Facebook - "People you may know" feature

[Beelzbubble]

Ok, this is creepy as hell.

I just looked on my Facebook "people you may know" and there is a suggestion who is not a friend of mine or anyone I know. This person was a business contact of an ex boyfriend (who I am not in contact with) but wouldn't know of me and I haven't spoken to my ex in over 20 years. I never met this person. Both my ex and this person have Facebook accounts. I have never browsed this person's Facebook. I know my ex has an account because someone told me but have not looked him up either. I have minimum information on my Facebook account and no phone number.

Anyone know how the PYMK would link him to me? So creepy!

If you and your ex boyfriend have any friends in common or have had any conversations on Facebook, instagram, WhatsApp etc then the link will be there between the two of you and then the same link could be between him and this other person so then it’s a potential person you may know.

He might’ve looked at your account and I’ve heard that makes people show up on your people you may know section. Your ex might have mentioned you to him and he looked you up.

I get this all the time. It is randomly generated by common acquaintances, even where you regularly visit eg a gym or restaurant or place of work .

I got suggested my husbands ex wife today lol!! Though we do have 1 "friend" in common which is my husbands nephew.

Obviously that’s weird but it might explain it.

Have you ever phoned him using the number you connect to your FB account? Unlikely as it's 20 years ago but I know that's one way they do connections!

Were you ever associated with the business in a way that might link you?

There is also an unconfirmed theory that FB suggests people to you who have looked at your page.

Wait until parents from school gate whom you've never spoken to come up...

I've always believed they pop up as a suggestion on yours if they've been looking at you. It's happened numerous times with me over the years that people with no connection to me that I meet suddenly appear on my PYMK.

I don't have my phone number connected to my Facebook account. Only minimum information.

I could be wrong but I'm convinced it's when people look you up. Which is why I never look people up unless I'm happy for them to know!

Two family members looked me up then appeared in my People You May Know Section.

LazyFace is right - I once got a friend request from one of the Dads in DD’s class. I accepted as I thought perhaps he wanted to message me about the girls meeting up or something... he unfriended me the next day. It was a bit weird.

FB can mine contacts and friends contacts - in phone, email, messenger etc depending on settings - this can produce people who are friends of friends in the people you may know.