Method / Public-source research

Follow a lead. Verify its source.

A username search checks public profile locations. The available sites and results can change with your App version, the chosen scope and the websites themselves. The 3.1 screenshots illustrate source review, but the public release may still be an earlier version.

A match does not prove identity

A public page at a matching handle is a lead. It does not show who controls the account, whether two accounts belong to the same person or whether the content is current. Open the original page and use independent, lawful context before making a decision.

Missing and blocked are different

A website can hide a profile, block a request, time out or change its response. A missing result does not prove a username is available to register. A successful page load alone does not prove a profile exists. Record uncertainty instead of turning it into a yes or no answer.

Keep the scope proportionate

Start with your own accounts, authorized work or another lawful public-source purpose. Search only what you need, keep a short record of original sources and stop when the question is answered. Do not try to bypass authentication or technical access controls.

Choose a practical guide

• Audit Your Own Public Footprint — A repeatable, privacy-conscious checklist for finding and reducing profiles exposed under usernames you control.
• Audit Creator and Brand Handles — Build an official handle register, triage confusing accounts, and protect a public-facing name without assuming ownership.
• Interpret Username Search Results — A field guide to public profiles, Not Found, Blocked, Unknown, and Source Conflict—including what each status cannot prove.
• Run an Authorized Username Investigation — A bounded workflow for lawful public-source research with written scope, evidence minimization, and clear stop conditions.

For an App issue, use Support. For the preview website and a link to the current App policy, use Privacy.