So an algorithm developed by a computer scientist and a Facebook engineer can predict with about 60 percent accuracy who you are in a relationship with even if you don't enter that information in your profile. It has to do with how many of your friends overlap some features of those friendships. And apparently, if the algorithm spits out the wrong results, you are headed for a breakup.
I suspect that last part is a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy. If I had a significant other and she told me that the Facebook equation was saying we were going to break up, we probably would, because I don't know what kind of a future I have with someone who takes their life cues from Facebook.
One can usually assume that Facebook's intentions are entirely mercenary, and then conduct oneself accordingly.
ReplyDeleteCharles, are you saying that there are people on the internet world who are not kind-hearted altruists making the world better?
ReplyDeleteIllusions shattered, dreams dashed...