One of the most basic ways to search for someone is by typing their name into a search engine like Google or Ask.com. It's such a common practice that it even has its own name with today's college crowd – Google-stalking. And why shouldn't you use a search engine to learn a little more about the person you're thinking of dating – or that your daughter is dating?
Searching for someone using a search engine can turn up a surprising amount of information about that person, especially if they've ever been careless about their personal details. While people tend to think of the Internet as a huge, fluid and open forum, the truth is that nearly everything that is ever posted on the Internet is recorded out there somewhere and can be found again if you search for it diligently enough.
One major advantage of searching for someone via a search engine is that your search is completely anonymous. While some search engines do record the IP addresses where searches originate, that information is not generally available to the public. No search engine notifies people that someone has been searching for them. You can use any search engine you want to find information about the people in whom you are interested without every worrying that they'll find out you've been peeking.
Of course, the information that you find may not exactly be useful. If you're looking for specific information – addresses, telephone numbers, contact information – you may do better to use a specific people search engine. People search sites have been around since the beginning of the Internet, and continue to be among the most popularly used services. A people search site like Reunion.com can help you find your old college roommate, or your first crush.
If your search is even more specific, there are specialized people search directories that allow you to search for people by high school, college, graduating class, company worked for and other identifying information. If you're looking for an old college roommate, for instance, you might find that Reunion.com is your best choice. There you can look for people by the schools and the years in which they attended them. Looking for someone that you know once worked for Data General? Try LinkedIn.com, where you can search thousands of profiles by companies for which they work or have worked.
In most of these cases, you can always search anonymously, without revealing that you're looking for information on a particular person. Do keep in mind, though, that when you search profile sites, you're reading the information that the person wants others to find. A plain old search engine query, on the other hand, may turn up some very interesting information that they have no idea exists – and would prefer no one know.
Searching for someone using a search engine can turn up a surprising amount of information about that person, especially if they've ever been careless about their personal details. While people tend to think of the Internet as a huge, fluid and open forum, the truth is that nearly everything that is ever posted on the Internet is recorded out there somewhere and can be found again if you search for it diligently enough.
One major advantage of searching for someone via a search engine is that your search is completely anonymous. While some search engines do record the IP addresses where searches originate, that information is not generally available to the public. No search engine notifies people that someone has been searching for them. You can use any search engine you want to find information about the people in whom you are interested without every worrying that they'll find out you've been peeking.
Of course, the information that you find may not exactly be useful. If you're looking for specific information – addresses, telephone numbers, contact information – you may do better to use a specific people search engine. People search sites have been around since the beginning of the Internet, and continue to be among the most popularly used services. A people search site like Reunion.com can help you find your old college roommate, or your first crush.
If your search is even more specific, there are specialized people search directories that allow you to search for people by high school, college, graduating class, company worked for and other identifying information. If you're looking for an old college roommate, for instance, you might find that Reunion.com is your best choice. There you can look for people by the schools and the years in which they attended them. Looking for someone that you know once worked for Data General? Try LinkedIn.com, where you can search thousands of profiles by companies for which they work or have worked.
In most of these cases, you can always search anonymously, without revealing that you're looking for information on a particular person. Do keep in mind, though, that when you search profile sites, you're reading the information that the person wants others to find. A plain old search engine query, on the other hand, may turn up some very interesting information that they have no idea exists – and would prefer no one know.
SHARE
