1: Delete It – If the unwanted content is on a social media platform, website, or forum that a teen controls, the first step is to delete it if they posted it, and if not, reach out to the source who did post it. Politely ask them to remove or edit the content in question, explaining your reasons for the request. Be respectful and concise in your communication, as a hostile approach may lead to the opposite result. Step #2:  Report Inappropriate Content – On many social media platforms, teens can report content that violates community guidelines or terms of service. Use the reporting feature to notify platform administrators about any inappropriate or harmful content. Be prepared to provide specific details, screenshots, and other evidence to support your case. However, don’t be surprised if the social media account responds back and advises that the content being requested to be removed does not violate their terms of service. Also be aware that this process can take weeks before content is taken down. We have provided a link from our friends at the Cyberbullying Research Center that provides links to many of the most popular social media platforms where you can report violations to their platform (1) Step #3: Request Removal from Search Engines – Search engines like Google can index and display information about you. If unwanted entries appear in search results, request their removal. Google, for instance, has a “Remove Content” tool for those under the age of 18yrs that allows you to request the removal of personal information (2). Keep in mind that search engines may not always honor removal requests, especially for legally posted content. NOTE: you need to also request the removal of the content wanting to be deleted from the site where Google first indexed the posting. If not, Google may reindex the information/posting which will once again make it searchable. Step #4: Request a Digital Media Copyright Act (DMCA) Takedown (3) – if a picture or video that you produced is copied and posted online without your consent, … Continue reading 8 Steps To Help Mediate, Delete, Redact, or Bury Unwanted Online Posts