How to Remove Your Ex's Posts and Information About You From the Internet

Ending a relationship is hard enough without having to deal with what the other person does online. Some exes move on quietly. Others post about the breakup, tag friends, share private messages or publish details that put you at risk. When that happens, the problem is not only emotional. It is a question of reputation, safety and control over your own information. This guide focuses on one specific situation: your ex is posting about you or sharing your information, and you want it removed. It covers how to document the problem, which channels work in what order, how to protect yourself while you wait and when legal options make sense. It is a companion to our guide on removing your ex-spouse’s information from your online life, which covers separating accounts and shared records.

1. Know what you are dealing with

Not every post is equally actionable. Sorting the content by type helps you pick the right tool.

Type of content	Examples	Best first route
Harassment or threats	Repeated insults, threats, tagging you to humiliate	Platform report, evidence for police
Doxxing	Your address, phone, workplace or children’s school	Platform report, search removal, safety steps
Intimate images	Photos or videos shared without consent	Specialized reporting; see below
False statements	Accusations of crimes or conduct that are untrue	Platform report, lawyer, possible defamation claim
Private messages	Screenshots of conversations	Platform privacy rules, legal advice
Venting and opinions	Angry posts that do not break rules	Often not removable; limit your exposure

Opinions and truthful statements are difficult to remove, even when painful. Threats, doxxing, impersonation and intimate images are the categories where platforms and the law give you the most leverage.

2. Step 1: Preserve evidence safely

Step 1a: Capture the content

Take screenshots that show the full post, the username, the date and the URL. Save links, and record the dates and times you discovered the content. If a post is likely to disappear, capture it immediately.

Step 1b: Keep a timeline

Write a simple log of each incident: what happened, where, when and how you responded. A clear timeline is valuable for platform appeals, police reports and attorneys.

Step 1c: Store copies privately

Keep evidence in a place your ex cannot access, such as a new cloud account with a new password or an encrypted drive. Share copies with your attorney or an advocate rather than posting them.

Step 1d: Do not delete your own messages

If a legal matter is possible, preserve your own communications too. Deleting them can look like destroying evidence.

3. Step 2: Decide whether to contact your ex

A short, calm written request is sometimes enough: name the post, say it is causing harm and ask them to remove it. Keep it factual and avoid threats. But skip direct contact when you feel unsafe, when there is a history of abuse or when you already have a protective order. In those cases, use a lawyer or advocate as a go-between. Never respond to provocation, and keep copies of every message you send and receive.

Curious what’s already out there? Wiperts’ 100% Free Diagnosis shows which data brokers are listing your name, home address and phone number. Check your exposure free — it takes about a minute.

4. Step 3: Report to the platform

Platforms have rules against harassment, impersonation, doxxing and non-consensual intimate imagery. Use the reporting tool inside the platform and choose the category that fits. For each report:

Identify the specific post, comment or account.
Quote the rule it violates, if you can find it.
Explain the harm in a sentence or two.
Attach or reference your evidence.
Keep the report number or confirmation.
Follow up if there is no response in a few days.

If the content includes intimate images, use the specialized process described in reclaiming your privacy: removing revenge porn. If the person is repeatedly contacting you or creating new accounts, read how to stop an online stalker.

5. Step 4: Request search removal

If a post or page appears in search results for your name, you can ask search engines to remove it in some cases, for example when it shows your contact details or other sensitive identifiers, or when the content is explicit and non-consensual. Use Google’s Results about you tool and relevant request forms. See how to remove yourself from Google. Note that hiding a link does not delete the post, so continue reporting to the platform.

6. Step 5: Shut down the routes to your information

If your ex has your address, phone number or new location, take steps so that they cannot keep finding you.

Lock down your social accounts, hide your friend list and remove tags.
Ask mutual friends not to share your whereabouts.
Turn off location sharing and check devices for tracking. See rebuilding online privacy after a breakup.
Remove your address and phone number from people-search sites. See how to opt out of the most popular people-search sites.
Use a mailing address instead of your home for non-essential records.

If you feel unsafe, contact law enforcement or a domestic violence advocate. The Department of Justice offers stalking information at justice.gov/ovw/stalking. Read defending against online stalking for a broader response plan.

7. Step 6: Consider legal options

Legal routes vary by state, but common options include:

Option	What it can do	Considerations
Cease-and-desist letter	Formally demands that the person stop or remove content	Low cost, may escalate or be ignored
Protective or restraining order	Can limit contact and online posting	Requires meeting court standards
Defamation claim	Seeks damages or removal for false statements of fact	Costly, fact-specific, truth is a defense
Harassment or stalking charges	Criminal consequences for repeated unwanted conduct	Police and prosecutors decide whether to proceed
Copyright takedown	Removes photos or content you own	Applies only if you hold the copyright
Family court orders	Can address conduct during divorce or custody cases	Ask your attorney

A consultation with a family law or civil attorney is often the most efficient way to learn which option fits. Local legal aid organizations and victim advocates may offer free help. Mention any pending divorce or custody case, because courts can address online conduct in those proceedings.

