Rainbow Flag overlay was actually a data mining experiment

[Capo Dei Capi]

Pretty interesting articles about how the latest FB trend is just another data mining experiment and isn't actually in support of something. Anyone that actually believes that Facebook actually supports in kind of cause is deluded. Facebook is a company seeking a profit and anything they do will reflect that, just like with other companies that do somewhat related things offline such as Starbucks.

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/06/were-all-those-rainbow-profile-photos-another-facebook-experiment/397088/

Suzy Moat, a Warwick Business School assistant professor of behavioural science, said businesses regularly do studies on how to influence behaviour.

She cited the example of Facebook and Amazon experimenting with showing different groups of people slightly different versions of their websites to see if one is better than another at getting customers to buy products.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3143586/Did-change-Facebook-picture-rainbow-flag-Critics-warn-Celebrate-Pride-tool-psychological-test.html

 

[tsubibo]

Not really a surprise there.

 

[Zwielicht]

While users are quick to share funny pictures and text, the influence of a typical meme on individuals doesn't build over time. But with the marriage-equality profile images in March 2013, users apparently needed "social proof"—they needed to see that others also supported marriage equality—before joining in. As more people changed their profiles, individuals who had seen their friends change their photos were more likely to do the same themselves.

I once read an article that covered the Bandwagon Effect which mentioned how you can differentiate between the true supporters of a cause and the false supporters. Basically, the supporters are the ones who were there from the very beginning; the ones who suffered ridicule while they stood up for what they believed in. On the other hand, the false supporters would only join the cause once they deemed it "safe" (i.e., a large number of people have already joined the cause and made it popular).

The reason I brought that study up was because lately, I've seen people who are homophobic (based on the comments that they forget to hide on their Facebook timeline) change their profile picture to the rainbow filter to show their false support because now it's "cool and safe". You could say this is innocuous, but when you think about it, this type of behaviour is dangerous as someone who could influence the behaviour could direct attention of a bunch of delusional people at a specific & nefarious cause.

But, like tsubibo said, it's not a surprise that Facebook did this as an experiment.

 

[Capo Dei Capi]

Its interesting that it just takes a few friends to start causing changes and influence things. I wouldn't be surpised if in a few years a company sells super realistic Facebook profiles in order to help influence people. With current fake profiles its so easy to spot but data scrapping of tens of millions of people there should be enough faces that can help someone compile into many CGI faces like the CGI singer of AKB48.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimi_Eguchi

 

[pxoxrxn]

If you have traffic and aren't experimenting with it then you're not doing business right. Expect all your activities on Facebook and the internet to me monitored, tracked and experimented with.

 

[pr0ject]

If you have traffic and aren't experimenting with it then you're not doing business right. Expect all your activities on Facebook and the internet to me monitored, tracked and experimented with.

Indeed, it's just overwhelming to think about the amount of data that fb can get. Some people expose so much their life in social network that they kinda deserve data mining.

 

[pxoxrxn]

Indeed, it's just overwhelming to think about the amount of data that fb can get. Some people expose so much their life in social network that they kinda deserve data mining.

Yeah, but at the end of the day Facebook is playing by the rules. They openly disclose what they collect (most of the time) and everyone knows they do it. Its up to the consumer to be responsible with their own data.

 

[Capo Dei Capi]

Indeed, it's just overwhelming to think about the amount of data that fb can get. Some people expose so much their life in social network that they kinda deserve data mining.

I go years between adding stuff on my fb, I just never found it to be useful for personal use.

 

[asap1]

Its all about split testing

 

[pxoxrxn]

Its all about split testing

No need, I can tell you now that spit does work.

Oh, you said split.

 

[ItsBlinkHere]

Facebook don't know much about me. I just checked my personal account and it's been two years since I posted something.

 

[web_riches]

Building off what STKMKTFTGRU said...

Its an interesting idea, How do we control a wide population with FB... well, I did some math.

Costs:
$300,000.00 to buy 1/2 million FB profiles (Think it would be less tho)

$185,320 to have 2 high end programers develop software to control these FB profiles (follow and like, and talk with each other).

$100,000 ish to set up a VPS farm to deliver different IP addresses and spoof FB.

$576,000.00 to Outsource a small army (50) workers from India to follow up and control the developed software.

