What Is the Best Search Engine to Find a Person?
Cindy Ellis - December 8, 2023
When it comes to the internet, there is no end to the information out there. Many individuals may have online profiles for work, for social media, or as part of their online hobbies. Because of this, it’s often easy to find someone, or a trace of someone’s information online.
If you need to connect with a person or you want to find details about a certain person, you are probably wondering what the best search engine is to do this.
Our article helps you understand how to most effectively search for people online and the best search engine you can use for searches. Plus, we list a few helpful search methods to get you started finding the people you need to connect with.
How Can I Search for People Online?
Searching for people online often seems easy due to the amount of information typically found on the internet.
However, what if someone doesn’t have a social media presence, or what if their name and location make it hard to narrow down the options for which person you are looking for? In these cases, it helps to understand how to narrow your searches when using a search engine and to keep in mind our search methods for finding someone below.
In order to make your search engine results more fruitful, you can learn how to narrow search results using a browser like Google. These methods will help return you exact keyword matches or allow you to browse a specific website. Overall, knowing how to broaden and target your searches will help you more effectively and quickly find the person you are looking for.
Best Search Methods for Finding Someone
The following methods are some of the best search methods for finding a person online. We recommend trying them all to ensure that you have the best chance of getting the results you need.
People Search Tool
People search tools are convenient ways to find out all of the information you might need to know about a person. This includes their contact details and details such as criminal background information.
A people search tool like Information.com can be used by typing in a person’s name and location or their phone number. Once you run a search, you can review the easy-to-read report regarding their information and how to contact them.
Keep in mind that you cannot use people search tools to perform background checks on potential employees without their knowledge, as employment background checks require signed consent.
Internet Browser
Using an internet browser like Google is a good way to find someone, and Google is typically the most powerful general engine for searching for someone. However, since many people have the same or similar names, your results will likely be full of irrelevant information.
When you use Google, you can broaden or narrow your search appropriately, and you are able to search through millions of websites at once. When you know which keywords to use and some general information about the person you are searching for, such as their employer or school, then you can type this into the search engine and browse the results.
Keep in mind when using an internet browser that the first page of results is the most likely to be relevant to your search. If you have to click back through lots of web pages, then the results will become less and less related to the person you are trying to find.
Another helpful item about internet browsers when it comes to finding a person is that you can often type in a whole or partial name and have the results show you relevant items. From these results, you can put together more information to make your search more accurate.
Social Media
Social media is often one of the most convenient ways to find people. Social media is especially good if you have connections to a certain person or you were previously in contact over social media and fell out of touch.
You can use social media websites like Facebook, Instagram, and even LinkedIn to search for people by name, school, or location (or username, in the case of Instagram). Then, you can figure out the information you need to know. You can also find hidden social media accounts to learn even more about someone.
It’s important to note that some social media websites will show the individual you are searching for that you viewed their profile. So, if you are trying to search for a person without them knowing, you will need to be cautious about viewing their profile with your own.
Historical Records
If you are trying to find an ancestor, a historical figure, or someone you believe may have passed away, historical records, graveyard records, and libraries are great sources to use. Many search engines like Google can point you in the right direction for historical records when it comes to tracing your genealogy or finding a person who may be deceased.
Alternatively, you can search a website like Ancestry or a library directly to find the information about a person you need to know.
Is It Legal to Look People Up Online?
Many individuals choose to look up others online to ensure that they have the correct contact details, to figure out someone’s email or phone number, and to verify that a person is telling the truth about their identity. It is perfectly legal to look people up online, as long as you aren’t using the knowledge that you gain to commit a crime, such as stalking or harassing someone.
Search Engines to Avoid
As you start searching for people online or using a search engine, you will likely see advertisements and other tools. These tools may guarantee they can find you all of the information you might need about a person.
When these websites request your personal information, such as your own name and details, or your banking and credit card information you should proceed with caution.
The majority of these websites are scams that promise to unlock the information you need after you pay. They typically won’t give you information or your details will be stolen and used as part of an identity theft scam.
Always avoid search engines that try to get you to download software, those that have lots of urgent language, and those with poor design and incorrect grammar or English. These are all warning signs of a potential scam.
Finding the People You Need to Connect With Online
Finding someone with a search engine can take some time, but it doesn’t need to be the time-consuming and difficult process you might think. By using a search engine like Google and narrowing your search or by using social media websites and trustworthy people search tools, you can easily find the people you need to connect with online.
