The Wirecutter Show: Can You Really Disappear Online?

Release Date: June 25, 2025

In the latest episode of The Wirecutter Show, hosted by Christine Cyr Clisset and Kyra Blackwell, the focus shifts to a pressing modern concern: how to erase your presence from the internet. With the digital footprint expanding exponentially, the episode delves into the feasibility, strategies, and emotional ramifications of attempting to vanish online. The duo engages in a candid conversation with Max Eddy, Wirecutter’s expert on privacy, security, and software, who undertook a comprehensive personal project to minimize his digital footprint.

Unveiling the Digital Footprint

The episode opens with Christine and Kyra discussing their own online presences. Christine shares her surprise at discovering extensive personal information about her family online despite efforts to remain guarded. Kyra admits to maintaining a substantial online presence, regularly monitoring her information through Google searches.

Kyra Blackwell (01:37):
"I Google myself constantly to make sure that my efforts are not in vain."

This mutual revelation sets the stage for exploring the broader implications of data privacy and the challenges inherent in managing one’s digital identity.

Max Eddy’s Mission to Disappear

Christine introduces Max Eddy, who shares his ambitious project to erase himself from the internet—a task seemingly insurmountable for someone with an extensive online footprint as a journalist.

Max Eddy (05:19):
"If I can't disappear, then maybe I can get control and try to take control of as much of it as I could."

Max emphasizes that complete disappearance is a "fantasy," but significant reduction is achievable through deliberate actions. His journey becomes a case study for listeners seeking to reclaim their privacy.

Strategies for Reducing Online Presence

Max outlines a three-pronged approach to diminishing his online footprint:

1. Google Search Results Suppression
   Max utilized Google’s "Results About You" tool to limit personal information from appearing in search results. While this tool can suppress sensitive data, it does not remove it entirely from the web.

   Max Eddy (13:31):
   "The information is still out there, which is the second thing that I did. So the second thing I did was to address the sites that had my information."

2. Managing Social Media Accounts
   Instead of deleting his social media accounts entirely, Max opted to maintain them in an inactive state. He replaced personal photos with randomly generated images and used email masking services to prevent data brokers from aggregating his information.

   Max Eddy (22:13):
   "I created what the experts call synthetic data... all of the pictures are different. You're not going to be able to put them together and say, like, look, same user photos here and here."

3. Addressing Public Records
   Tackling public records proved to be the most challenging aspect, as many records are maintained by law and cannot be easily removed. Max advises understanding local laws to explore any available options for redaction or removal.

   Max Eddy (31:27):
   "Removing public records is really difficult because the existence of their record is usually required by law."

Dealing with Data Brokers

A significant portion of the discussion centers on data brokers—entities that collect, compile, and sell personal information. Max explains how data brokers aggregate data from various sources, creating detailed profiles that can be difficult to dismantle.

Max Eddy (14:29):
"Data brokers gather personal information and then sell it... they can assemble some pretty specific dossiers on individuals."

To combat this, Max employed data removal services, which handle the tedious process of sending opt-out requests to multiple data brokers on behalf of individuals. He highlights the varying costs and effectiveness of these services, noting the persistent challenge of data brokers relisting information even after removal.

Max Eddy (17:32):
"The cost of a data removal service is wide ranging. On the low end I found one for $20 a year... but you are going to have to do some Googling."

Emotional and Practical Impacts

Max candidly shares the emotional toll of his project. Initially, deleting posts felt like watching his life flash before his eyes, but as more personal memories vanished, it became a source of distress.

Max Eddy (29:54):
"After a while, it starts to feel pretty bad. Whatever urges were there to share my life and connect with people like that, it hurt that a little bit."

Despite the technical strategies, the process is not merely mechanical—it involves confronting past actions and personal growth. Christine and Kyra relate to these feelings, acknowledging the difficulty of balancing online presence with privacy.

Practical Takeaways for Listeners

Max provides simplified steps for those looking to reduce their online footprint:

1. Use Google's Tool:
   Utilize Google’s “Results About You” tool to suppress personal search results.

2. Audit and Clean Social Media Accounts:
   Decide whether to delete or deactivate accounts. If deactivating, replace personal information with synthetic data and use email masking services.

3. Engage with Data Removal Services:
   Consider using reputable services to handle data broker opt-outs, balancing cost with desired effectiveness.

4. Monitor Accounts with Tools Like “Have I Been Pwned?”:
   Regularly check for data breaches to stay informed about personal information exposure.

Christine Cyr Clisset (32:14):
"You can read about my experiences doing that."

Max encourages proactive management, emphasizing that while complete disappearance is unattainable, significant control over one’s digital presence is possible with deliberate effort.

Conclusion: Balancing Privacy and Connectivity

The episode wraps up with reflections on the balance between maintaining privacy and the human desire to connect and share life online. While tools and strategies exist to mitigate online exposure, the emotional challenges and ongoing efforts required underscore the complexity of truly "disappearing" online.

Christine Cyr Clisset (34:03):
"A lot of the information that I was so proud to have about myself online, like, people are making money off of that. So that's not great."

Listeners are encouraged to take small, manageable steps towards controlling their digital footprint, leveraging the tools and insights discussed by Max to navigate the intricate landscape of online privacy.

For more information on Wirecutter’s coverage or to explore products and services mentioned in this episode, visit nytimes.com/wirecutter or check the show notes for direct links.