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AIBU?

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To be paranoid about my Facebook stalking

57 replies

Wellywanging · 21/06/2024 15:45

Yikes, I was searching for a work client on Facebook who I have never met in person but been on zoom calls with. I have a bit of an innocent crush on him (I'm married, would not act on it) so was looking at his pics for a bit of entertainment (I'm sure we've all been there). But a week or so later I get a notification via email from Facebook of him as a suggested friend. So the question is, would he have also received the same thing but suggesting me as a friend? Or are these suggestions one way only? I have very distinctive name so he will know it's me straight away and might suspect I'd been stalking him. This would be embarrassing and unprofessional. Help.

OP posts:
BiliousOhGod · 21/06/2024 16:03

It might depend on whether you have socials in common elsewhere. Remember, nothing is truly private, and Google is watching..... I have FB suggestions for the people I work with. I have them as current colleagues on LinkedIn, but nothing else. I don't "friend" colleagues on FB and have never actively searched them out. Who knows what the FB algorithm will put on his suggestions.

Wellywanging · 21/06/2024 15:59

KreedKafer · 21/06/2024 15:57

No, it won't recommend you to him because you've been looking at his profile. It will recommend him to you, because you're the one that's been doing the searching. If he does get a recommendation to follow you, it will for another reason, like if you have mutual friends or something.

I really hope this is the case. Can anyone else confirm this?

OP posts:
KreedKafer · 21/06/2024 15:57

No, it won't recommend you to him because you've been looking at his profile. It will recommend him to you, because you're the one that's been doing the searching. If he does get a recommendation to follow you, it will for another reason, like if you have mutual friends or something.

Wellywanging · 21/06/2024 15:56

IncognitoUsername · 21/06/2024 15:52

When I get one of those email recommendations I assume it’s because we have a mutual friend, not that someone has been stalking my profile. Hopefully he will think the same!

But wouldn't it show if we have a mutual friend? We don't. We don't have any connections, not even geographical although there's a chance I will have to meet him in future in person. 😳

OP posts:
IncognitoUsername · 21/06/2024 15:52

When I get one of those email recommendations I assume it’s because we have a mutual friend, not that someone has been stalking my profile. Hopefully he will think the same!

Panpastels · 21/06/2024 15:51

I think it suggests people you have looked at as a friend sometimes. If you got suggested to them, they would probably just think it's an algorithm rather than you stalking them, I would think.

roughride24 · 21/06/2024 15:49

Watching with interest 👀