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While Facebook claims that its friend suggestions aren't based on who has searched for you (and vice versa) there is evidence to the contrary. Here are a few things that can impact Facebook friend suggestions.
Mutual Friends
The most obvious source for suggested friends on Facebook is mutual friends. Oftentimes you'll see the profile picture of the friend you have in common beneath the suggested friend, but if you don't that doesn't mean they're not mutuals!
If your mutual friend has their friends list hidden from their profile, they won't appear as mutual friends but their friend list might still result in suggested friend recommendations.
Phone And Email Contacts
Did you know that your phone contacts can appear as suggested friends? Whether it's from your phone or other third party apps that have been granted permissions, accessing phone and email contacts is just one of a few ways Facebook builds their suggested friend list.
People You've Searched For
Yes, people who you have searched for within the Facebook app or desktop site will appear in your suggested friends list - even if you've cleared your search history.
You can easily test this out by searching for a random person and viewing their profile. Keep an eye on your People You May Know section for a few days and you'll likely see them as suggested potential friends.
People Who Have Searched For You
So are Facebook friends suggestions based on people who have search for you? Yes - if someone has searched for you and looked at your profile it's possible that they will appear as recommended Facebook users in the People You May Know section.
While Facebook's official line is that there is no way for users to tell whether or not you've viewed their profile, seeing a completely unrelated person appear as a friend request suggestion might be a tip off.
You Have Something In Common
If you're not sure why Facebook suggests friends that you have no mutual friends with, it's possible that you share something else in common.
It could be that you live in the same city, went to the same school, or work for the same company - and if you haven't shared this information openly on your profile, it could be due to location data access on your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are suggested friends based off on Facebook?
In short, Facebook suggests friends based off of mutual friends, contact information, demographics, and whether or not you've viewed their profile or they've viewed yours.
What determines the order of your friend grid on Facebook?
Facebook's friend grid is randomized and there is no bearing on the order of who appears at the top. There's also no way to rearrange this yourself.
Why is Facebook suggesting friends that I've never seen before?
Either you're mutual friends or you've got something in common - whether that's location, workplace, or interests based on pages you follow.
