I’ve recently been thinking a lot about the concept of person search whether it’s trying to reconnect with an old friend, researching a professional contact, or simply trying to verify someone’s identity. It’s surprising how easy (and sometimes hard) it can be to find information online nowadays.
So I’m curious how do you approach a person search?
Do you rely on:
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Public records or social media platforms?
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Specialized databases?
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Old-school methods like mutual connections and alumni directories?
More importantly i’d love to hear your thoughts on the ethical boundaries of looking people up. For example:
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Where do you draw the line between curiosity and intrusion?
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Are there types of information you consciously avoid?
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How do you verify if what you’re finding is accurate or up-to-date?
Let’s talk strategies, tips, and ethics whether you’re doing a light search or something more in depth.
I usually start with LinkedIn if it’s professional then check Instagram or Facebook for more personal context. People share so much publicly it still amazes me. If those fail i try alumni directories or even Wayback Machine if they had an old blog or portfolio.
For me it’s always been about intent. If I’m just curious about a high school friend i stick to social media. But if I’m vetting a babysitter or roommate i’ll dig deeper……background check services, Google Scholar, whatever I can find. Ethics come into play heavy there.
Social media is overrated sometimes. I find public records way more helpful ….county clerk sites, court records, even tax records. Not for stalking lol, but if you’re trying to avoid a scammer, it’s gold. Just be respectful of what you do with the info.
Tbh i found my birth father using nothing but old forum posts and a people search engine. It felt like detective work mixed with gut instinct. I drew the line at paid background checks unless they were 100% necessary. Felt invasive otherwise.
Mutual connections work wonders. I once reconnected with a college roommate because someone tagged them in a wedding post. That’s the kind of wholesome search i feel good about. No rabbit holes, no weird vibes just reconnection.
I tried searching for an old friend once and ended up on some sketchy paywall site. Decided not to go further. The ethical boundary for me is: would i feel okay if someone looked me up like this? If not i stop.
Reddit is underrated for this. People post in niche subs all the time. You get a username and start piecing together interests, city, job. Just don’t be creepy. There’s a difference between “Hey, I wanna say hi” and “I know where your dog went to daycare.”
If I’m hiring i’ll look at portfolios and GitHub, but NEVER personal socials. What someone tweets in 2015 isn’t my business. People evolve. I stick to verifiable skills and public facing profiles.
I tried to find a guy I met at a music fest once. All I had was his first name and a vague memory he worked at REI. Miraculously found his band’s SoundCloud. Reached out and now we’re married. So… yeah search with love and not weirdness
Honestly it’s wild how much info is out there. I once verified a catfisher by reverse searching their apartment’s Zillow listing the background matched their selfies. I do avoid financial records and family trees feels too deep.
As a recruiter i use LinkedIn, GitHub, and Twitter mainly. I never search Facebook or Instagram. That’s personal territory unless the job is social media. Consent matters. I’d hate to lose a good candidate over a misunderstood meme.
Honestly i’ve helped friends track down deadbeat exes or absentee landlords. The Internet can be powerful when used for good. Just don’t go full blown CSI without remembering the person behind the pixels
I once tried finding a kid I bullied in 4th grade to apologize. Took a week, a yearbook scan, and a message to a librarian. We ended up having coffee. Some searches are about healing not just curiosity.
I always feel guilty afterward even if it’s a harmless search. Just knowing stuff someone didn’t offer makes me squirm. Maybe that’s a good instinct to keep things in check?
