How one Facebook friend request helped us track down complete strangers

Some of us have hundreds, even thousands of friends on Facebook , but how well do we know the people we "friend"?

“When I first made Facebook, I added everybody,” an Arizona State University student told ABC15.

We often let our friends know what we’re doing, thinking – even where we hang out.

You probably don’t share your personal information with complete strangers. So, why do so many of us act differently when we log onto social media websites?

OUR SOCIAL EXPERIMENT

We found some of you are sharing your thoughts, feelings and unflattering pictures with people who you may not even know.

We created a social experiment, where we made a Facebook account for a 62-year-old man who lives in Chicago. He is related to an ABC15 employee and gave us permission to use some of his information, including part of his name: Douglas Anthony.

Using Douglas’ profile, we sent out about 50 friend requests.

Fifteen people accepted our Facebook friend requests. Remember, they don’t know Douglas Anthony – and he doesn’t know them.

Right away, we were able to view all kinds of information about Douglas’ new friends, from some very personal photos to their innermost desires.

We were able see where Douglas’ new friends go to school, work and where they hang out regularly – even where they’ll be next week and next month.

Sgt. Steve Carbajal, with the Tempe Police Department , said sharing your personal information, especially your location, may leave you vulnerable.

“If someone was trying to find you, they would know you're at a restaurant or where you are,” Carbajal said. “So, I think that could create some safety issues as well.”

NEW “FRIENDS”

That's exactly how we found Kelsey, one of Douglas Anthony’s new friends.

We had been watching her activity on Facebook for days, and that’s how we found her when she checked in on the site at a Mesa hair salon.

Kelsey told our producer that she has 500 friends, and she remembered accepting Douglas Anthony as a new friend.

“Honestly, [I] I didn’t even look at the profile, [I] just said okay,” Kelsey told our producer.

She admitted she doesn’t always know the people who send her friend requests on Facebook.

“I know I added [Douglas Anthony], but I don’t, like, know him, know him,” Kelsey said.

Actually, she doesn’t know him at all. After all, Douglas Anthony is a relative of an ABC15 employee, who lives in Chicago.

“So, I’m guessing you probably don’t know him,” our producer said to Kelsey.

“No,” Kelsey said.

CHANGING HABITS

Kelsey told us that our social experiment has made her re-think how she is going to use Facebook in the future.

"That is a little weird, it's like stalker-ish,” she said. “It makes me think I shouldn't add anyone I don't know.”

So, what happened to Douglas Anthony?

We’ve deactivated his account.

But, we want to hear about your experiences with Facebook. Have you had problems with strangers or friends?

Let us know by leaving a comment below.