Facebook ‘Friends’

[naomi24]

Solely in order to keep abreast of news of his sports club, my husband has recently signed up to Facebook, but he’s now receiving invitations from people of our acquaintance who have nothing to do with his sports club to be ‘friends’. Some of these people aren’t friends in real life, but simply people we happen to know - one is a neighbour we rarely see or speak to - so how does that work? Does Facebook somehow link its members to other people through personal email address lists or something like that? It all seems rather intrusive to me – not to say highly suspicious.

[naomi24]

Boxy, my husband doesn't have any 'friends' - and none of the 'friends' of the people in his sports club are known to us. Nevertheless he has an 'invitation' from someone who lives in our village with whom we have little contact. It really is creepy.

[boxtops]

No - what I mean is that by joining that group (sports club), the other people in that group are seen by FB as having links to him. As I understand it.

[craft1948]

I have someone, whom I have never heard of, wanting to be slightly more than a 'friend' after he'd read my profile. The daughter has now changed my security settings (I don't really understand FB)

[netibiza]

I only have friends that I really know and relatives.

[grasscarp]

I think we have reached the stage where the Internet is too clever! If I ever research anything for days after it will tailor adverts for something that may interest me.

[Gavmacp]

Not really a technophobe but there does seem to be more and more information about people that is available to view.

[naomi24]

I can't help thinking that somehow the personal email address book is infiltrated, and names on there are matched with existing Facebook members and are then listed on your Facebook page as 'people you might know' - hence potential 'friends'. I'm probably completely wrong though. I really don't like it.

[grasscarp]

You are right Naomi. they do access your address book and a lot more besides
http://www.businessinsider.com/what-facebook-knows-about-you-2012-9?op=1
Seems they do this unless you opt out!
There is loads on Internet with people complaining about this. Saw one site about Facecrooks.

[naomi24]

Grasscarp, flipping heck! Thanks so much for posting that. Much appreciated.