3 ms·

Usually via graph, a "six degrees of separation" sort of thing, you don't have to directly contact each other, but it's enough to contact some of the same peopl

Usually via graph, a "six degrees of separation" sort of thing, you don't have to directly contact each other, but it's enough to contact some of the same people to assume a connection. Also similar use patterns or geo locations (ip location or profile input indicating physical proximity) can be taken into account. I don't have intimate knowledge of their algorithms so I don't know about any other factors they might use. I find it quite amusing that you're "dismayed" at a system working properly :)

inthewind 13y ago
I think it would be a breach of privacy using geolocation data. The reason I'm dismayed in this instance is that I can't work out how the connections are being drawn.
- anxiousest 13y ago
  I'm just guessing.
  - inthewind 13y ago
    Aught wrong with a guess, but that one could get quite creepy pretty quickly. Say you were at a small conference in a small building in the one room. And Google started to suggest those around you as friends - that could be quite useful - but equally it could blow someones cover. Also you spot a large car with tinted windows nearby, and suddenly Google is suggesting that you might know a certain someone that maybe in that vehicle. You might loose your privacy if you were living in a block of flats and this were the case. Certainly an interesting idea as to whether they do use your geo-data. Now I'm pretty sure that profile data such as where do you live, or publicly printed location data could be used. I.e. with Facebook, it's probably more likely to hook you up with people that are geographically close - but I'm speculating here too.
    - anxiousest 13y ago
      I was thinking about less granular grouping i.e city or state level.
      - inthewind 13y ago
        A good question in itself, would be where do you draw a line. At what radius would you feel comfortable? I'm posting from foo to a bar forum. Will bar tolerate someone from foo?

inthewind 13y ago

I think it would be a breach of privacy using geolocation data. The reason I'm dismayed in this instance is that I can't work out how the connections are being drawn.

anxiousest 13y ago
I'm just guessing.
- inthewind 13y ago
  Aught wrong with a guess, but that one could get quite creepy pretty quickly. Say you were at a small conference in a small building in the one room. And Google started to suggest those around you as friends - that could be quite useful - but equally it could blow someones cover. Also you spot a large car with tinted windows nearby, and suddenly Google is suggesting that you might know a certain someone that maybe in that vehicle. You might loose your privacy if you were living in a block of flats and this were the case. Certainly an interesting idea as to whether they do use your geo-data. Now I'm pretty sure that profile data such as where do you live, or publicly printed location data could be used. I.e. with Facebook, it's probably more likely to hook you up with people that are geographically close - but I'm speculating here too.
  - anxiousest 13y ago
    I was thinking about less granular grouping i.e city or state level.
    - inthewind 13y ago
      A good question in itself, would be where do you draw a line. At what radius would you feel comfortable? I'm posting from foo to a bar forum. Will bar tolerate someone from foo?