A family photo link may still work long after the message containing it has disappeared into an old chat. Deleting the message is not necessarily the same as ending access to the album.
Start with the album’s own sharing controls. Identify whether access comes through named members, a link or both. These routes can behave differently, so removing one person may not close a link they already possess.
Use the service’s current controls
Google Photos’ sharing guidance explains that stopping album sharing involves removing members and turning off link sharing. It also notes that copies already downloaded or saved are not deleted when sharing stops. Other services may use different controls.
Before changing settings, consider whether other people contributed photos or comments and what the service says will happen to them. Ending sharing and deleting an album are different actions; choose the one that matches your intention.
Make an album-by-album review
For each shared album, ask who still needs access and whether the original purpose continues. A one-time event collection may need a different arrangement from an ongoing family album. Avoid adding new private photos to a broadly shared album simply because it is convenient.
After changing link access, test the old link in an appropriate signed-out view where possible. This checks one access route, not whether every previous recipient has removed their own copies. For sensitive material, contact recipients directly if further action is needed rather than relying on a settings change to recall it.
Keep future sharing decisions small: create a limited album for the occasion, explain who it is for and review it afterwards. A link is an ongoing permission mechanism, not merely a message attachment. Treating it that way makes it easier to notice when the original audience or purpose has changed.