4 ms·

I don't have a FB app on my phone, I have a FB account that has no posts. I look at it occasionally to track my "likes". Last week I was a conference in downtow

I don't have a FB app on my phone, I have a FB account that has no posts. I look at it occasionally to track my "likes". Last week I was a conference in downtown Boston. I have no connection to the conference, I was there to meet my friend's daughter who lives oversees. While standing in line, people watching, I couldn't help but notice an extravagant fellow, I later discovered he was a an out of town PHD student there for the conference. Imagine my shock when my next web login to FB offered me this very man as a suggested friend!

ronyfadel 8y ago
Is there a definitive answer on how these suggestions happen? (Other example: talk about X with someone; start seeing internet ads for X afterwards). Is it coincidence?
- extrapolate 8y ago
  https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/12/28/18158968/facebook-microphone-tapping-recording-instagram-ads https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/12/28/18158968/facebook-m... https://newsroom.fb.com/news/h/facebook-does-not-use-your-phones-microphone-for-ads-or-news-feed-stories/ https://newsroom.fb.com/news/h/facebook-does-not-use-your-ph...
- guntars 8y ago
  For every ad or suggestion that elicits that kind of response, how many are completely unremarkable and immediately forgotten? It’s largely explained by the survivorship bias.
Spooky23 8y ago
They use geolocation extensively. You probably were in proximity long enough to have triggered something. You never know — your friends daughter may have been in the same line somewhere at the airport or a lounge as well. I used to get this a lot as I’m 1-2 degrees of separation from some highish profile people. FB seems to adapt and move on to a different strategy over time.
- pointillistic 8y ago
  I don't have the app on my phone so how do they use geolocation? Perhaps as this article describes?
  - beagle3 8y ago
    You might have another app using the FB SDK (as described in the app). Or .. they have a database from mobile IP to rough location - or even, without knowing your exact location, perhaps both of you were using the same convention free WiFi, or the same Verizon proxy (or whatever), which would indicate close proximity even without giving the location directly. Are you using iphone or android?
  - Spooky23 8y ago
    Partners. Perhaps there is some way to tell via other people’s devices that you are nearby.

ronyfadel 8y ago

Is there a definitive answer on how these suggestions happen? (Other example: talk about X with someone; start seeing internet ads for X afterwards). Is it coincidence?

extrapolate 8y ago
https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/12/28/18158968/facebook-microphone-tapping-recording-instagram-ads https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/12/28/18158968/facebook-m... https://newsroom.fb.com/news/h/facebook-does-not-use-your-phones-microphone-for-ads-or-news-feed-stories/ https://newsroom.fb.com/news/h/facebook-does-not-use-your-ph...
guntars 8y ago
For every ad or suggestion that elicits that kind of response, how many are completely unremarkable and immediately forgotten? It’s largely explained by the survivorship bias.

Spooky23 8y ago

They use geolocation extensively. You probably were in proximity long enough to have triggered something. You never know — your friends daughter may have been in the same line somewhere at the airport or a lounge as well. I used to get this a lot as I’m 1-2 degrees of separation from some highish profile people. FB seems to adapt and move on to a different strategy over time.

pointillistic 8y ago
I don't have the app on my phone so how do they use geolocation? Perhaps as this article describes?
- beagle3 8y ago
  You might have another app using the FB SDK (as described in the app). Or .. they have a database from mobile IP to rough location - or even, without knowing your exact location, perhaps both of you were using the same convention free WiFi, or the same Verizon proxy (or whatever), which would indicate close proximity even without giving the location directly. Are you using iphone or android?
- Spooky23 8y ago
  Partners. Perhaps there is some way to tell via other people’s devices that you are nearby.