
For the 47% of adults over the age of 27 that are members of a least one social networking site, we must do better than those in a younger age bracket. That means that as tempting and as easy as it is to "track" the object of your affection, don't do it. What's both scary and comical is that many of us wont admit to our stalking tendencies. The truth is, your obsession with following your boo's every move on Facebook is just as unhealthy as hiding in the bushes at night. Because so many are in denial of their stalking tendencies, here are 10 ways to determine if you're social networking stalker:
1. You check his or her profile page more than four times a day.
You don't need to review status updates, profile pic changes and added friends every 20 minutes. If communication between the two people involved is at the level it should be, then you should already know what your partner is doing without caring about every single little detail that he or she chooses to post.
2. If you've Googled "How to retrieve a person's password."
You've already gotten them to log onto their profile on your computer, hoping 'Autoform' would save the password. Now you're upset it didn't work, and you're searching for how to crack the code. Passwords are created to protect privacy. If you're bold enough to go on a mission to get your partner's password, how about being bold enough to ask directly?
3. You've ever created an fake account to keep your stalking a secret.
Yes, you already have a Twitter account but decided create a duplicate one under a different alias so you can get all the information you are searching for without looking like you're doing it. So when you send him a message from @100real asking if he's dating someone, you know it's a setup. No matter what his answer is, your relationship will fail without trust, anyway.
4. You lied about a status update so that you could stalk them in real life.
You're on your couch on Friday night upset she's going to hang out with friends for a "Girls Night Out." Instead of letting her enjoy her freedom, you update your status "Watching the game with my boys," just to throw her off when you show up at the very same bar where she and her girls are grabbing a drink. Shame on you.
5. At any given moment you know the exact number of his or her friends/followers.
Not one new friend/follower gets by without you noticing. You know the exact date and time his two co-workers friended him on Facebook bringing his total friend count at the end of the week to 167.
6. You check the status updates, walls and pages of their friends.
Just to make sure what you are told is substantiated, you checked every family member that she said attended his mother's birthday party, making sure there are no details that she may have regretted to leave out. Yes, her aunt Suzie did bring her potato salad...
7. You've asked an unsuspecting friend to friend/follow the person you stalk.
Did you just ask your friend Keisha to follow your new boo on Twitter after he decided to make his page private? What's worse, are you calling Keisha every night for her to run down his day before you end yours?
8. You've download FB/Twitter/MySpace to your phone in so you can check his or her page on the go.
You've made sure your Ubertwitter and Facebook mobile have the most up-to-date version on your Blackberry or Iphone.
9. You've created Google alerts for your partner'sprofile names.
Now, whenever anyone mentions his/her name you receive an instant email to notify you. If that isn't stalking, we don't know what is.
10. You begin to start your sentences with "Well, his/her Facebook said..." and "On MySpace I saw that he/she.."
Get a grip.


Comments: (38)
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By: Mac on 5/27/2010 7:30AM
Wow, what a subtle way the author of this article give tips on how to become a social network "stalker".
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By: Soul_Renaissance on 5/27/2010 7:45AM
Great tips!
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By: MS PEGGY on 5/27/2010 8:18AM
Great article. If someone has that little faith and trust in their significant other then they have an issue much larger than being a social network stalker. They have an obsession to the nth degree and could probably benefit from some professional counseling and/or therapy. Geesh.
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By: Fashionedbygod33 on 5/27/2010 10:07PM
Preach on Ms. Peggy. I agree.
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By: Shaun on 8/29/2010 12:52PM
C'mon now,Ms Peggy! Crazy people don't realize they're crazy!! They'd never seek a Dr. since they'd never recognize the symptom of 'nutcase'. ;-)
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By: SHANNLINWO on 5/27/2010 8:44AM
I really don't see so much wrong with it...whats to hide. It's like trying to makes sure you're not being made a fool of. If, a person is really being stalked..then the person thas being stalked will know what's going on and he or she should take measures to handle such a thing, if... it has gotten out of hand. Must say though, the tips are great..thought about writting them down.....they may just come in handy.
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By: Cookie on 5/27/2010 10:03AM
oops. i repent.
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By: dvine on 5/27/2010 12:01PM
it is not that serious.. but i do have a friend that does this.. my guy is not on my page and i don't want 2 b on his.. that's a lil 2 close 4 comfort.. hell i want my privacy..
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By: PJD120 on 5/27/2010 3:53PM
Lord, I'm so glad I'm old school. Lord, I wouldn't even know how to begin to stalk someone online, lol. If there are people out here surrounding their entire life around Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, then there is something seriously wrong with you. Like the author said, Get A Grip!!!!!
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By: DENIM on 5/27/2010 4:55PM
I GUESS TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, I'M NO DIFFERENT FROM THE PEOPLE I'M ABOUT TO TALK ABOUT, I GUESS I'M ONLY NO DIFFERENT CAUSE, I DON'T DO THE INTERNET STALKING SUCH AS THIS, BUT ANYONE WHO GENERALLY CHECKS ANOTHERS SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES MANY TIMES A DAY AND ONE WHO KNOW HOW MANY FRIENDS THEY HAVE IS PRETTY MUCH IN DESPERATE NEED OF A REAL LIFE...I THINK BEHAVIOR SUCH AS THAT IS GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL
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