This post has not been vetted or endorsed by BuzzFeed's editorial staff. BuzzFeed Community is a place where anyone can create a post or quiz. Try making your own!

Posted on Jan 31, 2017

How To Properly (And Covertly) Creep Your Crush Through Social Media

Don't be ashamed, everyone does it.

by CJ

Community Contributor

Scorpion Dagger / Via giphy.com

Don't you hate when your crush's Facebook profile is über private and you can't see any photos for proper creeping?

Well, it's always a good move to see if they have an Instagram account. As a photo sharing platform, Instagram gives you all the photos you may need.

A lurkers best kept secret: If their Instagram account is private and you're not sure if it's them, try to get a friend of yours to follow them first. Proper creeping!

Holly Loo Ya Blog / Via giphy.com

Look through any available photos in detail. Facebook. Instagram. Twitter. Analyze them. Carefully. There's probably more to a photo than you may think.

Drinking beer? Might be afraid of commitment.

Getting close with someone else? Creep the other person, make sure they're not important, because you're more important.

Drinking cocktails and eating fancy meals? Money. Keep lurking.

Song lyrics as a caption? Probably dramatic, proceed with caution.

YouTube (Culture) / Via giphy.com

If you're feeling extra confident and you can recall having a good first encounter, go ahead and slide into those DMs! You never know what may happen!

BUT this is the VERY last step, only after careful and proper creeping and if there's an appropriate means to do so.

Important Pro Tip: Creepy messages, nsfw images, liking old photos, or leaking personal information from your lurking extravaganza are NOT the best ways to approach your crush. Be natural and casual; and like a small budding flower, let it grow!

YoungerTV / Via giphy.com

What a time to be alive, where you can easily search up your crush through the Internet. Maybe you're already an expert, or maybe you have no clue what this article is even about, but there's no doubt that social media has become a part of our everyday lives. We are connected like never before.

It seems like our lurking/creeping practices has become the norm. Don't feel ashamed because your friends probably do the same. Embrace the new age of media and take full advantage, be smart, be the true lurker you wish to be, because maybe one day you'll meet the love of your life, IRL! And if nothing turns out the way you want, well just always remember, there's plenty of fish in the sea!

It’s 2017, its time to stop realizing things and just do them. Go forth and creep your crush!