It may be that the relatives have mentioned his name in some past post or that physically they are on the same internet location or internet wire to their location. Much is done geographically with the Internet. Many other web sites know where I live or tied in google maps and know exactly where I am on the street map as soon as I open their web site. Sometimes they locate me at the local army listening post as I believe our cities internet passes through there. Peter Timusk at571@ncf.ca ptimusk@sympatico.ca web: www.crystalcomputing.net blogs www.cyborgcitizen.org -----Original Message----- From: air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org [mailto:air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Anders Fagerjord Sent: September-24-10 2:14 AM To: air-l@listserv.aoir.org Subject: [Air-L] How does Facebook find friends? Dear all, does anyone understand the Facebook friend suggestions algorithm? Last night, my stepson joined Facebook. Immediately, it suggested he be friends with his mother, his grandfather, and his granduncle. How could Facebook know they were related? They had no friends in common, and didn't share friends-of-friends either. His last name is common in Norway (and his granduncle has a different name). He didn't enter any phone number or postal address. He used his gmail account when he joined Facebook, but did not allow the book to search his e-mail contacts (and he doesn't know his uncle's e-mail address). Does anyone understand how Facebook pulls this trick? --anders -- Anders Fagerjord, dr.art. Associate professor, Head of Studies Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo P.O. Box 1093 Blindern N-0317 OSLO Norway http://www.media.uio.no http://fagerjord.no _______________________________________________ The Air-L@listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org Join the Association of Internet Researchers: http://www.aoir.org/