AIBU to wonder if Facebook shows who has viewed your profile?

[TotaleclipseinFrance]

I recently found out that an old school friend's dad has died.
We drifted apart after school and haven't met for a long time - not because of dislike but because she moved to the other side of the country.
I searched for my friend on Facebook.
I did not send a friend request at the time as I was trying to figure out what to say. Or indeed if it were appropriate.
Their name is not common so I had look at several profiles of the same name.

Anyway, a few days later, I see I have a friend request from my old friend.

Sorry this is just a long-winded way of asking if you look at somebody's profile will you appear on their page?

I know the background may be unnecessary.

I also appreciate this has probably been asked lots of times before but I guess it's a constant query.

If it's not appropriate to ask about other social media sites here I understand why it may be removed. No problem.

No it doesn’t tell them who has viewed their profile. You may have appeared on their “People you may know list” especially if you have mutual friends. That’s likely what’s happened.

Makkka is correct, you’ll have appeared in her suggested friends list.

My bosses wife appears on mine which is entertaining 😆

Thanks for the replies.
We have no mutual friends though.

I am suspicious that people who appear in 'people you may know' are people who have searched for me and clicked on my profile.

I had somebody appear (distinct name, no mutuals) who I work with over email only. I've never met them and work from home. I have never searched for them either. I found it very strange that they appeared there.

So maybe you appeared in theirs.

Yes.
I'm not a big Facebook user. Use it mainly for local news, a handful of friends only.

I only started using it to sell a few bits and bobs on a local page or give stuff away.

Can you turn off 'people you may know' so you dont appear in their lists?

No, only if you view their public stories.

I think this too. Not sure otherwise how Facebook explains recommending “people you may know” when you don’t have any mutual friends, groups etc.

Was going to say exactly the same. A man I worked with a couple of years ago has been appearing in my “people you may know” for the last few weeks, he is based at the total opposite end of the country to me, we worked together virtually via Teams and have no mutual friends or interests whatsoever, we don’t have each others personal numbers, never chatted on any social media all contact was through Teams our work platform which is in no way connected to my personal devices whatsoever, I’ve never searched for him, I can’t think of how else Facebook would know about him if he hadn’t searched for me!

So it doesn't tell you they've viewed your profile, but yes, I strongly suspect it suggests people who have viewed it as someone you might know.

It doesn't explicitly say this person's been nosing your profile but they do appear as someone you might know .In fact you don't need to have looked them up you could just have spoken about them with somebody else. I spoke to my friend it's about her ex with her on Messenger via Facebook .IHe appeared as someone you might know . Similarly she mentioned her son and he appeared on instagram. I find it quite sinister.

I definitely think you're more likely to show up on their "People you may know" bit of you've looked at their profile recently.

I've not got many of DPs friends on Facebook, but I did a long bike trip a while back, and DP mentioned it to her friends on a night out in the middle of it, and that I was chucking photos up on Facebook as I went.

A couple of days later I noticed all her friends in my "people you may know", as they'd been having a nosey, although they wouldn't have seen much as I have it locked down.

It doesn’t tell them you viewed but it will show you as a suggested friend, which is probably where she saw you and added you.

@BronzedSun That's it!
By default the results the same though, isn't it?
That person guesses you've been looking at their profile.
Quite underhand really.

Well thanks for all replies.

You absolutely have appeared on their “people you may know”. It’s always denied, but if you browse someone’s page Facebook assume you know each other and you start appearing. It really IS a thing. It’s not black and white - some are just mutuals in that list, but it’s very clear if you don’t have mutuals

Look if you’re having a nosey just block them afterwards! Then it never comes up.

Good tip. Thanks.

I'm not friends with dh on Facebook. I don't think there's any mutual friends
I'm going to look at his profile and ask him if I appear.

Oh shit. This question has been asked before and the answer was no.

I don’t want to appear on some friends you may know lists, of some people I’ve nosied at - exes, old uni crushes etc. How embarrassing 😳

My 'may know' list is constantly filled with parents of children I teach. Even more concerning as my FB profile isn't my 'teacher' name (maiden name) or my own photograph so they must be properly searching for me. I find it mainly funny, but slightly concerning. I would never consider looking up my children's teacher's profiles.

I've been searching for an old friend and have clicked on people with the same name to see if it's them. These people always end up in the friends you may know list

You will appear in their People You May Know suggested friends list. I know because I have a family member I am NC with who stalks me on social media. Every few months a random friend of hers from back when I was a teenager or a neighbour or an old work colleague of hers will appear in my list. We have no mutual friends, have no connections on Facebook, I have never had their contact details in my phone and they all knew me 30 years ago when I had my maiden name. They didn’t suddenly become a close contact of mine somewhere. My family member is visiting them and convinces them to look me up to snoop via their profile. It happens a few times a year and it’s always a random old friend who is just close enough that they still meet up every few years.

Some people allow Facebook access to their contacts (email addresses etc), and if you're one of those, you're likely to appear in 'people you may know'.
In addition, this explanation gives some detail (googled)
On Facebook, "People You May Know" is a feature that suggests individuals you might be interested in adding as friends based on various factors, including shared friends, similar interests, or even your location. It's essentially a tool that tries to connect you with other people who might be a good fit for your social network.
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Here's a more detailed explanation:
How it works:
Facebook uses your profile information and the data of your existing friends to make these suggestions. For example, if you have a mutual friend with someone, or if you both attend the same school or work, Facebook may suggest that you add them as a friend.
Where to find it:
You can find the "People You May Know" suggestions on your news feed, in the "Friends" tab, and in the "Find Friends" section.
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Not a "stalking" list:
It's important to remember that "People You May Know" is not a list of people who have visited your profile. Facebook doesn't track who views your profile, and third-party apps that claim to do so are often scams. The suggestions are based on the data Facebook has access to, such as your mutual friends, shared groups, and your own profile information.
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Logically if FB told people you had looked at their profile it would also tell you when someone looked at yours. It doesn’t.

This is definitely a thing! I saw my cousin at my uncle's house for the first in years and not long afterwards he popped up on my people you may know despite us having zero connection online whatsoever