Googling Your Date

“Googling the one you (might) love is fairly common among the young, professional and Internet-savvy. ’Everyone does it...and if [they say] they're not doing it, they're lying.'” — Nara Schoenberg, "Don't Go Into Date Blind; Singles Googling Before Canoodling," Chicago Tribune, April 2, 2001.

Marriage licenses and divorce records are public records as are professional licenses. Singles regularly use Lexis/Westlaw and the internet to ascertain more about their dates. Some partake in "internet informational gathering" to curb their curiosity. Does my date rent or own? Others want to verify their date’s honesty. Did they really go to Harvard? Is he/she really an attorney?

For better or worse, "Googling" dates is standard practice. The results can be enlightening, surprising, and even disturbing. Read CNN's recent article “Googling Your Date” (April 10, 2007). Also see, “Consider 'Googling' potential dates the new form of flattery” (August 13, 2002).

Looking up an Ex

Not so long ago, MATCHinform posted the article Googling Your Date. The Internet is a great resource to investigate many legitimate subjects (sport stats, breaking news, and driving directions); it is also a discrete outlet to indulge in curiosities.

“The problem with Google, computers, the whole internet shebang is that it’s all right there, all the time, even at 2 a.m. when your judgment is impaired by nostalgia and tiredness and maybe a glass of wine and a sentimental novel. And because it’s right there, it’s hard to resist its lure, especially if you have a laptop and Wi-Fi and you don’t even have to get out of bed to look somebody up.” – Regina Lynn, How Long Is Your Digital Trail? (Wired), Dec. 03, 2004

The majority of people have used the Internet to look-up a past girlfriend or boyfriend. A search engine, like Google, is probably the most common method to track down a former flame. However, there are many ways to find an ex beyond Google including Myspace, Facebook, the Knot (registry), and Babys R Us (registry). Basically, if you want to know, you can find out.