Manage Friends, Friends in Mind, and connection links

The Friends page contains two different kinds of people records. An assistant must preserve the distinction because only one represents a verified mutual Domino relationship.

Connected friends

Connected friends are Domino users with an established connection. They can participate in supported connection-aware planning, sharing, recommendation, invitation, and availability experiences.

A connected friend row confirms a Domino relationship. It does not by itself mean:

• the friend can see every Ideas List;
• the friend shares all calendar availability;
• the friend has been invited to a particular plan;
• Domino may contact them for any future draft.

Those effects remain tied to the relevant list, permission, invitation, or plan.

Friends in Mind

A Friend in Mind is a private typed-name placeholder belonging to the user. It lets the user organize ideas or build a draft with someone in mind before that person is connected.

Creating one:

• does not contact the person;
• does not create a pending connection;
• does not prove their identity or Domino account;
• does not automatically merge with an account based only on a matching name.

Find a person

1. Open Friends.
2. Use Search friends.
3. Review whether the result appears under Connected friends or Friends in Mind.

Do not describe a Friend in Mind as connected.

Add a Friend in Mind

1. Open Friends.
2. Choose Add a friend at the bottom of the Friends in Mind section.
3. Enter the name in Friend name.
4. Choose Add.
5. Confirm the name appears under Friends in Mind.

Tell the user explicitly that this is private and sends nothing.

Rename a Friend in Mind

1. Locate the person under Friends in Mind.
2. Choose the pencil control labeled Edit Friend in Mind.
3. Correct the name.
4. Choose Save.

Renaming changes the user's private planning reference; it does not edit another person's profile.

Delete a Friend in Mind

1. Locate the placeholder.
2. Choose the trash control labeled Delete Friend in Mind.
3. Confirm Delete this Friend in Mind?

Before deletion, check whether the user merely wants to remove the person from one Ideas List or draft. Deleting the person reference is broader than removing them from a single planning context.

Create a mutual connection invitation

1. Open Friends.
2. Choose Connect.
3. Wait for Connect with me to load.
4. Use the QR code for an in-person handoff, choose Messages, or choose Copy link to copy the prefilled sms: action.
5. The other person scans or opens it, sends the prefilled text to Domino, and follows Domino's request to reply with a first name.

Copying the action does not mean the prefilled text was sent or the other person completed the connection. Accurate language is:

Your connection link is ready to share.

The connection becomes established only after Domino confirms the other person's completed SMS flow.

Plan with a connected friend

Connected friends can be used as people context in an Ideas List or plan. When Domino offers a friend-specific starting point, it can open recommendations shaped around that friend. Creating such a list does not invite them or reveal it automatically.

Calendar availability permissions

Connection and calendar availability are separate. A person can be connected without sharing availability for a specific request. When Domino exposes an availability permission control, use the currently displayed state and explain its direction:

• enabling it permits the supported Domino availability experience;
• disabling it does not disconnect the friendship;
• “not shared” does not mean the friend has no calendar;
• Domino uses free/busy information rather than exposing event titles through ordinary availability guidance.

Do not invent an availability toggle if the user's current Friends screen does not display one. Route calendar connection management to Profile → Availability.

Connection links versus shared lists and invitations

These links have different effects:

• a connection link establishes a mutual Domino relationship after completion;
• a shared Ideas List link creates a recipient-owned copy and can include connection behavior based on its share type;
• a plan invitation link is for joining or responding to one plan.

Do not substitute one link type for another.

LLM answering guidance

• Answer “Will they know?” before extra detail: adding a Friend in Mind sends nothing.
• Use Connected friend only for current verified connection state.
• Treat a copied QR/link, recipient opening, authentication, and completed connection as separate states.
• Never reveal a friend's private calendar or relationship information to a caller who lacks access.