Web stalker, or just curious about your ex's?

Break-ups were a lot easier before the online phenomenon of social networking sites.

When it was over, it was over. Jilted lovers could go their separate ways, never to cross paths again – barring an unfortunate and awkward encounter in the pub, of course.

But now, with sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, the broken-hearted can succumb to their masochistic and voyeuristic side and log on to find exactly what their ex’s are up to.

A recent poll of 1,000 adults revealed that up to half of all online users have looked up an old flame – even if it was someone who gave them the boot.

The survey, conducted by search engine Ask Jeeves, also revealed that one in four web users log on to social networking sites with the intention of finding a childhood sweetheart.

However, this may not always be well received. The survey also revealed that 20 per cent of online users have ignored an e-mail request to get in touch with a long-lost former love.

Adam Clayton, 24, a graphic designer from Lincoln, explained what happened when he was re-contacted by a ghost from his relationship past.

“I had a particularly bad break-up which devastated me,” he said.

“After a couple of years, I’d managed to re-build my life and get over her. Then, one day, completely out of the blue, there was a message from her waiting in my Facebook inbox.

“I couldn’t believe the audacity. After everything she’d done to me, how could she think I’d want to speak to her? It showed a complete lack of respect and I blocked her straight away.”

Amy Hill, 22, from Sincil Bank said that she believed friendships with ex’s were possible, and that the Internet could be a good medium to make that first step in re-connecting on an appropriate level.

“Friendships with an ex can work – if you manage to maintain them,” she said.

“I know when I talk to my ex whether or not he’s been watching my profile because he’ll ask me about certain status updates or photographs.

“I don’t mind because I know it isn’t out of jealousy. It’s more like curiosity.

“If it was a bad break up though, I’d probably hit delete and stop them from finding me.”

Miss Hill added that sites like Facebook and MySpace have caused a lot of strains on relationships she has had in the past.

“My last boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend stalked me constantly, to a point where I had to delete her. She would even go as far to comment on his profile about me and send me abusive private messages.

“If a straight-forward delete doesn’t solve the problem, then blocking them altogether will.”