PeekYou helps you find details about anyone online. Learn how to use it to reconnect with old friends or research someone new while protecting your privacy.
What Exactly is PeekYou and How Does The People Search Engine Work?
Launched in 2006, PeekYou is a free online people search engine. It lets you look up information about people by searching their:
- Name
- Username
- Phone number
- Email address
PeekYou scans its 250+ million profile database and public sites to find matching profiles and personal details like:
- Age
- Location
- Social media accounts
- Websites
- Photos
Key Feature: Search by social media username to identify people with common names. For example, enter someone’s Twitter or Instagram handle.
Where Does PeekYou Get Its Data?
PeekYou gathers its data from public information sources like:
- Public records
- Social media sites
- Court records
- People search sites
- News sites
- Blogs
It uses this to build comprehensive online profiles with photos, employment details, contact info and more.
What Personal Information Can You Uncover With PeekYou?
PeekYou provides extensive details about a person’s online footprint, including:
Basic Info
- Full name
- Age
- Gender
- Location
- Aliases
Family & Relationships
- Names of possible relatives
- Connections to people with similar names
Social Media
- Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn profiles
- Usernames on various networks
Professional
- Employers
- Job titles
- Business details
Other Details
- Phone numbers
- Email addresses
- Interests/hobbies
- Education history
Photos
- Profile pictures
- Public social media photos
Court Records
- Criminal records
- Bankruptcies
- Divorces
- Lawsuits
However, details vary person-by-person based on their internet footprint and public visibility.
Is It Legal and Safe to Use PeekYou for Investigating People?
PeekYou gathers publicly accessible data, so searching someone is legal. However, keep these privacy considerations in mind:
- Information may be outdated or incorrect. Independently verify anything important.
- Personal details get aggregated into one searchable, shareable database.
- PeekYou logs and tracks your search history.
- Your data could be used or sold without your knowledge.
- Once online, information spreads quickly and can go viral.
While using PeekYou itself is legal, take care in how you utilize the data. Do not make major life or business decisions based solely on PeekYou results without further verification.
For example, PeekYou does not notify people when you search for them.
How to Remove Yourself from PeekYou
If you are uncomfortable having your personal details available on PeekYou, you can request to have your information removed by opting out. Here is the process:
1. Go to the PeekYou website and search for your name. Open your profile page.
2. Click on “Opt Out” located in the top right corner of your profile.
3. Enter your email address and click submit. Use a burner email account not associated with your name.
4. Wait 1-2 days for PeekYou to process your request and remove your profile.
You can also visit the “Do Not Sell My Personal Information” page and submit the opt-out form to prevent PeekYou from selling your data. However, information may still appear in search results until you fully opt out of the people search engine itself.
Top 7 PeekYou Alternative People Search Engines
PeekYou isn’t the only people search engine out there. Here are some top alternatives to consider:
- Spokeo – Wide range of personal search options and report types.
- SearchBug – Comprehensive reports with social media integration.
- Intelius – Includes hard-to-find phone numbers and email addresses.
- TruthFinder – Focuses on contact info, criminal checks and net worth.
- ZabaSearch – Specializes in finding people’s present location.
- Radaris – International search with interactive family trees.
- PeopleFinders – Known for public records like marriages and divorces.
Compare features like data accuracy, result details, pricing, reputation, interface and more to choose the right people search for your needs. Test a few out to see which one you like best.
FAQs About PeekYou
How accurate is the information on PeekYou?
The accuracy varies. Much of the data comes from public sources and records, which can often be outdated or contain errors. Always verify anything important.
Does PeekYou include international searches?
No, PeekYou is focused on searching for people in the United States. For international searches, try sites like Radaris or PeopleFinders.
Is there a mobile app for PeekYou?
Currently there is no official PeekYou mobile app. However, the mobile website works well for searching PeekYou on your smartphone or tablet.
Can I see who searched for me on PeekYou?
Unfortunately, PeekYou does not provide any way to see who has searched for you or viewed your profile page. The service is anonymous.
Does PeekYou remove information if requested?
Yes, PeekYou allows you to opt-out and request removal of your name and profile from their database. Just use their online opt-out form.
Is PeekYou better than Spokeo?
There is no definitive “best” people search engine. PeekYou and Spokeo have similar data but vary in their specific search options and results. Try both to see which one you prefer.
How does PeekYou make money?
Like many free services, PeekYou generates revenue through advertising and paid subscriptions that offer additional search tools and reports. They likely also earn revenue selling data.
Can I see my own PeekYou profile?
Yes, just search for yourself on the site and you can view the profile PeekYou has assembled about you based on publicly available information.
Key Takeaways: Use PeekYou Safely and Responsibly
- PeekYou aggregates public info into detailed personal profiles.
- Independently verify details instead of making assumptions.
- Understand and mitigate privacy risks around personal data spreading online.
- Removing yourself fully opts you out of further tracking and indexing.
- Compare alternative people search engines to find the best option for your needs.
- Use PeekYou carefully and legally as part of a thoughtful investigation process.
Conclusion
I hope this comprehensive guide gave you a helpful overview of how to use PeekYou to reconnect with old connections or research someone new while protecting your own privacy.
Remember to independently verify any details, understand the privacy implications and use people search engines carefully as one part of a thoughtful investigation process rather than the sole source of truth.
With great power comes great responsibility. Wield your investigative skills wisely.
