In the digital age, using an email address to locate social media accounts has become a common practice. Whether for personal, professional, or security reasons, knowing how to conduct this search can prove to be very useful. In this article, we offer you 5 available and free methods to find social media accounts, starting with a simple email address.
Why Search for Social Media Accounts Using an Email Address?
There are many reasons to look for a social media account using an email address. Here are the main ones:
- You want to find friends and/or contacts;
- You want to verify the identity of a particular individual to ensure they are indeed the person claiming to own the account;
- You want to learn more about a candidate in the context of professional recruitment.
5 Methods to Find Social Media Accounts Using an Email Address
1) Perform a Manual Search on Social Networks
The simplest method is to perform a manual search by entering the email address on popular social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The results can vary depending on the account’s privacy settings, but you have a fair chance of getting immediate results.
2) Use Search Engines
Conventional search engines can sometimes reveal information about social media accounts associated with an email address, especially if the account owner has shared this address online. For this method, simply type the person’s email address into your search engine’s search bar, and then look at the results. Be aware that some profiles or online accounts may not be publicly visible or linked to an email address.
3) Use Specialized Online Tools
There are online tools that allow you to search for social media accounts using a person’s email address or that of a company. Some are available for free, while others offer more advanced features for a fee. Here are some examples:
- Spokeo (free)
- Social Searcher (free)
- Pipl (paid)
- PeekYou (paid)
4) Use LinkedIn
If you’re looking for a professional profile, LinkedIn is a great place to start. You can enter the email address in LinkedIn’s search bar to see if a corresponding profile appears. It’s possible that the contact you’re interested in has set their profile to private or visible only to certain people. In that case, try using their first and last name if you have that information.
5) Ask the Person
It may seem obvious, yet many people overlook this simple approach. In some situations, the best approach may simply be to ask the person if they are on social networks and, if so, what their username is.
Why Verify the Accuracy of the Email Address Before Searching?
It is essential to ensure beforehand that the email address you have is accurate before using it to find social media accounts. This will save you time and help you avoid potential problems. Here’s how:
Email Validation
Send a confirmation email to the address in question. Ask the potential owner of the social media account to confirm its receipt. If the email is received and confirmed, you have proof of validity.
Use of Email Address Verification Tools
There are online tools that can verify the validity of an email address (correct format, active domain, etc.), such as Captain Verify.
In order, you must therefore first verify the validity of the email address you hold, and then carry out your searches. This is often a simple and quick way to obtain useful information through the social media accounts of your contacts.
