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Content Targeting Algorithms | Samuel Schick | TEDxUConn


so my dad has this saying if you’re not

so my dad has this saying if you’re not paying for it you’re the product I want

paying for it you’re the product I want

paying for it you’re the product I want to talk a little about what an internet

to talk a little about what an internet

to talk a little about what an internet based on this premise could mean for our

based on this premise could mean for our

based on this premise could mean for our future let’s say I’m looking for new

future let’s say I’m looking for new

future let’s say I’m looking for new shoes maybe I’m not even sure what shoes

shoes maybe I’m not even sure what shoes

shoes maybe I’m not even sure what shoes I want so I go to a shoe store a big

I want so I go to a shoe store a big

I want so I go to a shoe store a big shoe warehouse with rows of shoes as far

shoe warehouse with rows of shoes as far

shoe warehouse with rows of shoes as far as the eye can see I want to explore my

as the eye can see I want to explore my

as the eye can see I want to explore my options but the second I walk in a shoe

options but the second I walk in a shoe

options but the second I walk in a shoe sales rep sees the Nikes on my feet and

sales rep sees the Nikes on my feet and

sales rep sees the Nikes on my feet and scoops up a box of shoes and proceeds to

scoops up a box of shoes and proceeds to

scoops up a box of shoes and proceeds to follow me around the store showing me

follow me around the store showing me

follow me around the store showing me all the options of shoes he thinks I

all the options of shoes he thinks I

all the options of shoes he thinks I want to see and obstructing my view of

want to see and obstructing my view of

want to see and obstructing my view of all the numerous rows of shoes in the

all the numerous rows of shoes in the

all the numerous rows of shoes in the warehouse in this situation it’d be

warehouse in this situation it’d be

warehouse in this situation it’d be reasonable for anyone to say no thank

reasonable for anyone to say no thank

reasonable for anyone to say no thank you please stop showing me shoes I’d

you please stop showing me shoes I’d

you please stop showing me shoes I’d like to look on my own now but on the

like to look on my own now but on the

like to look on my own now but on the Internet you don’t get this choice

Internet you don’t get this choice

Internet you don’t get this choice almost everything you search for

almost everything you search for

almost everything you search for everything you see and everything

everything you see and everything

everything you see and everything suggested for you is targeted

suggested for you is targeted

suggested for you is targeted specifically for you

specifically for you

specifically for you it’s the cyber equivalent of this

it’s the cyber equivalent of this

it’s the cyber equivalent of this salesperson this is an analogy for the

salesperson this is an analogy for the

salesperson this is an analogy for the modern Internet but to understand where

modern Internet but to understand where

modern Internet but to understand where we are and how we got here

we are and how we got here

we are and how we got here we need to take a step back and talk

we need to take a step back and talk

we need to take a step back and talk about the evolution of the Internet of

about the evolution of the Internet of

about the evolution of the Internet of Things the Internet is great in so many

Things the Internet is great in so many

Things the Internet is great in so many ways it connects us to people we’d never

ways it connects us to people we’d never

ways it connects us to people we’d never be able to talk to otherwise and if I

be able to talk to otherwise and if I

be able to talk to otherwise and if I were in the 90s looking at the Internet

were in the 90s looking at the Internet

were in the 90s looking at the Internet as it was kicking off I’d be thinking

as it was kicking off I’d be thinking

as it was kicking off I’d be thinking wow this is going to be such a great

wow this is going to be such a great

wow this is going to be such a great advance for Humanity the knowledge and

advance for Humanity the knowledge and

advance for Humanity the knowledge and discovery and communication are no

discovery and communication are no

discovery and communication are no longer limited by location or education

longer limited by location or education

