I couldn’t stop stalking a former friend on social media. Then she caught me

I couldn’t stop stalking a former friend on social media. Then she caught me

April 16, 2026 — 7:00pm

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I did it without even realising half the time – my fingers acted alone, from an instinct that should have alerted me to how frequently I was doing it. I would unlock my phone, open Instagram, navigate to my secret account and be typing in her username before I had even processed what I was doing.

There was usually a buzz of anticipation, almost adrenalin, at the sight of her profile picture. But this time – nothing. No familiar icon, just a list of other accounts with similar names. How strange. Had she deleted her account?

I logged into another account, an old one I never use. I searched her name, and there it was. Adrenalin dovetailed into shame. She had blocked me. Not even me – the fake “me” that was presented by my burner account, which was somehow even more embarrassing because she had likely put two and two together and realised who I was.

Becky (not her real name) and I shared one of those friendships that burned bright and fast........

© The Sydney Morning Herald