Facebook Stalking: The Newest Way to Scope out a Date

She vigorously clicks the mouse as she scrolls through every one of the 2,496 pictures of him that are on his Facebook profile. From his pictures it looks like he knows how to go out and have fun, goes to the gym a lot, loves to spend time with his friends, is talented at the guitar and piano, and is very photogenic. His profile pictures show that he hasn't had a serious girlfriend in a while, so there's not a big chance of lingering feelings. And the posts on his wall show that everyone that knows him loves him. 

She closes the window and smiles to herself, excited for her date with this young gentleman that weekend. 

Sadly, this happens all too often. The Facebook Stalk has almost taken place of a background check. If a girl gets asked out by a guy, she will do her best to Facebook Stalk him as much as she can. Looking through all photos, scrolling through posts as old as two years ago, and reading his cheesy biography on his "Info" page are the typical items on the Facebook Stalk Check-List. And it isn't just girls that do this. Guys will do the exact same thing.

So, with this knowledge, I think people set up their Facebook profiles in such a way as to be appealing to others. They post photos that make them look like a fun person, an interesting person, and a well rounded person. Even if the guy can't really play piano or guitar, you are likely find a picture of him posing with said instruments. And even though he has only gone on two hiking trips in the last 20 years of his life, those pictures dominate his profile sending the message that he's adventurous. 

Without purposefully doing so, I think Facebook is not just a social media site, but also a dating site. Without the explicit "Personality Tests" and "Matching of Interests", people still send all the same messages through their Facebook profile that a dating profile would. 

So if you have a hot date this weekend go ahead, Facebook Stalk them. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, it's really useful. However, just don't put full credit in those pictures of him holding a guitar or standing on top of a mountain.