How to Block A.I. Crawlers from Scraping Your Squarespace Website
Have you ever wondered if AI chatbots like ChatGPT can scan your Squarespace site? Well the answer is Yes, they can—unless you tweak your settings to stop them. Whether you see AI scanning as a benefit or a concern, today's guide will show you how to take control of what these AI crawlers can access. So, let’s dive into the settings and lock things down, shall we? Watch the video
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Why Block AI Crawlers?
AI crawlers can scan websites to collect data and learn from the content. While this can be useful for some purposes, it might not sit right with everyone. If you have content that you’d prefer to keep off these AI radars—maybe it’s exclusive content, sensitive information, or you just value privacy—blocking these crawlers is the way to go.
Step-by-Step Guide to Blocking AI Crawlers on Squarespace
Step 1: Access the Right Menu
Jump into your Squarespace settings. If you’re not sure where to start, just use the search function—it’s a lifesaver for navigating the backend. A quick forward slash (/) on your keyboard followed by typing "crawlers" should bring up the options you need.
Step 2: Navigate to Crawlers Settings
Once in settings, look under the ‘Website’ tab and scroll down to 'Crawlers'. You’ll find two sections here: one for search engine crawlers (like Google or Bing) and another for AI crawlers (like ChatGPT).
Step 3: Toggle Off AI Crawlers
Find the toggle for AI crawlers and switch it off. Remember to hit 'Save' to ensure your changes are applied.
The Implications of Blocking AI
By turning off AI crawler access, you’re essentially ensuring that AI systems cannot read or use your site’s content for training or any other purposes. It’s a simple but effective way to safeguard your data, but it also means that any AI-driven tools or enhancements won't be able to interact with your site.
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Your designer
I'm Bryan, a Squarespace web designer and founder of Abound Web Design. I have worked with all types of businesses and organizations from preschools to publishing companies to chiropractic clinics and everything in between. If you want to discuss a potential project, you can email me at bryan@aboundwebdesign or get in touch with me here. Alternatively, you can book in a free 15-minute consultation call here.
