Linking to my profile in facebook updates
April 19, 2010 10:55 AM Subscribe
Facebook (I don't know what this is called): Why doesn't my name pop up in a list for my friends when they use the @ symbol in their status updates?
I know there must be something simple in my privacy or account settings that causes this, but I don't even know what it's called or how to phrase it to find the answer.
When writing a status update and I want to reference my friend Tom, I can type @Tom, and all my friends named Tom will pop up in a list for me to choose from. When posted, their name appears as a link to their profile. I was told by a friend that my name doesn't work this way. Any clues?
I know there must be something simple in my privacy or account settings that causes this, but I don't even know what it's called or how to phrase it to find the answer.
When writing a status update and I want to reference my friend Tom, I can type @Tom, and all my friends named Tom will pop up in a list for me to choose from. When posted, their name appears as a link to their profile. I was told by a friend that my name doesn't work this way. Any clues?
IIRC, you also don't need to write the @. you can just type their name.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 11:06 AM on April 19, 2010
posted by ArgentCorvid at 11:06 AM on April 19, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks... it only works with @ for me. Also... not sure if this matters, my name doesn't pop up for myself either. (Checking with other friends.)
posted by The Deej at 11:10 AM on April 19, 2010
posted by The Deej at 11:10 AM on April 19, 2010
Response by poster: OK, FYI, another friend, with as many friends as the main culprit was able to make it work. And the pertinent phrase is being "tagged in a post."
posted by The Deej at 11:23 AM on April 19, 2010
posted by The Deej at 11:23 AM on April 19, 2010
When writing a status update and I want to reference my friend Tom, I can type @Tom, and all my friends named Tom will pop up in a list for me to choose from.
I just tried it and only get four options, so if you have more than four friends named (or whose first or last names begin with) "Tom" it only shows you four. I don't know how FB selects which four, but it will change the suggestions as you type in more of their name. E.g., "Tom", space, beginning of last name should narrow it down so the correct person appears as a choice.
For example, I have nine people on my friends list named "Matt" or "Matthew." But typing "@matt" only brings up four of them as options. Typing a space and the first letter of their last name (in which case "Matt" also works for those listed as "Matthew" on their accounts) is enough in this case to narrow it down so FB displays all applicable choices. Meanwhile, "@matth" brings up only the three listed as "Matthew" on FB. (I.e., "Matt" finds "Matthew," even when followed by a space and part of the last name, but "Matthew" does not find "Matt.")
(Agent Corvid may be confusing the regular search with the status updates. No @ is necessary if you're simply searching, but it is if you want to tag someone in a status update.)
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 12:55 PM on April 19, 2010
I just tried it and only get four options, so if you have more than four friends named (or whose first or last names begin with) "Tom" it only shows you four. I don't know how FB selects which four, but it will change the suggestions as you type in more of their name. E.g., "Tom", space, beginning of last name should narrow it down so the correct person appears as a choice.
For example, I have nine people on my friends list named "Matt" or "Matthew." But typing "@matt" only brings up four of them as options. Typing a space and the first letter of their last name (in which case "Matt" also works for those listed as "Matthew" on their accounts) is enough in this case to narrow it down so FB displays all applicable choices. Meanwhile, "@matth" brings up only the three listed as "Matthew" on FB. (I.e., "Matt" finds "Matthew," even when followed by a space and part of the last name, but "Matthew" does not find "Matt.")
(Agent Corvid may be confusing the regular search with the status updates. No @ is necessary if you're simply searching, but it is if you want to tag someone in a status update.)
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 12:55 PM on April 19, 2010
It definitely only works with the @-- otherwise you'd have a list of names popping up for every word you typed.
posted by NoraReed at 1:15 PM on April 19, 2010
posted by NoraReed at 1:15 PM on April 19, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks DA. That might have something to do with it.
posted by The Deej at 5:56 PM on April 19, 2010
posted by The Deej at 5:56 PM on April 19, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
My suspicion is it's something like the answer to this question -- fb arbitrarily limits the number of people it will show you, and your friend who can't see you has a lot of friends, and for some reason facebook has decided you aren't special enough to be shown.
No actual proof of that though...
posted by brainmouse at 11:04 AM on April 19, 2010