Re:An open letter to FB, Twitter, Instagram regarding algori...
by davefp on Wednesday December 12, 2018 @01:40PM
(#18666502)
> How, exactly, are they supposed to know that?
Because situations have more than one possible outcome. Lumping everyone into a single cohort based on a majority rule (e.g. people who buy pregnancy-related products often buy baby-related products later) is a kind of insensitivity that would be frowned on if applied in person.
> The bigger issue here is everyone expecting Facebook to somehow be omnipotent.
I'd argue that Facebook (or its advertising algorithm in this case) is operating _as if it is_ omniscient when really there are lots of shortcomings that can and do cause harm. It should be reigned in instead of forgiven.
Because situations have more than one possible outcome. Lumping everyone into a single cohort based on a majority rule (e.g. people who buy pregnancy-related products often buy baby-related products later) is a kind of insensitivity that would be frowned on if applied in person.
> The bigger issue here is everyone expecting Facebook to somehow be omnipotent.
I'd argue that Facebook (or its advertising algorithm in this case) is operating _as if it is_ omniscient when really there are lots of shortcomings that can and do cause harm. It should be reigned in instead of forgiven.