$150,000 to Buy the Data set from FB (of the sheep that followed in the article)
$150,000 to hire 3 researchers to data mine it.
$150,000 to cover random costs (like fights to India and power)

So for about $1,611,320.00 ish (lets round up and say about 2 million,) you can control America and make them do anything you want for 1 year... I think it may even be less..

Of coarse with pull like this you can make back that 2 million easy with marketing, heck prehaps tipple it each year... then you will be in the 1% controlling the 99% in no time. Amazing!

OK, JV who's in?

 

[Capo Dei Capi]

You could easily make way more than $2 million back on a good misinformation and manipulation campaign, especially if your targeting SJW's to control.

http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/04/27/making-the-trolls-pay-how-one-uk-company-made-1-million-in-four-days-from-furious-social-justice-warriors/

 

[archon10]

I once read an article that covered the Bandwagon Effect which mentioned how you can differentiate between the true supporters of a cause and the false supporters. Basically, the supporters are the ones who were there from the very beginning; the ones who suffered ridicule while they stood up for what they believed in. On the other hand, the false supporters would only join the cause once they deemed it "safe" (i.e., a large number of people have already joined the cause and made it popular).

The reason I brought that study up was because lately, I've seen people who are homophobic (based on the comments that they forget to hide on their Facebook timeline) change their profile picture to the rainbow filter to show their false support because now it's "cool and safe". You could say this is innocuous, but when you think about it, this type of behaviour is dangerous as someone who could influence the behaviour could direct attention of a bunch of delusional people at a specific & nefarious cause.

But, like tsubibo said, it's not a surprise that Facebook did this as an experiment.

ugh, bandwagon people suck.

I remember when Google did the rainbow doodle. This xmas or last xmas? So many crazy people came out to complain. lol

I always thought of trolling the internet with an anti-rainbow site. Would be all black and white. No colors. Gay people fighting instead of hand holding and marriage. Stats on gay divorces.

I wish I was 16 again living in my mom's basement so I had the time.

 

[Capo Dei Capi]

ugh, bandwagon people suck.

I remember when Google did the rainbow doodle. This xmas or last xmas? So many crazy people came out to complain. lol

I always thought of trolling the internet with an anti-rainbow site. Would be all black and white. No colors. Gay people fighting instead of hand holding and marriage. Stats on gay divorces.

I wish I was 16 again living in my mom's basement so I had the time.

If you could register and maintain the website anonymously and ad networks would accept it if you don't go to far. It could probably turn a nice profit since it would get so much attention from idiot SJW's complaining about it and tweeting+putting it on Facebook.

 

[archon10]

If you could register and maintain the website anonymously and ad networks would accept it if you don't go to far. It could probably turn a nice profit since it would get so much attention from idiot SJW's complaining about it and tweeting+putting it on Facebook.

lol yep. People love a trainwreck.

I used to think that Landover Baptist's site was a parody. It was so much crazy shit that there was no way it was real. I'll never forget their "Forget Finding Nemo. Find Jesus You Idiots" article. Had me in hysterics.

ETA: Here it is: http://www.landoverbaptist.org/news0703/nemo.html I had no clue this was really some crazy guy. It still cracks me up.

 

[elfgirl]

Maybe there will now be an option to market to people who like to bandwagon. lol

 

[Capo Dei Capi]

lol yep. People love a trainwreck.

I used to think that Landover Baptist's site was a parody. It was so much crazy shit that there was no way it was real. I'll never forget their "Forget Finding Nemo. Find Jesus You Idiots" article. Had me in hysterics.

ETA: Here it is: http://www.landoverbaptist.org/news0703/nemo.html I had no clue this was really some crazy guy. It still cracks me up.

Its a fake project so its not going to get too much attention. Anything along those lines such even having a real one like the WBC is going too far. You want to piss off people but not nearly everyone. Something along the lines of Michael Savage or Geert Wilders who both have millions of fanatics that are supporters as well. But you need to make sure there are a few lines of protection keeping your info from being leaked to the media, such as anonymous Delaware companies. since If you do plan on traveling to certain countries, you'll need that protection or you'll end up like Michael Savage who got banned from the UK for things he talked about and he never even promoting anything illegal.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landover_Baptist_Church