how does "people you may know" work on Facebook?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I access FB only at home. My work has it blocked. So I can't figure out how the guy is coming up. I have emailed with him from my work email, but never from my gmail. And FB definitely does not have acess to my work email (right?)
The only thing I can think of is that he has been searching for me on FB. But if that is true, than every person I ever searched for knows i looked for them, because I come up on their "people you may know."?? I hope that is not the case.

I googled the issue and FB's explanation does not include any indication that this is the case. But I will inquire.

Thanks everyone.

OP, in my home country they have a local social networking site where a person can actually SEE who - and when - visited his/her page. The feature is called 'guests' and gives you the name and the avatar of every single person who checked your page out since your last log-in. Now, that makes cyberstalking sort of difficult.. .

As for FB, I do believe that once you've searched for someone, your name will be "suggested" to them. But to make you feel better, their list of 'suggested' names is usually so long they will probably miss your name among hundreds of others.

[Anonymous]

This is more than a VERY bothersome privacy intrusion! I opened an anonymous FB account, to try and come out a little, as at least, bi, without anyone knowing! And a day later, my ex-wife pops up as the first person I "may know" which means, she too would get this same notice - and I'd be outed immediately to her based on how I filled my account! I was so mortified and upset all night, and I shut down the account for that fear!

[Anonymous]

This is more than a VERY bothersome privacy intrusion! I opened an anonymous FB account, to try and come out a little, as at least, bi, without anyone knowing! And a day later, my ex-wife pops up as the first person I "may know" which means, she too would get this same notice - and I'd be outed immediately to her based on how I filled my account! I was so mortified and upset all night, and I shut down the account for that fear!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is more than a VERY bothersome privacy intrusion! I opened an anonymous FB account, to try and come out a little, as at least, bi, without anyone knowing! And a day later, my ex-wife pops up as the first person I "may know" which means, she too would get this same notice - and I'd be outed immediately to her based on how I filled my account! I was so mortified and upset all night, and I shut down the account for that fear!

Unless your profile pic was of you kissing another man, how would you be outed? If you haven't set up your privacy settings so that no one but friends can see details of your profile, then you are just being stupid. EVERYONE needs to set up their privacy settings so only friends can see details.

[Anonymous]

I think there is a setting where you can keep yourself from being searched-- so if someone searches for you, you never turn up. The only way people can find you is on someone's friend list. Not sure how this might affect the "people you know" function.

[Anonymous]

OP the guy probably searched for you on fb. If you search for someone's page and check it out you wILL pop up at some point in their 'people you may know' list. So if you have no friends in common or anything else in common yeah he probably searched for your name on fb..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:well, it kind of sucks if Facebook can put you in touch with people who have searched you out. I have looked up some ex-boyfriends that I would be mortified for them to learn that I was cyberstalking them!!

+1. Yikes!!!

[Anonymous]

Facebook is stalking you even when you log out. Cookies don't lie and lso cookies don't die (unless you specifically kill them).

[Anonymous]

I can't believe the luddites on this forum who even A. Stupidly still use FB B. Are surprised to find out that FB is tracking every single keystroke they make, whether they are logged into FB or not. FB; there is no "privacy setting" except deleting the account, then staying off it for 4-6 weeks (no checking back or it starts the sequence all over again). Also delete all FB cookies in your browser preferences. And YES VIRGINIA, your ex, neighbor, etc., knows you have searched them because you will show up in their "people you may know" if you have searched their name in the last calendar year.

[Anonymous]

"people you may know" doesn't even show up on my facebook anymore. Weird.

[Anonymous]

does this mean that if I facebook stalk old exes, etc that I will show up on THEIR people you may know list? because that is embarrassing!

[Anonymous]

I looked up an old boyfriend and looked up his wife too. Just curious.

Later another friend told me FB suggested to her we be friends.

So embarrassed.