longer limited by location or education or means it’s truly the democratization

or means it’s truly the democratization

or means it’s truly the democratization of information flow where once big news

of information flow where once big news

of information flow where once big news outlets controlled what was relevant and

outlets controlled what was relevant and

outlets controlled what was relevant and printed now anyone can be a voice of

printed now anyone can be a voice of

printed now anyone can be a voice of thoughts information knowledge each

thoughts information knowledge each

thoughts information knowledge each website its own voice so wouldn’t that

website its own voice so wouldn’t that

website its own voice so wouldn’t that improve discourse promote tolerance and

improve discourse promote tolerance and

improve discourse promote tolerance and raise awareness of the world around us

raise awareness of the world around us

raise awareness of the world around us presumably due to the diversity of

presumably due to the diversity of

presumably due to the diversity of thoughts and information in the world we

thoughts and information in the world we

thoughts and information in the world we constantly be presented with beliefs

constantly be presented with beliefs

constantly be presented with beliefs some agreeable and some opposing our own

some agreeable and some opposing our own

some agreeable and some opposing our own beliefs but we all know that’s not

beliefs but we all know that’s not

beliefs but we all know that’s not really the case right now and why is

really the case right now and why is

really the case right now and why is that gradually over time communities on

that gradually over time communities on

that gradually over time communities on the internet developed repiy

the internet developed repiy

the internet developed repiy people with specific interests could

people with specific interests could

people with specific interests could congregate to share their beliefs and

congregate to share their beliefs and

congregate to share their beliefs and relate etc in the early days of the web

relate etc in the early days of the web

relate etc in the early days of the web this division of the general space of

this division of the general space of

this division of the general space of the internet into small unrepresentative

the internet into small unrepresentative

the internet into small unrepresentative pockets of people was very clearly

pockets of people was very clearly

pockets of people was very clearly defined by chat rooms a user could step

defined by chat rooms a user could step

defined by chat rooms a user could step from the general space of the internet

from the general space of the internet

from the general space of the internet in and out of more specific information

in and out of more specific information

in and out of more specific information in a chat room to more general

in a chat room to more general

in a chat room to more general information on the Internet at large

information on the Internet at large

information on the Internet at large over time more and more people began to

over time more and more people began to

over time more and more people began to migrate to fewer and fewer access points

migrate to fewer and fewer access points

migrate to fewer and fewer access points for information currently we only have

for information currently we only have

for information currently we only have about a handful of content providers

about a handful of content providers

about a handful of content providers Google Facebook YouTube to name a couple

Google Facebook YouTube to name a couple

Google Facebook YouTube to name a couple these content providers are the internet

these content providers are the internet

these content providers are the internet salespeople they’re selling you what

salespeople they’re selling you what

salespeople they’re selling you what they think you want to see based on what

they think you want to see based on what

they think you want to see based on what they know about you and this information

they know about you and this information

they know about you and this information is usually some amount that has

is usually some amount that has

is usually some amount that has accumulated since you started visiting

accumulated since you started visiting

accumulated since you started visiting their site but sometimes the information

their site but sometimes the information

their site but sometimes the information is bought so before you even visit their

