Read the Facebook Papers as the algorithm defending itself. Then you’ll understand.

Read the Facebook Papers as the algorithm defending itself. Then you’ll understand.

We got an incredible window into Facebook yesterday. Adrienne LaFrance, executive editor of The Atlantic, published “History Will Not Judge Us Kindly,” after her exhaustive reading of the leaked internal documents known as the Facebook Papers. LaFrance’s piece clarifies something that too many people are missing. Zuckerberg and his company do not serve users, shareholders,…

Why Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t realize Facebook is evil

Why Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t realize Facebook is evil

Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen testified in Congress yesterday. And Mark Zuckerberg was mystified. He was surely thinking, “Can’t they see that we’re out to help humanity?” Today I deconstruct his sincere statement to employees after all the negative news about Facebook in the past month. If you read this critically and with the right perspective,…

The fundamental laws of Facebook

The fundamental laws of Facebook

Facebook asked for users’ email passwords, then “unintentionally uploaded” people’s contact lists without asking for separate permission, according to Business Insider. Stop trying to explain these violations one at a time. A pattern is increasingly obvious. To that end: here are the fundamental laws of Facebook, which will explain not just this violation but all…

Facebook is secretly rating your trustworthiness. Excellent!
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Facebook is secretly rating your trustworthiness. Excellent!

According to the Washington Post, Facebook is rating your trustworthiness on a zero-to-one scale. Not only that, they won’t tell you how they rate people. Here’s why that’s a necessary first step in squashing the spread of fake news. First, let’s get this out of the way. Facebook is biased. All social media and search…

Mark Zuckerberg on Facebook’s future: the spirit is willing, but the algorithm is weak
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Mark Zuckerberg on Facebook’s future: the spirit is willing, but the algorithm is weak

Mark Zuckerberg published a 5800-word letter on the future of Facebook. It’s thoughtful, well-reasoned, articulate, and full of truth. It’s also full of wistful promises, which I don’t trust no matter who offers them. Mark Zuckerberg’s letter, Building Global Community, starts like this: On our journey to connect the world, we often discuss products we’re building…

How Facebook’s algorithm can help you rethink your emails
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How Facebook’s algorithm can help you rethink your emails

Facebook determines which of your posts get through to your friends. Your emails, on the other hand, all go through. But what if they didn’t? You’d have to write email to make it clearer, more compelling, more engaging. And that’s what you ought to be doing anyway. While Facebook’s algorithm is mysterious and ever-changing, we know…