Solved - How Does Facebook Suggest Those Friends?

In order to operate my new business in this new world of social media I had to create a facebook account and a business page.

First, I got closed down within minutes of creating my business page. It said I had to upload a photo to verify I was who I said I was - which they were going to compare with the one I uploaded five minutes earlier.

Then it said I had been closed down for violating some Facebook parameter, but wouldn't tell me what. I uploaded my driving licence to prove I was James Thornley but to no avail, that original page is still closed down.

Why? I don't know, the cynic say's they've been spying on me for years and have heard me state that Facebook is a waste of time, "why would I want to know what someone I knew 30 years ago is having for breakfast?" , however their reach cannot be that far.

Then I recreated the account with a different email, but the astonishing thing is the list of recommended friends. Here you go

The first person on the list is my best mate from school, who I'm still in regular touch with, the second is my nephew, then comes my sister, my daughter and my mum. So the big question is - How on Earth Does Facebook know all this.  

This is what facebook says

But I've just joined facebook for the first time, I'm not a member of any networks, I can't have been tagged anywhere as I've not been on before and I have no friends (facebook ones anyhow) - so none of those will apply. 

There are a number of good articles on this - Such as this one, and there are people who have had their exe's new girlfriend suggested, or a policeman who had one of his informants  displayed as a potential friend (he was obviously not pleased with how they knew that).

I knew it wasn't to do with contacts as I had only logged on with my computer, facebook hadn't been near my phone, it wasn't to do with emails as I had some suggestions I have not exchanged emails with, plus I am using an email address I only use for work - not friends or family.

But whilst on the toilet ,when I do my best thinking, I realised this was probably a list of people that have searched for James Thornley and not found anyone. 

This would make sense as my wife didn't appear on the list as she would never have searched for me knowing I wasn't there and my son wasn't as he would never have been arsed to search for me. 

So there it is, mystery solved - it explains why the journalist's exe's new girlfriend was suggested - as that girlfriend was probably checking her out. It explains why the police informer appeared, as he was probably checking whether the policeman looked trustable and real. 

The only sinister things to take from this are 

1. Facebook keeps a list of everyone you've ever searched for
2. People check you out on facebook - so be careful what you write about.

Problem solved.

Cheers