Social media can be a great way to stay connected with friends and family, but it can also create opportunities for secrecy. Many social media platforms like Snapchat allow users to have multiple accounts that are hidden from certain contacts. If you suspect a loved one may be hiding social media activity from you, there are some steps you can take to try to uncover hidden accounts.
Look for clues in their behavior
Often the simplest way to detect secret social media accounts is by noticing subtle changes in behavior. Here are some signs that someone may be hiding Snapchat accounts from you:
- They frequently pick up their phone, use it briefly, and set it back down.
- They tilt their phone screen away from you when using it in your presence.
- They ignore or delay responding to Snapchat notifications when you’re nearby.
- Their Bitmoji avatar is nowhere to be seen on their phone.
- Their Snapchat score suddenly stops increasing or decreases.
- They become visibly startled or uncomfortable when you pick up their phone, even briefly.
- They delete conversations and clear notifications more aggressively than usual.
Trust your instincts if your loved one seems to be going out of their way to conceal their Snapchat activity around you. Increased secretiveness around a particular social platform is a strong indicator there may be accounts you don’t know about.
Check their friends list
If you can get brief access to your loved one’s phone, consider quickly checking their main Snapchat friends list and Bitmoji connections. Scan for any usernames you don’t recognize, especially those that don’t match names of people you know in real life. Jot down any handles that seem suspicious so you can investigate further.
You can also search friends lists for duplicate accounts. For example, if you see “Jessica” on the list twice, one of those accounts likely belongs to someone else. Take note if one Jessica has a Bitmoji and one does not. The one without a customized avatar may be a hidden account.
Look for app cloning
Sneaky Snapchat users will sometimes disguise the app on their phone using cloning apps like Dual Space or Parallel Space. These apps let you run multiple instances of Snapchat linked to different accounts. Check your loved one’s app drawer or home screens for anything that looks like a duplicate Snapchat app.
App cloning can also make Snapchat notifications confusing. If your loved one is getting Snapchats from unfamiliar usernames, they may be notifications from a hidden clone account.
Check their Snapchat score
Viewing someone’s Snapchat score can offer clues about possible hidden accounts. You can see a friend’s score by tapping their profile in your Snapchat friends list. Here’s how scores can help identify secret accounts:
- Score higher than expected – A score that’s higher than seems feasible for their known activity may indicate additional accounts.
- Score not increasing – If their score stalls for long periods while they’re actively using Snapchat, some activity may be going to an alternate account.
- Score drops unexpectedly – A sudden unexplained drop in score can mean they’ve deleted an account you didn’t know about.
Keep in mind legitimate reasons like account banning can also cause score drops. But significant decreases warrant a conversation to determine the cause.
Search their phone number
You can look up a phone number on Snapchat to see the accounts linked to it. Here’s how:
- Open Snapchat and tap the Add Friends ghost icon.
- Tap “Add by Contacts” and then the “+” symbol.
- Enter the phone number you want to search.
- Tap Search – any associated Snapchat accounts will appear.
If different accounts appear linked to your loved one’s number, they may be hiding some of them from you.
Check email addresses
You can also search for accounts connected to someone’s email address. Here’s the process:
- Go to account.snapchat.com and click “Forgot Password?”
- Enter the email address and click Search.
- Snapchat will show the username linked to that email.
Search your loved one’s emails to see if any secret accounts are revealed. Comparing usernames found across different emails can help uncover accounts used for hiding activities.
Log in on a new device
When you log into Snapchat on a brand new device for the first time, it will display any other accounts linked to that phone number or email address. Here are the steps:
- Borrow a friend’s phone or use an emulator to access Snapchat.
- Enter your loved one’s phone number or email to log in.
- On the “My Accounts” page, you’ll see usernames of any linked accounts.
This offers a quick glimpse of all accounts associated with their credentials. Any unfamiliar usernames likely point to hidden accounts.
Check account recovery
You can see connected accounts by starting Snapchat’s account recovery process. Here’s how:
- Go to accounts.snapchat.com and click “Forgot Password?”
- Enter your loved one’s username.
- Select “I forgot my password.”
- Choose “Recover with phone number or email.”
- On the next page, you’ll see associated accounts.
This displays both the main username and any other accounts linked behind the scenes. Compare against known accounts to spot hidden ones.
Check Snapchat Support
Getting in touch with Snapchat Support provides another route to uncover connected accounts. Here’s what to do:
- Submit a support request from your loved one’s account.
- Select “Account access” as the request topic.
- Explain you can’t access your account in the description.
- A Snapchat rep will respond with account recovery steps.
- This response should list any linked accounts.
Note that you’ll need access to your loved one’s email for corresponding with Support. Use this method to get Snapchat to reveal associated accounts directly.
Check account usernames
In some cases, glimpsing someone’s Snapchat friend list or Bitmoji connections can reveal portions of their hidden usernames. Here are some tips for deciphering these clues:
- Common prefixes/suffixes – Look for patterns like “firstlast123” or “123name”.
- Repetitions – Repeated letters like “jayjay” may signify a duplicate account.
- Reversals – Flipped names like “nhoj” can indicate an alternate account.
- Birth years – Numbers like “1996” in a username flag an account tied to a birth date.
Making note of any username styles or patterns can help you guess hidden account names later.
Check their best friends
Viewing your loved one’s “best friends” list on Snapchat can provide hints about unknown accounts. Here’s why:
- You’ll see candidates for secret account owners.
- You may spot accounts with suggestive names.
- Best friend emojis can reveal preferred recipients.
Monitoring best friends over time can also expose changes that align with major events. For example, if you had an argument and notice new best friends immediately after, they may link to a hidden account created due to the dispute.
Physically check their phone
When all else fails, physically picking up your loved one’s unlocked phone can confirm if they have alternate Snapchat accounts. Here are some ways to identify hidden accounts from their device:
- Tap profile icons in Snapchat to uncover their account names.
- Open Snapchat’s My Accounts page from Settings.
- Check their Chat list for unfamiliar accounts.
- Browse their Camera Roll for saved Snapchat media.
- Do a Spotlight search for their name and location.
If provided the opportunity, scanning their phone directly can quickly reveal accounts and activity they’ve concealed from you.
Use a phone monitoring app
Phone monitoring apps provide a way to secretly track someone’s Snapchat activity remotely. These programs allow you to:
- View account names and friends lists.
- Read private conversations.
- Check locations.
- See photos and videos sent and received.
The best monitoring apps run completely in the background without any outward signs of tracking. Your loved one won’t know you’re keeping tabs on their hidden accounts.
Phone monitoring does raise privacy concerns. Make sure you understand consent laws before tracking someone’s device. In general, notify them whenever possible to avoid illegal surveillance.
Hire a private investigator
As a last resort, you can hire a private investigator (PI) to look into potential hidden social media accounts. A good PI has ways to lawfully identify and access accounts through:
- Background checks
- Database searches
- Social engineering
- Reverse phone lookups
- Public records access
- Network analysis
They can also perform on-site surveillance to observe behavior and digitally monitor devices. Be aware this option comes with a high price tag and legal considerations.
Conclusion
Uncovering hidden Snapchat accounts requires equal parts observation, intuition, and clever sleuthing. While secret accounts are meant to avoid detection, they inevitably leave behind digital footprints. Pay attention and follow the subtle clues. With persistence, you can bring concealed accounts into the light.