To think "friend suggestions" on Facebook are people who may have viewed your profile?

[ashbeebb]

Apologies if this has been done to death.
Recently I've had two strange things happen.
I have been having CBT and my counsellor appeared as a friend suggestion with a magnifying glass next to her name.
Now my phone number isn't registered to my Facebook and email is different to my email.
No friends in common obviously.

Then also my ex of two years ago randomly popped up yesterday.
I've not got any mutual friends or live in same area etc.
I don't even use my Facebook much.

Aibu surely this can't be just a coincidence can it?
I know Facebook have said nobody can find out who looks at who.

@KrisAkabusi

No, I don't think it's a coincidence, I think it's Facebook's algorithms being cleverer than most people give them credit for.

Maybe most people don’t realise the capacity of ‘Facebook’, our tiny brains don’t stand a chance against these enormous machines designed to keep your eyes glued to your phone screen.

They don’t even disclose how many servers they have. You have no way of knowing the processing power you’re up against on the opposite side of that screen. It can successfully make millions of decisions about what you’ll like to see based on you’re previous history faster than you can blink your eyes.

But I don’t have Facebook .

@jamthencreamyoufool of Course I might be wrong.
That's the whole point of the thread.
I don't know how Facebook could find a connection
I was hoping someone would explain
Not just say "your wrong"

People have explained.

@jamthencreamyoufool nothing about how a ex with zero connections can pop up they haven't actually

@ashbeebb

I guess this will always be a divided subject. Some people think it's possible and others don't. I guess it doesn't really matter but it does make me curious.

Of course it matters.

Facebook does what the fuck it likes and no-one holds the fuckers to account.

nothing about how a ex with zero connections can pop up they haven't actually

Yes they have.

Just because you think they have zero connections, doesn't mean that there are zero connections. If they are your ex, you certainly had connections of many kinds at one point. They don't just disappear.
Do you have any concept of how much information is available to Facebook? It's mind boggling in extent. They know more about you than you do.

My point was if Facebook can hold so much about people.
Connect people over locations etc
How is it not possible that they couldn't connect people by who's profiles they view.
So if I view Bob smith profile 4 times in a week ..could Facebook not assume I know Bob and show me as a "suggested friend " to Bob.
As they think I must know him.

How is it not possible that they couldn't connect people by who's profiles they view.

It's not about whether they could but whether they do.

They could, easily. But they don't.

I doubt v v v much your counsellor is fb stalking you

Why don't you ask her?

People You May Know doesn’t use things like your current location, information from third-party apps or search history to make friend suggestions. People on Facebook won’t know you’ve searched for them or visited their profile.

Facebook say they don't do it so why would they lie?

Did you google the counsellor for the address or to book her?

@MonkeyNotOrgangrinder

This is why I don't have my real name on Facebook. I only use it for stalking though tbh

😂😂😂

@ashbeebb

My point was if Facebook can hold so much about people. Connect people over locations etc How is it not possible that they couldn't connect people by who's profiles they view. So if I view Bob smith profile 4 times in a week ..could Facebook not assume I know Bob and show me as a "suggested friend " to Bob. As they think I must know him.

It is possible. Facebook have always said they could easily make it possible. They just don’t. It’s not an algorithm that’s used. People’s inherent vanity means they like to think that their ex or their ex’s new partner or their old school bully has been trying to snoop on them, and not understanding how algorithms work, decide that this must be the only way it could work.

I mean there’s multiple different reasons

My guess is the counsellor looked you up if you’ve never interacted with her and don’t link your contact details to fb

However with exes, fb has algorithms that can tell when you used to date someone. Or any sort of relationship (inc friends/family/colleagues etc), basically it notices when you cease contacting someone you used to speak to frequently and deduces that there was a relationship that ended. They do this to illicit an emotional response from you, which in turn keeps you logged in for longer and makes you more susceptible to ads etc. There was a Netflix documentary on it

@SoupDragon

People You May Know doesn’t use things like your current location, information from third-party apps or search history to make friend suggestions. People on Facebook won’t know you’ve searched for them or visited their profile.

Facebook say they don't do it so why would they lie?

Facebook say they don't do it so why would they lie?

Are you serious? I wouldn't trust Facebook to sit the right way on toilet.

they just don’t. It’s not an algorithm that’s used
Unless you work there I am not sure why you think you can know this. It's not as if Facebook cares much for piffling things like laws in the UK.

My counsellor was from my local hospital through nhs.
I self referred via the hospital

There’s other explanations too, eg cross site tracking and cookies. If your privacy settings in your browser aren’t the highest, fb theoretically could be able to deduce that you visited x counsellor by your web search history. But I think it’s more likely they’d show an ad for the clinic or mental health related ads vs the counsellor’s profile

@DynamoKev

they just don’t. It’s not an algorithm that’s used Unless you work there I am not sure why you think you can know this. It's not as if Facebook cares much for piffling things like laws in the UK.

Yes, this is how I know.

Are you serious?

Of course I am. What would the point in lying be? There is no benefit to them.

@SoupDragon

Are you serious?

Of course I am. What would the point in lying be? There is no benefit to them.

I'd be surprised if they tell the truth about how a critical piece of their apps works - the advantage is in concealing how they operate. They ignore laws and dodge taxes.

I’ve had some weird suggestions, it’s always been as I’ve been in the same location as the person. My GP popped up once as a suggestion, if I came up as a suggestion to her too i hope she realises it’s location based and not me snooping lol!

I Facebook search anyone that apply for a position, fairly standard protocol.

People You May Know doesn’t use things like your current location,

The guy I buy coffee off every week came up in mine.