Why is my ex obsessively watching my stories but still not reaching out?

[Anonymous]

My ex and I have been no contact since September 2024, when he told me he was dating someone else. I blocked him for 3 months, unblocked in February 2025, and he viewed one of my Instagram stories, then nothing for months.

Fast-forward to July 2025:

• He views two of my Instagram stories, two weeks apart.

• Then starts viewing all of my public Snapchat stories

• He sends me a Snapchat friend request, then deletes it within hours.

• For the last 7 days straight, he has viewed every single Snapchat public story I’ve posted, often within minutes of posting.

We haven’t spoken in almost a year, he’s still (to my knowledge) with the girl he mentioned last October, and I have not initiated any contact. We also do not have each other as contacts or friends on any social media, his accounts are mostly private while mine are mostly public.

My question:

Why would an ex watch your stories obsessively every day for over a week, send and retract a friend request… but still not actually reach out? Is this curiosity, guilt, unresolved feelings, or just a game?
And no, I don’t want to reach out and just ask him because I don’t know what his motives/intentions are and I want no involvement if he’s still in a relationship. I just want to know what the F is happening 😂

**Spartan55, this is not a question for you to answer **

[Sam1133]

Because you're as beautiful as Emma Watson
He just can't move on from you hun 🥰

[Pterodon]

Why do you care? He’s an ex

[Asker]

My reasons are my own :) and that wasn’t actually part of the question I asked, but thanks for attempting to contribute :)