3 ms·

I'm pretty sure the "algorithm" is "we count the number of end-user flags/reports, and if > X we remove it"? Public knowledge of what "X" is doesn't really hel

by mdb31 4y ago

I'm pretty sure the "algorithm" is "we count the number of end-user flags/reports, and if > X we remove it"? Public knowledge of what "X" is doesn't really help, I think, other than to aid spammers? And a requirement to "talk to a human" upon hitting X would surely immediately degrade into "Google has reviewed your appeal and has determined that the infinite block of your account remains in effect. There is no further appeal"?

systemvoltage 4y ago
There are a whole host of algorithms. Recomendation, feed, suggested followers, interest-based suggestions, etc. I am suspecting algorithms for how "trending" topics are picked are quite involved. It probably goes through filters, blacklists, whitelists, some AI-voodoo and gets increasingly promoted based on engagement in real-time. That secret sauce is ripe for manipulation and extremely powerful. Against combating spam - I mean, isn't this how something gets stronger? HN has a strong view that open source software is more secure because it gets hardened through exposure, not through obfuscation.