by T. Lynn Amanti

Created on: August 02, 2008   Last Updated: April 05, 2011

How to Google Your Date

Is it too "stalkerish" to Google a first date or even someone you've known for a long time? Would you still google the person if they could find out that you were googling them? The background check has gone overtly high tech over the past 3 years. Finding background information dating back to elementary or high school and beyond is now made simple beyond belief with a few simple internet searches. Certain websites offer private investigation services but why pay for such an extensive search when a simple internet search could satisfy your curiosity and possibly give you peace of mind that you're not dating a serial killer?

The Method to the Madness
Searching on Google and other search engines can bring up random and unrelated information from the person you're actually searching for. For example typing in Michael Clark in Google brings up an actor, real estate website, a physician's webpage, a photography webpage, and a technology journal and this is just the first page of results! The key to being more specific is to contain the search name in quotation marks eg: "Michael Clark" and possibly including more information about the subject including the city. An example would be to type "Michael Clark" Columbus Ohio. This search brings up several telephone listings and results specific to the city of Columbus, Ohio. If this method is still bringing non-specific results you can add certain information that you may know about the person including their field of employment, college attended, and extra curricular activities. This should bring you general information on your date of interest including possible hobbies, contact information, employment contacts, and awards or accomplishments.

Digging Deeper
If a general search doesn't satisfy your taste for more information on a person you can go one step further by searching other websites. Public information sites in the county that your potential suitor resides will include the County Auditor for possible property searches, Clerk of Court website for civil and criminal records searches, Department of Corrections of the state in which you reside, and Secretary of State in which you can search business ownership listings. These websites will give you a more accurate reading of the person you may be dealing with including legal information, real estate owned, marital records, and possible date of birth revelations via traffic tickets that may have been issued.

The Bottom Line
Searching for information on someone you may possibly date may step over the line of privacy but it may be worth the risk by finding information that a stranger may be withholding. It is critical to be informed about someone you may be dating because your safety should come first. Many people think such searches are unnecessary, but consider that this is public information and someone who has nothing to hide might not have a problem with you trying to be aware of a possible criminal past or false information. If you have children it's especially important to be aware of whom it is that may may choose to bring into your home at some point. Whether you agree or disagree with doing a self guided background search the reality is that it happens thousands if not millions of times a day.

Before Googling your date it may also be important to Google yourself! What type of information could a date find on you?

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