re: Texas woman kidnapped as a baby 51 years ago reunites with family thanks to home DNA test

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People who are adopted or who do not know the identity of a parent have a strong need to know where they came from. However, most adoptees are able to distinguish between the people who raised them lovingly as their parents and the people who gave birth to them

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This is very true. I was adopted legally and was told at a very early age. Through DNA, inadvertently discovered my biologic family close to the age of 50 and in my case has been a blessing. Though biological father was completely unaware, maternal family obviously knew of my existence and always wondered how I was, though biologic mother was dead. So luckily positive for everyone.

But to answer OP's initial question, yes, nice to have that information.

As a parent, I cannot fathom the hurt and pain the parents experienced by missing a life with their child.

As the child, I cannot fathom the disorientation of finding out that your "Mother" kidnapped you, is a criminal, and robbed your real parents and you of the life that was yours/theirs.

In both cases, I cannot fathom anything other than wanting to know everything and righting this wrong in every way possible as soon as possible.

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How does this work from a privacy standpoint? When you do one of these is there some kind of box where you say you don't mind if anyone that shows up as a relative contacts you? So if both parties (like in this example) do that then they are given the option to find contact information?

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Yes you can keep your information confidential. Additionally you can use a fake name.

I found out I have an older brother my Dad never knew about thanks to Ancestry.com.

And found a lost cousin who was put up for adoption.