The Redact.dev Blog
Research, guides, and updates from the only platform that automatically cleans up your old posts and messages on social media
Liking a LinkedIn Post Almost Cost This Person a Job – Social Media Screening
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Background checks used to be about verifying your criminal history, employment records, or education. But now, even the smallest pieces of your online activity are being put under the microscope. A recent post on r/privacy shows just how invasive this has become. The Reddit user explained that Sterling, a major background check company, scanned their […]

The Best Web Browsers for Privacy In 2026
2026 is fast approaching, choosing the right web browser is one of the most important decisions for protecting your privacy online. While all browsers let you surf the web, not all of them treat your personal data the same way. Some prioritize speed and convenience at the expense of privacy, quietly collecting usage data or […]

AI Photo Geo-location: A Dangerous Precedent for Public Privacy
Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly, and one of its latest uses is raising serious questions about safety and privacy. Tools like GeoSpy can analyze a single photo and determine its location in seconds, even if all metadata has been stripped away. For investigators, this may seem like a powerful tool. For the public, it represents […]

How to Turn Off the New Friends Reels Feature on Instagram
If you’ve noticed Instagram’s new Friends Reels tab showing your likes and comments to others, you might not be thrilled. By default, the feature can display your reel activity to friends or followers you follow back. The good news is you can turn it off in just a few taps. Step-by-Step: How to Disable Friends […]

Wikipedia Loses Challenge to UK Online Safety Act
The Wikimedia Foundation, the charity that runs Wikipedia, has lost a court fight over some of the UK’s Online Safety Act provisions. The High Court action aimed to prevent the strictest rules of the law from being applied to the online encyclopedia. The judge dismissed the challenge but, as reported by Reuters the The Guardian, […]

ID Verification on YouTube (2025): What It Is, Why It’s Here, and How Australian & UK Laws Are Driving It
TL;DR – YouTube is expanding age checks for viewers and tightening identity checks for creators. The UK’s Online Safety Act and Australia’s new under-16 social-media rules are the big levers forcing platforms toward “highly effective age assurance” (read: ID, credit card, or selfie verification). Read on for details about the changes, and how you can […]

How to Turn off Instagram Maps
Overnight, Meta rolled out Instagram maps for many of its users. Instagram chief has publicly stated that the feature is opt-in only, despite many users claiming they were opted-in automatically. Ready to turn it off? Skip to the instructions here. Whether or not Meta has made a mistake, sharing your location with followers every time […]

Salesforce Breach: What the Google Hack Means for Your Data (June-August 2025)
Hackers recently compromised one of Google’s Salesforce databases, exposing sensitive data from small and medium-sized businesses. The attackers used a maliciously modified Salesforce app to carry out their campaign, raising concerns not just about corporate cybersecurity but also the broader risks posed by social engineering attacks. Social Engineering: How the Google Breach Happened Social engineering […]

How to Mass Delete Your Yelp Reviews and Comments
Negative Yelp reviews might have felt cathartic at the time, but they can come back to haunt you. Whether you’re protecting your privacy, managing your online presence, or simply wiping the slate clean, Redact makes it fast and easy to bulk delete your Yelp content. Why Use Redact for Yelp? Redact is the fastest, easiest […]

How to Clean Up Your Social Media Before Applying for a U.S. Visa
Scrub Before You Submit: Visa Screenings and the Rise of Social Media Background Checks by the Trump Admin Applying for a U.S. visa in 2025 means more than just paperwork and an interview. Consular officers are now reviewing your social media accounts as part of the screening process, adding a new layer of scrutiny that […]
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