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Likely referring to this article [1]. However, the claim that they made "hundreds of thousands of people fall into a depression" is pretty exaggerated - FB dem
by fakescience 8y ago
Likely referring to this article [1].
However, the claim that they made "hundreds of thousands of people fall into a depression" is pretty exaggerated - FB demonstrated it could influence the mood of users via changes to the algorithm, but the overall effect size was small (Cohen's d = 0.001).
I am very critical of FB and this type of research, but don't know if anyone became depressed over the experiment. It's possible, but wasn't demonstrated.
[1] http://www.pnas.org/content/111/24/8788.full http://www.pnas.org/content/111/24/8788.full
- RodgerTheGreat 8y agoStaging an experiment of this nature without informed consent of the participants is unethical, irrespective of whether the technique proved to be effective.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- obelix_ 8y ago"It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission" is a very popular mantra among the boy wonders of Silicon Valley.
- blipbloop 8y agoWas the mantra of Grace Hopper, who I wouldn't necessarily describe as a 'Boy Wonder', however she used it in the context of 'borrowing' equipment and machine time from bits of the navy and academia. She was being dry witted about tatting stuff, not recommending human testing.
- kolpa 8y agoWhen does any company get consent for changing its product or advertising and measuring the response? I never gave my consent to McDonald's for putting up a billboard or changing their menu or their recipe.
- sideshowb 8y agoThis is a very good point in its own right (though not a point for or against fb doing this per se). Not sure why it appears in grey.