Facebook's Trending Topics algorithm surfaces fake and inappropriate news items

midian182

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It looks as if Facebook’s recent decision to fire its entire Trending Topics editorial team and bring more automation to its news section isn’t working out as well as it hoped. Over the weekend, algorithms pushed a fake story about Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly to the top of the trending list.

The article claimed Kelly was “on her way out” of the conservative news channel for being “a closet liberal who actually wants Hillary to win.” It was published by a website called EndingTheFed.com, which features headlines such as: “What Obama Has to Say About ‘White Folks’ Will Make Your Blood Boil.” The site linked the Kelly story to another website called Conservative101.

Facebook removed its editorial staff because it wants to use a more algorithmically driven process in it Trending Topics section. A small group of engineers continues to monitor items for newsworthiness, making sure popular topics such as #lunch, for example, don’t appear.

A Facebook spokesperson said the Kelly story was accepted over the weekend because of the number of relevant articles and posts, but it was taken down yesterday due to its inaccuracy. The company said it was working on improving ways to detect fake and satirical stories.

Other headlines recently appeared in the Trending Topics module that may have been picked out by the former curators for being inappropriate or offensive. These included an item with a sexist term used to describe Ann Coulter during a Comedy Central roast of Rob Lowe, and the #McChicken hashtag, which went viral after a video of a man enjoying a McChicken sandwich in an 'unconventional' manner was posted online.

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Didn't Microsoft prove recently that machine learning still has a ways to go? Lol
 
That's still a picture of Ann Coulter
Thanks for clearing that up. I had never heard of Megyn Kelly before. They talk about her right under the picture so I would have assumed it was her. Have heard of Coulter, but not familiar with her appearance either.
 
Thanks for clearing that up. I had never heard of Megyn Kelly before. They talk about her right under the picture so I would have assumed it was her. Have heard of Coulter, but not familiar with her appearance either.

Kelly is the Fox News chick who cut her hair after Trump dissed her:
republican-presidential-debate-gop-jan-28-photos-06.jpg
 
Yep, someday I may be so very desperate for news that I tune in there and see if I can tell the difference, lol..
(@crank: in derdonald's Dreams, perhaps)
 
All Trump's power is in his pompadour, which is eternal:

Donald_Trump_August_19,_2015_(cropped).jpg


I'm just afraid he'll accidentally look in Hillary's direction during the debates, and get turned to stone..:eek: :D
 
I'm just afraid he'll accidentally look in Hillary's direction during the debates, and get turned to stone..:eek: :D

And I'm trying so hard to imagine that being a Bad thing.. apologies (if necessary) to the political among you - just tryin' to make a funny.. (Trumpstone, meet the Trumpstone..)
 
And I'm trying so hard to imagine that being a Bad thing.. apologies (if necessary) to the political among you - just tryin' to make a funny.. (Trumpstone, meet the Trumpstone..)
Oh well, maybe the Donald won't even show up to the debates. It's highly doubtful he would be willing to stand there for a couple of hours, arguing with a woman her age, who's more than likely never had a boob job
 
Herewith is "music to cut the Donald's toupee by". KD Lang performs "Hallelujah" at the 2010 Olympics.

I hope you two appreciate how much effort it took to find a woman butch enough to represent Hillary by wearing a pants suit while performing.


BTW, this is the best version of this song I've ever heard. (The haircut happens in the second verse).
 
Effort is your middle name? or summat.. Thanks, but I just can't get the hate part.. I hates election years, under the Best of circumstances it tends Not to bring out people's highest values -- and this definitely qualifies as NOT the best of years..
I know who -I- am voting Against, as that seems to be the '16 Theme (unless we open the debate to another voice).
I have seen so few voices exclaiming Positive for a candidate, only, Ever:
" the other 'un SUX!!!!!!!!!!!!! "
I can't see that as enuf.
I am just too jaded and Too Damned Tired for this stupid political shyt anymore..
 
Effort is your middle name? or summat.. Thanks, but I just can't get the hate part.. I hates election years, under the Best of circumstances it tends Not to bring out people's highest values -- and this definitely qualifies as NOT the best of years..
I know who -I- am voting Against, as that seems to be the '16 Theme (unless we open the debate to another voice).
I have seen so few voices exclaiming Positive for a candidate, only, Ever:
" the other 'un SUX!!!!!!!!!!!!! "
I can't see that as enuf.
I am just too jaded and Too Damned Tired for this stupid political shyt anymore..
So then, the "hate is yours", I'm just extracting what little humor out of the situation I can.

The picture by Vallejo of Perseus with the massive pompadour, a la Trump. KD Lang in a pants suit a la Hillary..

And last but not least, the newscaster who had her hair cut as a result of some altercation with Trump, cast as "Medusa", with a head full of snakes.

Satire defines my "politics", which I've leveled against both candidates without "discrimination".. I'll leave the real hate to those who feel the need to emphasize their political frustration with serial exclamation points, sic "!!!!!!!!!".

Besides, "democracy" is a farce anyway. A "candidate" is just something which was created by a "political machine", "funded by industry", and rammed down your throat with excessive advertising.

But then really, if it were the case a "grass roots candidate", could make an impact, you might have some imbecile like Kanye West as a "viable candidate", along with Kim Kardashian as a potential "first concubine".
 
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