A better question may be, “What happens after I look?”
If checking leaves someone neutral, it may simply be curiosity. If it repeatedly brings jealousy, sadness, comparison or longing, the behaviour may be keeping an old emotional connection active.
That distinction matters. Moving on does not require pretending the person never existed. Sometimes healing simply means allowing the past to remain part of the story without constantly reopening the page.
Social media makes that boundary harder because an ex can remain only a search away. Creating distance through unfollowing, muting or limiting exposure can help when checking becomes emotionally disruptive.
Disclaimer: This article discusses findings from psychological research and does not diagnose any individual’s emotional state. People respond to breakups differently, and social-media behaviour alone cannot establish what someone feels or intends.