You know the Tumblr-inspired pics you posted that still haunt you to this day? Yeah, well…chances are they still exist somewhere.

If the idea of your face wandering the internet without supervision gives you the ick, don’t worry. There are ways for you to wipe those photos off the face of the earth.

1. Google Your Name

Don’t pretend you haven’t done it. We’ve all Googled ourselves and people we’ve known, including our 2nd-grade best friend, just to see if they became famous (they didn’t). And honestly? It works.

If it’s public, it knows; Google knows. So, here’s what you should type into the search bar if you’re hunting down your photos:

• Your full name (obviously)
• Any usernames you’ve used since the dawn of MySpace
• Schools you went to
• Jobs, internships, that one workshop you forgot about
• Events you were part of (that time you showed up for the free pizza counts)

Even if you weren’t mentioned in a photo, searching the event or group name can bring up pics you forgot existed, or hoped would stay buried. I Googled a friend’s name just for fun:

Guess what came up?

• Their current socials
• Some very old accounts they probably forgot about
• A yearbook photo from 2019 that absolutely did not age well

2. Use ProFaceFinder

You might have just one picture in mind, but if you searched thoroughly with ProFaceFinder, you’d figure that there were more…many more photos. All you have to do is upload one face picture that looks good.

The best thing is that ProFaceFinder has access to more sources than most reverse image search tools:

• Social Media: Telegram, TikTok, Snapchat
• Dating Sites: Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, OkCupid, etc.
• Public Records: Yes, even criminal databases
• News articles, blogs, and random corners of the internet

It finds the cute selfies you posted through high school, but it also spots dating sites profiles that might be using your photos, without your consent. 

It would be weird if you’ve already got a partner. Imagine all the drama…ugh.

• $6 = 2 searches
• $10 = 7 searches

Disclaimer: ProFaceFinder is a guide, not a delete button. It won’t remove anything, but it will show you what’s out there, including what Google missed. What you do with that info is up to you. 

3. Search Your Common Hashtags

Head to TikTok, or whatever app you were emotionally attached to in 2014, and search the hashtags you used.

The more specific, the better: 

• #thatfestival2017
• #blessedbutmessy
• #emoqueen

If searching for hashtags feels very general, add your old usernames, events you attended, years it was posted, when the event happened, and locations.

• #Coachella2023 + your username
• #GirlsTrip2020 + your town name

It can uncover tagged and untagged photos across different accounts, even ones that might not be following you anymore.

4. Check Your Friends’ and Relatives’ Profiles

Checking your tagged section is a great idea, but it doesn’t mean that’s all the photos you’re in. Not everyone tags you. Some people just post the pic and move on with their lives.

To be more thorough, check posts of the people you hang out with: even the aunt that you hate or the friend you fought with over a boy.

Remove them by respectfully communicating with the account’s owner, which may or may not get messy. You can also report the post as a last resort.

Or if you’re into medieval tortures, try public humiliation by commenting something so weird or off that it makes them delete the post altogether.

5. Monitor Your Photos 

If you know you still have some pictures around and you want the internet to tap you on the shoulder whenever your photo appears on the internet, pick automated services that continuously search and alert you.

Sign up for a Pixsy account and upload your images. It’s made for photographers but works for anyone with images to protect. It searches for new matches continuously, alerting you whenever your images get used.

Send a DMCA takedown or start legal action with just one click. No need to go through back-and-forths or awkward emails.

Here are the prices:

• $0/month – monitor up to 500 images
• $19/month or $209/year – monitor 2,000 images
• $39/month or $429/year – monitor 30,000 images
• $89/month or $979/year – monitor 100,000 images
• Custom pricing – 100,000+ images with tailored limits

However, since it was designed with photographers in mind, it might find only exact matches.

What to Do if Someone Is Using Your Photos Without Consent?

So you found out some weirdo is using your pics without asking? Time to roll up your sleeves and do something about it.

Step 1: Screenshot everything

Screenshot (or screen-record) the photo, the URL bar, the date, to the whole page because you need info on who is using your photos, where, and in what context.

If someone has stolen your images, you need proof of it for the authorities to take action, and the more proof you have, the more believable your case is.

Step 2: Reach out politely first

Send a calm, clear message to the site owner or profile; most people will take the photo down to avoid drama. You don’t need to be aggressive from the beginning. Try something like this:

“Hey! I came across your profile by chance and noticed that you were using my photos. I don’t know if you know me or not, or why you’re using my images (nor am I accusing you of anything), but it’s making me uncomfortable. I’d appreciate it if you took them down. Thank you!”

Step 3: Hit them with a formal DMCA takedown

DMCA is who you turn to if your content has been stolen and is being used online. Write a report, including the domain of the site using your image, and any important information.

There are tons of free templates online. Or if you’re lazy, use Pixsy’s automated system to do the heavy lifting for you.

If they’re ignoring you…

Time to escalate. Contact their hosting provider or get a lawyer.

Stealing your work is against the law, and you must push for credit before your career gets hit.

If it’s an image of your face, it’s best to act ASAP, as they could be using your identity for illegal activities, such as scamming.