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In the era of smartphones and social media, these two entities – phone numbers and social media accounts – have become deeply intertwined. Many people use their phone numbers to sign up for social media platforms, which often serve as an additional layer of security or a means of account recovery. What we aim to focus on in this guide is how one can utilize a phone number to find associated social media accounts. However, we’re not just talking about one or two platforms, but a holistic approach that covers multiple popular social media platforms.
Why Find Someone’s Social Media Accounts?
There are numerous reasons why one might want to locate social media accounts by phone number. These can range from personal, such as reconnecting with a long-lost friend.
Furthermore, finding someone’s social media accounts can provide valuable insight into their personality, interests, and connections, which can help foster more meaningful interactions and relationships. In addition, it can also aid in protecting oneself from scams or fraudulent activities by verifying the identity of a person through their online presence.
While this guide is intended to assist you in finding social media accounts using a phone number, it’s essential to highlight the importance of ethics and privacy right from the start.
This information should be used responsibly and not for any illicit activities such as stalking, harassment, or any form of invasion of privacy. Always respect the privacy of others and use this information for legitimate purposes.
Remember, it’s not only morally correct but also crucial for staying within legal boundaries. If privacy settings hinder your search on certain platforms, it’s important to respect these boundaries and not attempt to bypass them.
How to Find Social Media Accounts by Phone Number
- Reverse Phone Lookup Services
- Manual Social Search on Each Platform
- Using Search Engines
Method 1: Reverse Phone Number Lookup Services
Several online services specialize in aggregating and searching for people’s information, which can include social media accounts linked to phone numbers. However, keep in mind that these services can only provide information that is publicly available or shared with them by third-party data brokers.
Here are the 9 Reverse Phone Number Lookup Websites:
1. PeopleFinders
PeopleFinders is a data-as-a-service (DaaS) provider with access to billions of public records. Users can perform background checks, reverse phone lookups, and people search, among other things. PeopleFinders has been in operation for over 30 years, making it a reliable source of information. However, as with other services, the information should be used responsibly and in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Here’s how to use it:
- Go to the PeopleFinders website.
- Select the ‘Reverse Phone Lookup’ option.
- Enter the phone number and click ‘Search.’
- Any associated information, including social media profiles, will be displayed if available.
2. Spokeo
Spokeo is a people search engine that compiles information from white pages listings, public records, and social networks to help users learn more about people. They organize data into comprehensive yet easy-to-understand online profiles. While using Spokeo, keep in mind that the information you find should be used responsibly, as it’s intended for personal use only and not for purposes such as tenant screening or employment.
Here’s how to use it:
- Visit Spokeo’s website.
- Choose the ‘Reverse Phone Lookup’ option.
- Enter the phone number in the provided field and click ‘Search.’
- If the phone number is in Spokeo’s database, any associated information, including linked social media profiles, should appear.
3. Intelius
Intelius is an online service that provides reports containing information about individuals compiled from public records. This includes background checks, reverse phone lookup, and people search. Intelius has been providing these services since 2003. It’s worth noting that Intelius must not be used for FCRA related activities as it’s not a consumer reporting agency.
Here’s how to use it:
- Visit Intelius’s website.
- Select the ‘Reverse Phone Lookup’ option.
- Enter the phone number and click ‘Search.’
- If available, any associated information, including social media profiles, will be displayed.
4. BeenVerified
BeenVerified is one of the most popular reverse phone lookup websites with affordable access to billions of public records. It can be used for several purposes such as checking the background of a potential online date, reconnecting with a lost friend, learning more about your online person, or finding out the owner of a phone number that keeps calling you. It’s important to note, however, that BeenVerified is not a consumer reporting agency based on the FCRA. Thus, the information it provides can’t be used for employment, credit, tenant screening, or related purposes.
Here’s how to use it:
- Go to BeenVerified’s official website.
- Choose the ‘Phone Lookup’ option.
- Input the phone number and click ‘Search.’
- If any information, including social media profiles, is linked to the number, it will be displayed.
