Nice People Thread No. 15, a Cyber Summer

michaels

Feel awkward asking this now, but I have noticed various people I know but have no link with appearing on my 'you might want to friend this person' list - does this mean they have searched for me - ie do facebook in effect give you a clue who has looked at your profile?

PasturesNew

michaels wrote: »

Feel awkward asking this now, but I have noticed various people I know but have no link with appearing on my 'you might want to friend this person' list - does this mean they have searched for me - ie do facebook in effect give you a clue who has looked at your profile?

It is creepy. I made a 2nd Facebook account - completely separate to my first one .... and the first person they offered to the "new me" as a potential friend was the real me!

There's some algorithm based on locations/IPs and something to then do with links from people in the area, or who you know, probably based on that "6 ... of separation" thing .... toss in the age and you've a slim pool of people within 40 miles who know people that people you vaguely know know .... and you do end up with just 1-2 possibles.

michaels

PasturesNew wrote: »

It is creepy. I made a 2nd Facebook account - completely separate to my first one .... and the first person they offered to the "new me" as a potential friend was the real me!

There's some algorithm based on locations/IPs and something to then do with links from people in the area, or who you know, probably based on that "6 ... of separation" thing .... toss in the age and you've a slim pool of people within 40 miles who know people that people you vaguely know know .... and you do end up with just 1-2 possibles.

Hmm - we are talking people who are hundreds or thousands of miles away and afaik we have no links or even second/third links in common so I think they must have searched for me (yes we are talking exs...)

Nikkster

michaels wrote: »

Feel awkward asking this now, but I have noticed various people I know but have no link with appearing on my 'you might want to friend this person' list - does this mean they have searched for me - ie do facebook in effect give you a clue who has looked at your profile?

You tell me... Facebook has suggested I might like to make friends with you! Can't remember whether we have mutual friends but I don't think so.

More likely one of us has shared their email contacts? (I don't think it's me?)

Which reminds me, I've been awfully rude and not replied to a PM another NP sent me. Thanks for the heads up - again not sure which one of us had shared our email contacts! Pretty sure I hadn't but I might have done by mistake. My whereabouts aren't secret (partially my fault as I told someone who I shouldn't and they passed the info on and partially as I'm findable through work stuff anyway I think). But thanks so much for thinking of me and my privacy. Much appreciated I just kept forgetting to reply

ivyleaf

Well done kab :T:T:beer: What a good thing your OH was there and could wait for your bag :eek:

I'm not on FB. My daughter tells me I should join, but I'm reluctant.

silvercar

michaels wrote: »

Feel awkward asking this now, but I have noticed various people I know but have no link with appearing on my 'you might want to friend this person' list - does this mean they have searched for me - ie do facebook in effect give you a clue who has looked at your profile?

Apparently this never happens. Golden rule of FB, because if it did you would never search around on FB.

More likely you have previously searched for the person and FB remembers that.

Ages ago I searched someone on FB and 2 years later they offered them as a possible friend. Could only have been from my previous search as they had died in the meantime.

zagubov

michaels wrote: »

Feel awkward asking this now, but I have noticed various people I know but have no link with appearing on my 'you might want to friend this person' list - does this mean they have searched for me - ie do facebook in effect give you a clue who has looked at your profile?

It's very creepy. All these computer systems are communicating behind our backs. They do say if you're not paying for the product, you're the product.

Generali

zagubov wrote: »

It's very creepy. All these computer systems are communicating behind our backs. They do say if you're not paying for the product, you're the product.

I have heard it said that in addition we tend to get the sort of news that feeds our existing biases. For example, if you are the sort of person that thinks that political correctness is ruining the world then you will tend to read stories about how political correctness is ruining the world. As a result, Google and Facebook will feed you lots of stories about how political correctness is ruining the world and so you will feel extra secure in your belief that political correctness is ruining the world.

zagubov

Generali wrote: »

I have heard it said that in addition we tend to get the sort of news that feeds our existing biases. For example, if you are the sort of person that thinks that political correctness is ruining the world then you will tend to read stories about how political correctness is ruining the world. As a result, Google and Facebook will feed you lots of stories about how political correctness is ruining the world and so you will feel extra secure in your belief that political correctness is ruining the world.

You're onto something there. One of my fave scientific writers, Richard Wiseman, points out that we even filter information in a way that looks like (good or bad) luck.

oldandhappy

Tesco tracked my shopping then offer you coupons relating to what you have purchased... but I think that is well known..