These complicated times may have you thinking back fondly on when things seemed easier and less complicated. And perhaps you’re also thinking about the people you used you know way back then, as well: childhood friends with whom you’ve lost touch, your high school sweetheart, cousins you haven’t seen in years. How are they all faring these days?
You can find out how people from your past are doing, and perhaps even make efforts to reconnect, with a bit of online investigation. The internet has made it easier than ever to find people and discover what they’ve been up to lately. And it can also present you with avenues to renew communication if you’re so inclined.
To find people online, you can:
Try a General Web Search
When it comes to searching for someone online, you might as well start at the beginning. If nothing else, a general web search can give you a better idea about the kinds and amount of information that may be available about someone. This can range from news items that mention the person to articles they published to their social media presence.
If the person’s name is fairly common, however, keep in mind that you may have to go through many pages of results until you find the exact person you’re looking for.
Look for Someone on Social Media
A great majority of American adults are on at least one of the major social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.). As such, you stand a good chance of finding a person going this route. Enter the person’s name in the social media channel’s search fields and go through the (hopefully short) list of users with that name to see if you recognize their picture or other personal details included in their profile.
Use an Online People Search
If you really want to find someone and their current contact information, a great option is to perform a search on a platform dedicated to just that. An online people search can help you find someone even if the person’s name is common and all you know is where they used to live years ago. Search results include current and former phone numbers and addresses, as well as lists of relatives and other likely associates, which can help you to confirm that you’ve found the right person.
Search Using as Much Info as You Can
Whatever route you take, it is always easier to find the right person by inputting as much relevant information about them as you can. If the person’s name is relatively unique, there will probably already be fewer matches to have to sift through. But if the name is pretty common, you need to be able to narrow things down with some other specific identifying information.
So, of course, input their name. But also include a city and state where they’ve lived, their middle name, their age, a phone number they used to have, or an actual address where they lived at some point. If you don’t have this kind of information, you should still be able to find a person eventually; it may just take a bit longer.
All in all, the internet can be a great tool for finding all kinds of information, including that for people you haven’t seen in a long time. The tips featured here can make it even more effective and convenient a way to find people and find out more about them. And it gives you the opportunity to reconnect, whether you want to reminisce about good times passed, or mull over good times still to come.
