Why deleting your Google search history matters
In today’s digital age, privacy concerns have become increasingly relevant. Many people turn to Google to search for answers to their questions, but some may be hesitant to ask publicly. As a result, they often delete their search history after asking their queries. However, what many do not realize is that their browsing data is still being kept. To delete it permanently, there is a secret step that needs to be taken.
When most people delete their browsing history, they simply go into the history bar on their Chrome browser and delete it from there. While this does delete the history from the device itself, the data associated with the account is still stored. To delete this data, one needs to take an extra step.
To begin, click on your profile image at the top right corner of your Chrome browser next to the search bar. From there, click “Manage your Google Account,” which will lead to a menu with several tabs. Type “My Activity” in the search bar on that page where “Search Google Account” is written. Clicking “My Activity” will lead you to your search history. To delete these searches, simply click on the delete button.
Alternatively, there is also an option to delete your history at a specific time. As you proceed further, Chrome will present you with a list that includes whether you only want to erase the history of the Google Chrome browser or if you also want to include YouTube in the deletion process.
It is important to note that while this process does delete your history, Google still keeps some data for as long as you have your account to help improve its services. As per Google’s privacy terms, “We keep some data for the life of your Google Account if it’s useful for helping us understand how users interact with our features and how we can improve our services.” For example, after deleting a specific Google search from My Activity, Chrome may still keep information about how often you search for things, but not what you searched for. However, when you delete your Google Account, the information about how often you search for things is also removed.
Another useful feature available through the My Activity button is the ability to change your location history. By doing so, Google will suggest personalized data based on your new location history. It is important to note that this feature is enabled for users over the age of 18 by default.
Chrome provides the following advice for users who turn on Location History: “When you turn on Location History, you may see a number of benefits across Google products and services, including personalized maps, recommendations based on places you’ve visited, help to find your phone, real-time traffic updates about your commute, and more useful ads.”
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It is important to be aware of how your browsing data is being stored and what steps you can take to delete it properly. By taking the extra step of deleting your history through the My Activity button, you can ensure that your search history is permanently deleted from your Google account. Additionally, by adjusting your location history, you can receive personalized suggestions from Google based on your current location.
