While it can sound like a long shot, you can find someone’s socials by their phone number – if you want to. The question is: how? Well, you’re in luck! In this article, we’ll explain exactly how to find social media accounts by phone number, what tools you can use, and what you should definitely use. Read on!
Why People Search for Social Media by Phone Number?
You find an old number in your contacts, get a random text from someone you don’t remember, or meet a new person but forget their last name. Instead of playing detective, a quick social media search using their phone number can clarify things.
- Finding a friend you lost touch with: Maybe it’s an old classmate, a coworker from years ago, or even a cousin you haven’t seen in ages. You might not remember their username, but if their social media is linked to their number, you’re back in touch.
- Avoiding scammers and catfish: Instead of stressing over who sent that random “hey” text with no context, try looking up the number on social media. It can help you figure out if it’s a real person or just another scammer, which is especially handy with online dating since not everyone’s being honest about who they are.
- Networking without the awkwardness: Maybe you met someone at an event but forgot to grab their full name. Maybe you had a great chat with a potential business connection but didn’t get their LinkedIn. Searching by phone number helps you find them without sending an awkward “Hey, what’s your username again?” message.
- Checking up on odd caller: We all get random calls from numbers we don’t recognize. Instead of calling back blindly and risking a spam call, a quick search can tell you if it’s a legit person or just another telemarketer.
- Businesses want to find you: Businesses use phone numbers to connect with customers, whether for support, feedback, or, well, marketing. If you’ve ever signed up for something with your number, chances are they’ve used it to find you online.
Best Ways to Find Social Media Accounts Linked to a Phone Number
Ever get a random text or call and wonder, “Who is this?” Or maybe you’re trying to reconnect with an old friend but only have their number. Whatever the reason, searching for someone’s social media using their phone number can work – if you know where to look. While privacy settings have made it harder, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (X) still have ways to track people down. Below, we’ll explain how to find social media accounts by phone number while using socials themselves.
Social Media Search by Phone Number
Socials are not completely useless when you want to look up someone’s phone number. But how can you use them to your advantage? Keep reading and find out.
Finding Someone on Facebook with Their Phone Number
Facebook used to let you easily find people by phone number, but now it depends on their privacy settings. Still, there are a few tricks that might work.
The easiest way is to save the number in your phone and sync your contacts with Facebook. If they have their number linked and haven’t locked down their settings, Facebook might suggest their profile under “People You May Know”.
If that doesn’t work, search the phone number directly in the Facebook search bar. Sometimes, if the number is public, their profile will pop up. If not, take it to Google. Search “phone number site:facebook.com” and see if any old posts, comments, or business pages are linked to that number.
You might also find their page under a contact section if they run a small business. It’s a long shot, but it’s worth trying.
Finding an Instagram Account with a Phone Number
Instagram is trickier to learn how to find social media accounts by phone number since most people use usernames, but there’s still a way in. Sync your contacts with Instagram, and if they’ve connected their number, their account might appear under “Discover People”.
If that fails, try typing the phone number into the search bar – it rarely works, but every once in a while, a linked account might pop up. Another trick is to check their Facebook username if you’ve already found them there. A lot of people use the same handle on Instagram.
Tracking Someone Down on Twitter (X) with Their Phone Number
Twitter also lets people be found by phone number, but again, learning how to find social media with a phone number here depends on privacy settings. Sync your contacts with Twitter, and if their number is connected, their account might show up in your suggested follows.
Another move is to Google their number with “the site:twitter.com” to see if it appears in tweets, bios, or replies. If they’re using their phone for business or public posts, there’s a chance you’ll find something.
Using Third-Party Lookup Services
GEOfinder makes it super easy to find out where someone is or dig a little deeper into their social media presence using just their phone number. It’s a simple tool that tracks someone’s location based on their phone number, and you can also perform a social media search by phone number with the reverse phone number lookup feature. How it works:
- Input the number (works worldwide).
- Provide your email.
- Purchase a 1-day subscription.
- Access the details.
GEOfinder is a good tool to combine with a power of deduction – knowing where someone is can help you determine if they’re the person you’re looking for on social media.
- Spotting the right profile: If you know someone’s in New York, for example, you can check their social media for location tags or posts that line up with that. It’s a small thing, but it makes a difference in narrowing down your search.
- Identity check: Let’s say someone claims they’re from a certain place, but their profile doesn’t match up. If you know their location, it’s easier to see if their story holds up.
- Speeding up your search: If you’re using social media platforms to search for people, knowing where they are can help you filter out irrelevant profiles and find them faster.
Google & Search Engine Techniques
If nothing up to this point strikes you, you can still learn how to find social media with phone numbers via Google and search engine techniques. It’s nothing complicated, too – and you can see for yourself below:
- Use Google Search: You’d be surprised how often a quick search works. Just type the phone number into Google with a country code (like “+1 123-456-7890”) and hit search. If that number’s tied to public profiles, Google usually pulls them up.
- Use Google with specific search operators: Want to get more specific? Add a social media platform to the search, like “+1 123-456-7890 site:facebook.com”, and it’ll narrow down the results to Facebook alone.
- Try reverse phone lookup apps: If you’re digging for something a bit more detailed, reverse phone lookup apps like GEOfinder can do the job. They don’t just show you the owner’s name but also link to any social media profiles attached to the number. Some apps also scan public records, which can be a bonus if you’re looking for more context.
- Use OSINT (open-source intelligence) tools: If you’re up for a deep dive, OSINT tools can assist in tracking down social media accounts tied to a phone number. These tools are like your detective toolkit, searching through public data to find any profiles.
Privacy & Ethical Considerations
Usually (and hear us out for a second!), people hate it when you try to look them up without saying a word. But we’re not here to discourage you from doing it altogether – you just should know what you’re doing and how your actions can impact the person you’re looking up.
Respect Boundaries
Just because a phone number is out there doesn’t mean it’s an open invitation to search for someone’s personal accounts. Think about it: you wouldn’t want someone snooping around your profiles without your permission, would you? Always ask yourself if you really need to find their social media or if it’s just curiosity.
Laws Are a Thing
Different places have different rules about how your personal info can be used. For example, laws like GDPR in Europe and CCPA in California are there to protect your data. So, when you’re using third-party apps or tools to search for information, make sure they’re following the rules. You definitely don’t want to get caught up in any drama just because you were trying to find someone online.
Consent Is Key
If you’re going to search someone’s phone number and try to find their social profiles, think about asking for their consent first. Sure, they might have their number linked to their accounts, but that doesn’t mean they’re okay with it being looked up.
Use the Info Responsibly
If you do manage to find someone’s profile, don’t go overboard with it. Just because you can see their info doesn’t mean it’s a free pass to use it however you want. Be cool about it. If you’re trying to reconnect, send a friendly message, but don’t use their number or info for anything intowards. Keep it respectful!
Conclusion
If you’re trying to learn how to find social media accounts by phone number, GEOfinder can be a useful tool. While it’s primarily designed for tracking locations, it gives you a bit more than just a map. With its reverse phone lookup feature, you can not only find their name and address but also discover linked social media profiles.
Knowing where someone is can help you figure out if their social media lines up with what you’re seeing. For example, if their number’s tied to a New York area code and they post pics from there, you’re on the right track.
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