How to Find Old Friends Online: 5 Simple Tips

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Life goes by too fast. You go to school and college, get married, have kids, and then grow old. Some people hold on to their friends, and even after decades, they remain close to them. Others, on the other hand, get so busy setting their future up that they lose friends that they once planned to spend their lives with. If you are reading this article, there is a good chance you are part of the rather large latter group. But the­­re is hope for you. If you want to rekindle those friendships, this article will put you on the right path.

Use Social Media

So, do you really want to connect to friends that you haven’t heard of or haven’t talked to for too long? Well, social media is one of the most powerful tools in your arsenal to do so. Whether it is Facebook or Instagram, you have the power to search for anyone. But the question arises: even if you have your friend’s full name, how can you find them in a sea of people who have the same name? There is a solution to that. You need to try to remember as much information about your friend as you can. Their age, the city they live in, the names of their relatives, etc.

If you haven’t met your friends for decades, then there is a huge possibility that you don’t remember any information of this kind about them. Then search for a school, college, or institution that you both attended. Even if you can’t find them on social media, then you might at least find people that may be aware of your friend’s whereabouts.

Search on Professional Platforms

If the search on social media didn’t pan out, there are still other options for you to consider. Professional platforms such as LinkedIn can be particularly useful if you are trying to find a former colleague or classmate you used to be friends with. 

If you find your friend’s profile, you can send them a message directly. They might not recognize you at first due to the messaging feature being reserved for recruiters, but it is your best bet. You can also view their profile to see if they have listed any contact information. It could be an email or a phone number. Whatever it is, you can use these to contact them outside of the platform.

The main advantage of platforms like LinkedIn is that you can customize your search parameters. You can choose the city, which will narrow down the search considerably. If you know which field your friend wanted to be in, search for people in that specific field. If they have an account on the platform, then you should be able to find them rather quickly.

Turn to People Search Sites

If your friend has an uncommon name or if you have some additional information about them, you may want to try using people search engines. These websites compile public records and other information to create a thorough profile of individuals, including their contact information, address history, professional details, etc.

One people search website that can be of use is Nuwber. It can compile all the important information about a person. All you need to do is insert the full name, and Nuwber will use its database of millions of people to find who you are looking for.

Another option is TruthFinder. This people search site combines records from federal, state, country, and city databases, which makes it easy to find anyone.

Keep in mind that many search engines require payment to access their full range of features. Additionally, some information might not be up to date. That said, even if the information is not recent, anything you get can be a good way to continue finding a person.

Explore Online Forums

You might be aware that there are dedicated forums for people that have very specific interests. If you are looking for an old friend, consider joining a forum related to an activity you both enjoyed. For example, if you and your friend used to play a particular sport together, you could join a forum dedicated to that sport and ask if anyone knows your friend.

Here is a step-by-step guide that can be of help, especially if you are new to such forums:

Identify forums related to your friend’s interests

Start by identifying forums that are relevant to your friend’s interests and hobbies. Use Google to find the best ones. 

Join the forum

Once you have chosen the forum, create an account and join the community. You will need to sign up. Make sure to use your real name so that when you find your friend, he or she can recognize you.

Introduce yourself

Many forums have an introduction section where new members introduce themselves. Take advantage of this opportunity to tell the community a little about yourself and why you joined the forum. Some people go above and beyond, and if you are lucky, you might find someone who could help you with the search.

Search for your friend

After introducing yourself, search the forum for any posts or comments related to your friend’s name. If you find any, you can reply to the post or send a message to the author. It could very well be that they might be who you are searching for. Introduce yourself, and hopefully, they will recognize you too.

Ask for help

If you can’t find any posts related to your friend, consider starting a new thread and asking for help. Post pictures and describe your friend a bit. If anyone knows anything, they will provide you with the details.

Don’t Forget About Genealogy Websites

If none of the above-mentioned ways of searching helped, then you really might have to think outside the box.

Genealogy websites are a unique and creative way to find friends. Many of these websites display family histories. However, these websites can also be useful tools for finding old friends. They are not designed for this purpose but can surely be utilized to do so.

One way to use such websites to find old friends is to search for their family members. Enter the names of your friend’s siblings, parents, or other relatives into the website’s database. If you are lucky, at least one of them might have created a family tree or included information about your friend. This can be useful if your friend has an uncommon last name, as it can make them easier to find.

Conclusion

There are situations in life when one wants to find a person they used to be close with, and in the 21st century, it is very easy to find absolutely anyone.

With the above tips, you can make the search a piece of cake. Begin with the first method and work your way down. You will surely get a lead somewhere!