a_hypotehsis

I agree with you, though it's specific to the US Republican party (not just whatever party is in power). It's definitely saying something. Their key demographics are relatively more registered to vote and relatively more likely to vote.

General "get out the vote" and "register to vote" campaigns favor the Democrats.

I'm in favor of such campaigns generally, but in this case it's quite self-serving.

Thanks for the comment! I did not and would not classify this as an "instruction".

However, given what we know about voter demographics and turnout in the United States during "mid-term" elections (low turnout among young people, with much "green field" to expand into)... it's clearly an attempt to influence the election, in the favor of Google shareholders' interest.

I'd cite references, but they are too easy to Google (heh).

It's a shovel all right.

(PS -- don't get me wrong or reflexively downvote me for perceived partisanship -- my party interests align with Google's in this matter, outside of anti-trust issues)

EDIT: to add, Google ran no such Doodle for National Voter Registration day last year, according to their archives. HMMMMM.

The right way POLITICALLY to interpret recent claims of "bias" against Google is as a preparation of the battlefield for successful anti-trust action down the road. i.e., it's just "politics".

...but then again, the Google Doodle I see today is: "register to vote!"

That's clearly an attempt to put a thumb on the scales, against a party and administration that is threatening anti-trust action against Google.

I'm already voting the way Google wants me to, but a shovel is a shovel.

Why not hire more of them, and rotate people off the front line for a period of non-disturbing-imagery? It's not like there's a shortage of moderation work that needs doing.

Of course, that would require Facebook to spend money, and add headcount.

And we know that they only hired these people as a Public Relations exercise.

Agree, I have the same fear.

Google has done such a good job "lobbying" their "friends" in Washington, that the AGs from the more privacy-focused states (like Arizona) are probably our best hope for bringing this bad apple into line.

How Google engineers can think it's ethically acceptable to ship interfaces like this, I have no idea. Time to give them a legal liability reason to do the right thing as a stand-in.

Also possible explanation: the quality of home-cooked meals and the ease of making them may have greatly increased since the '08 crisis.

Proposed mechanism: The Great Recession forced people to cook at home out of financial necessity. Home-chefs' skill and confidence increased (human capital). Rich-media internet video sites provided step-by-step visual instructions (lowered barriers to entry). People bought knives and slow cookers and avocado slicers (capital investment).

I sure wouldn't want to compete against that hypothetical!

...I wonder if there is any literature on this topic (would love a pointer!)