5. PeopleLooker
PeopleLooker is another people search service that allows users to access public records and perform background search. It’s often used for checking the background of a potential date, learning more about a new neighbor, or looking up an unknown caller or texter. Like other similar services, PeopleLooker is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA, and its services cannot be used for screening tenants, potential employees, or for any purpose covered by the FCRA.
Here’s how to use it:
- Go to the PeopleLooker website.
- Choose the ‘Phone Lookup’ option.
- Enter the phone number and click ‘Search.’
- If any information, including social media profiles, is linked to the number, it will be displayed.
6. NumberGuru
NumberGuru is also a popular reverse phone lookup website. It’s simple to use, and the user interface is quite friendly. While it is primarily known for its ability to identify unknown callers and texters, it can also potentially expose associated social media accounts, adding an extra layer of detail to your search results.
Here is how to use it:
- Navigate to the NumberGuru website or use their mobile application.
- Enter the phone number in the search bar and hit ‘Search.’
- If the number is associated with any social media accounts, they should appear in the results.
7. AnyWho
AnyWho is a straightforward, free-to-use tool that specializes in reverse phone lookups. It’s designed to help you uncover names and addresses associated with specific phone numbers. Its simplicity is its charm, making it an excellent choice if you’re looking for a no-frills approach to reverse phone searching. However, it doesn’t necessarily provide extensive social media data.
There are also services specifically designed for reverse phone lookup. These can sometimes provide social media account information associated with a phone number.
Here’s how to use some of these services:
- Visit the AnyWho website.
- Click on the ‘Reverse Phone Lookup’ section.
- Type in the phone number you’re interested in and hit ‘Find.’
- If there are any social media accounts associated with that phone number, they should appear in the results.
8. Truecaller
Truecaller is a globally recognized smartphone application that doubles as a robust directory for phone numbers from all over the world. This app doesn’t just reveal the name linked to a number; it can also potentially unveil associated social media accounts, making it an ideal tool for anyone looking to find social media accounts through a phone number. It’s worth noting that Truecaller relies on a user-populated database, which means data accuracy might vary.
Here is what to do:
- Install the Truecaller app on your smartphone or visit their website.
- Input the phone number into the search bar and hit ‘Search.’
- If the phone number has been reported before or is associated with a social media account, it will be displayed.
9. Whitepages
Whitepages is a reliable destination for those who are looking to conduct people searches, find phone numbers, perform reverse phone lookups, and even carry out background checks which encompass criminal records. It’s a treasure trove of public records, encompassing data from individuals and businesses alike, all compiled in a manner that’s user-friendly and easy to navigate. However, keep in mind that Whitepages doesn’t function as a consumer reporting agency as outlined by the FCRA, so it’s not the place to go for any FCRA-defined purposes.
Now, let’s dive into how you can use it:
- Kick-off your search by heading over to the Whitepages website.
- Click on the option that says ‘Reverse Phone’.
- Type in the phone number you’re interested in and then hit ‘Search.’
- If there’s any information, including social media accounts, linked to that phone number, it’ll pop up on your screen.
Please note that while some services offer limited information for free, others might require payment for reports. Also, not all services may be available in all locations due to legal restrictions. Always use these tools responsibly and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
Method 2: Manual Social Media Search
Manual search refers to the process of individually visiting each social media platform and using their built-in search features to locate profiles linked to a specific phone number. Let’s discuss the steps for each platform:
1. Facebook
Facebook allows you to find profiles by entering a phone number into the search bar. Here are the steps:
- Open Facebook and log into your account.
- In the search bar at the top, enter the phone number you’re interested in.
- Hit ‘Enter’ or click on the magnifying glass icon to search. If a Facebook profile is linked to this phone number and the user has not hidden this information, the profile should appear in the search results.
2. Instagram
Similarly, you can use Instagram’s search feature to find accounts linked to a phone number. Here’s how:
- Open Instagram and sign in to your account.
- Tap on the magnifying glass icon to open the search bar.
