Facebook responds to reports that it uses location data to suggest friends

Earlier today, we explained how Facebook was reportedly using location services to suggest new friends for you to add.

For a while now, we've been wondering why completely random people were appearing in our suggested friends tabs. A lot of the time you'll see people with whom you have mutual friends with and that makes sense but as for the random people you've never ever laid eyes on, that can be unsettling.

Yikes https://t.co/QkuJYSVfym

— Her.ie (@Herdotie) June 29, 2016

So, when reports emerged that Facebook was using location data as a way to suggest new friends, it all started to make sense. However, the social media giant has denied that there's any truth in the whole idea of using location data. A spokesperson for Mark Zuckerberg's company told The Inquirer:  "We're not using location data, such as device location and location information you add to your profile, to suggest people you may know". "We may show you people based on mutual friends, work and education information, networks you are part of, contacts you’ve imported and other factors". Earlier this week, the publication had asked Facebook about their stance on location data and this is what they had to say: "We often suggest people you may know based on things you have in common, like mutual friends, places you've visited, or the city you live in". "But location information by itself doesn't indicate that two people might be friends. That's why location is only one of the factors we use to suggest people you may know". It's all a bit strange and we will be keeping a VERY close key on this for any more developments...