How do you algorithmically distinguish between the two? Maybe it can't. It doesn't matter you use a linear or binary search if the program isn't fed valid dat

How do you algorithmically distinguish between the two? Maybe it can't. It doesn't matter you use a linear or binary search if the program isn't fed valid data. I'm suggesting they are using an algorithm to solve a problem that it shouldn't be used to solve. And the bots' behavior can change to write more reviews to prevent looking like a bot. Business reputations take time, so when Yelp's algorithm sees "this business has been around since 1975, and 100% of its positive reviews just came in over the past 10 months, where 100% of its reviews were previously negative before that", that should be a red flag. Interesting that you use the term "red flag" since that usually means a "warning" or "needs attention." There's a world of difference between using an algorithm to raise red flags, and using an algorithm to automatically prune content. In fact, a three-decades old small business with a lone, 1-star review should raise a red flag about the 1-star review.