- Enter the phone number and wait for the results. If an Instagram account is linked to the phone number and the privacy settings permit, it will show up.
3. Twitter
Twitter doesn’t directly allow you to search for accounts using a phone number. However, if you have the phone number saved in your contacts, you can use the “Find friends” feature. Here’s the process:
- Open Twitter and log into your account.
- Navigate to your settings and select ‘Privacy and safety.’
- Under ‘Discoverability and contacts’, enable ‘Sync address book contacts.’ Twitter will then suggest profiles based on your contacts.
4. LinkedIn
LinkedIn allows you to sync your phone contacts and suggests connections based on that. Here’s how:
- Open LinkedIn and sign in to your account.
- Click on ‘My Network’ then ‘Connections’, and then choose ‘Add Contacts.’
- Choose to ‘Sync your device contacts.’ LinkedIn will then suggest profiles based on your contacts.
5. Snapchat
Snapchat allows you to add friends using a phone number if it’s saved in your device’s contacts. Here’s the process:
- Open Snapchat and tap on the profile icon in the top left corner.
- Tap on ‘Add Friends’ and then ‘Contacts.’
- Tap ‘Continue’ on the next screen to sync your contacts. Snapchat will then suggest friends based on your contacts.
Method 3: Using Search Engines
Search engines like Google and Bing can also help you find social media accounts linked to a phone number. Here’s how you can use these platforms:
1. Google
Google’s powerful search algorithms can often provide helpful results. Here’s how to use Google to search for social media accounts:
- Open your web browser and navigate to Google’s homepage.
- In the search bar, type in the phone number you’re interested in. For better results, you can use quotations around the number, like this: “123-456-7890”.
- Press ‘Enter’ or click on the ‘Google Search’ button. If any social media accounts are publicly linked to this number, they may appear in the search results.
Note: You may need to go through several pages of results to find what you’re looking for, as not all relevant results appear on the first page.
2. Bing
Bing, like Google, can be used to search for social media accounts linked to a phone number. Here’s how:
- Open your web browser and navigate to Bing’s homepage.
- In the search bar, type in the phone number you’re interested in. Using quotations around the number can improve the accuracy of results.
- Press ‘Enter’ or click on the ‘Search’ icon. If any social media accounts are publicly linked to this phone number, they should appear in the search results.
Note, you might need to sift through several pages of results to find relevant information.
3. Yahoo!
Yahoo Search is another search engine you can utilize to find social media accounts linked to a phone number. Here’s how:
- Open your web browser and navigate to Yahoo’s homepage.
- In the search bar, type in the phone number you’re interested in. Enclosing the number in quotations can improve the accuracy of results, like so: “123-456-7890”.
- Press ‘Enter’ or click on the ‘Search’ icon. If any social media accounts are publicly linked to this phone number, they may appear in the search results.
As with Google and Bing, you may need to sift through several pages of results to find the information you’re seeking.
Remember, the effectiveness of this method largely depends on whether the phone number is publicly linked to a social media account. If the user has chosen to keep their number private, it won’t appear in the search results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely, it’s possible to find someone’s social media accounts by their phone number for free. Some social media platforms allow users to be searched by their phone numbers, and there are also free reverse phone lookup services like AnyWho that may provide this information. However, the success of your search will depend on the privacy settings of the person you’re trying to find and whether they’ve chosen to link their phone number with their social media accounts.
There are several reasons why you might not be able to find a social media account by phone number. The person may not have linked their phone number to their social media accounts, or they may have opted for strict privacy settings that prevent their account from being found via phone number. In addition, the search tool or method you’re using might not have access to the database where the person’s information is stored.
In general, it is legal to look up someone’s social media account using their phone number, as long as you’re doing so for personal, non-commercial reasons and you’re not violating any laws in the process. However, it’s crucial to respect privacy and not to use the information for illegal purposes or in a way that would harass, threaten, or invade the privacy of others. Always adhere to the terms of use of each platform and abide by your local laws.