8. Protecting your name while you wait

Removing content can take time. In the meantime, you can reduce its visibility and its impact.

Publish positive, searchable content. A professional profile, a portfolio or other accurate pages can push negative results down.
Tell key people. If a post might reach your employer, landlord or school, consider a brief, calm heads-up. Facts and brevity work better than argument.
Monitor. Set a reminder to search your name monthly and ask a trusted friend to alert you to new posts.
Do not retaliate. Posting about your ex can create legal risk for you and complicate any case.
Take care of yourself. Online conflict is draining. Lean on friends, family or a counselor.

9. Myths and facts

Myth: If it is true, I cannot do anything. Fact: Truthful statements are hard to remove as defamation, but platforms still remove doxxing, intimate images and harassment regardless of truth.

Myth: Reporting will make my ex angrier. Fact: It can, which is why safety planning and professional advice matter. But reporting creates a record that supports protective measures.

Myth: Deleting my accounts will end it. Fact: It reduces exposure but does not stop someone from posting about you or contacting your friends.

10. Three scenarios and what to do

Scenario 1: Your ex posts angry comments about you on social media. Document, avoid engagement, use block and mute tools, report anything that breaks rules and tighten your own privacy.

Scenario 2: Your ex shares your new address with mutual friends. Ask friends to stop, remove your address from people-search sites, consider a mailing address and review safety steps with an advocate.

Scenario 3: Your ex publishes false accusations that affect your job. Save evidence, report the posts, talk to an employment or defamation attorney and prepare a calm explanation for your employer.

11. What to expect: a realistic timeline

Step	Typical time
Documenting content	Same day
Platform decision	Hours to several days
Search-result requests	Days to several weeks
People-search opt-outs	Days to four weeks per site
Court orders	Days to months

12. Common mistakes

Posting back publicly.
Deleting evidence or your own messages.
Waiting before reporting doxxing.
Forgetting search engines.
Ignoring people-search sites that reveal your address.
Trying to manage safety alone.

13. How Wiperts fits

You can report posts yourself, but the real-world details that let an ex find you, such as your address, phone number and relatives, are published on data brokers and people-search sites. Wiperts scans more than 100 of them, submits removal requests, removes your personal results from Google and Bing, blurs your home on maps and monitors around the clock.

See what your ex could still find with the free diagnosis.

100% Free Diagnosis: Check Your Exposure

Find out what data brokers have on you. Enter your details in the free scanner on the Wiperts homepage:

First Name
Last Name
Select State
Email Address
Website

Scan Databases Now — no payment is needed to see your exposure report.

14. Key takeaways

Sort the content by type, because doxxing, threats and intimate images have the strongest remedies.
Preserve evidence before reporting.
Use platform reports, search removal and legal options in order.
Remove your address and phone number from broker sites to reduce risk.

Pick the Wiperts plan that fits your household

Plan	Covers	One-time deep scrub	Then
Individual	1 person	$89	$14/month
Couples (most popular)	2 people	$149	$24/month
Family	Up to 4 people	$199	$39/month

Every plan includes removal of your name, date of birth, salary, home address and phone number from 100+ data brokers and people-search sites, Google and Bing search-result removal, home blurring on maps, and 24/7 monitoring that re-removes your data if it reappears. See plans and start your removal

15. Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make my ex stop posting about me?

You can ask, report the content to the platform and, if the posts are harassing, threatening or defamatory, pursue legal remedies such as a cease-and-desist letter or a protective order. Results depend on the content, the platform and your state’s law.

What if my ex posted my address or phone number?

Treat it as doxxing. Save evidence, report it to the platform, request removal from search results, remove your listings from people-search sites and consider contacting law enforcement if you feel unsafe.

Is it defamation if my ex says bad things about me?

Only false statements of fact that harm your reputation may be defamatory. Opinions, venting and true statements usually are not. A lawyer can assess whether a specific post meets the standard in your state.

Should I respond publicly?

Usually no. Public arguments increase attention and can create evidence against you. Keep replies minimal, document everything and use platform and legal channels.

Can I get a court order to stop online contact?

In many jurisdictions, protective or restraining orders can include limits on online contact or posting. Eligibility depends on facts such as harassment, stalking or abuse. A court clerk or victim advocate can explain the process.

How do I find out if my ex shared my information elsewhere?

Search your name, phone number, address and usernames, check people-search sites and use reverse image search for photos. Ask trusted friends to alert you about posts.

Sources

justice.gov/ovw/stalking

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