is bought so before you even visit their

is bought so before you even visit their site they have a pretty good idea of

site they have a pretty good idea of

site they have a pretty good idea of what who they think you are this

what who they think you are this

what who they think you are this provides us with the survival of the

provides us with the survival of the

provides us with the survival of the fittest

fittest

fittest we’ve put exceeding amounts of pressure

we’ve put exceeding amounts of pressure

we’ve put exceeding amounts of pressure on these few companies to provide us

on these few companies to provide us

on these few companies to provide us with what we want to see and the last 10

with what we want to see and the last 10

with what we want to see and the last 10 years has given us numerous ways to do

years has given us numerous ways to do

years has given us numerous ways to do this content targeting algorithms are

this content targeting algorithms are

this content targeting algorithms are just a statistical programming way of

just a statistical programming way of

just a statistical programming way of sorting and predicting things with data

sorting and predicting things with data

sorting and predicting things with data user data in this case it’s surprising

user data in this case it’s surprising

user data in this case it’s surprising how well algorithms can predict this

how well algorithms can predict this

how well algorithms can predict this when I open up Google I’m expecting to

when I open up Google I’m expecting to

when I open up Google I’m expecting to see a smattering of information roughly

see a smattering of information roughly

see a smattering of information roughly in ranked in terms of popularity when I

in ranked in terms of popularity when I

in ranked in terms of popularity when I open up Facebook I’m expecting to see a

open up Facebook I’m expecting to see a

open up Facebook I’m expecting to see a sample of everything that’s happening in

sample of everything that’s happening in

sample of everything that’s happening in my social circles when I go to the front

my social circles when I go to the front

my social circles when I go to the front page of YouTube I expect to see the

page of YouTube I expect to see the

page of YouTube I expect to see the music and videos that are popular today

music and videos that are popular today

music and videos that are popular today but what I’m ending up with is a real

but what I’m ending up with is a real

but what I’m ending up with is a real small subset in reality I’m seeing what

small subset in reality I’m seeing what

small subset in reality I’m seeing what these content providers think I should

these content providers think I should

these content providers think I should see based on what they know about me and

see based on what they know about me and

see based on what they know about me and lines dividing groups of people on the

lines dividing groups of people on the

lines dividing groups of people on the internet today are completely invisible

internet today are completely invisible

internet today are completely invisible I’m part of a group of people maybe even

I’m part of a group of people maybe even

I’m part of a group of people maybe even as few as just myself

as few as just myself

as few as just myself open up Facebook to see a specific

open up Facebook to see a specific

open up Facebook to see a specific combination of information out of all

combination of information out of all

combination of information out of all the possible things I could be seeing on

the possible things I could be seeing on

the possible things I could be seeing on my newsfeed it’s not random there’s a

my newsfeed it’s not random there’s a

my newsfeed it’s not random there’s a dollar sign attached to knowing

dollar sign attached to knowing

dollar sign attached to knowing everything about you so where you’re

everything about you so where you’re

everything about you so where you’re from what websites you visited and what

from what websites you visited and what

from what websites you visited and what browser you’re on what computer you’re

browser you’re on what computer you’re

browser you’re on what computer you’re using is all used and all determines

using is all used and all determines

using is all used and all determines what you see online turning on the TV to

what you see online turning on the TV to

what you see online turning on the TV to Good Morning America is now opening up

Good Morning America is now opening up

Good Morning America is now opening up Facebook – good morning

Facebook – good morning

Facebook – good morning Sam it’s scary how good these content

Sam it’s scary how good these content

Sam it’s scary how good these content targeting algorithms are I’m going to be

targeting algorithms are I’m going to be

targeting algorithms are I’m going to be graduating in a month and I keep seeing

graduating in a month and I keep seeing

graduating in a month and I keep seeing post like ten worst job interview

post like ten worst job interview

post like ten worst job interview stories of all times and six things you

stories of all times and six things you

stories of all times and six things you should never put up with on your first

should never put up with on your first

should never put up with on your first job and my personal favorite ten do’s

job and my personal favorite ten do’s

job and my personal favorite ten do’s and don’ts when moving back in with your

and don’ts when moving back in with your

and don’ts when moving back in with your parents

parents

parents thanks Facebook real vote of confidence

thanks Facebook real vote of confidence

thanks Facebook real vote of confidence there these machine learning algorithms

there these machine learning algorithms

there these machine learning algorithms are absolutely brilliant you don’t even

are absolutely brilliant you don’t even

are absolutely brilliant you don’t even need to know what you’re searching for

need to know what you’re searching for

need to know what you’re searching for to happen upon some type of insight in

to happen upon some type of insight in

to happen upon some type of insight in the population you’re studying but

the population you’re studying but

the population you’re studying but unknowingly widespread use of these

unknowingly widespread use of these

unknowingly widespread use of these algorithms is biasing how people see the

algorithms is biasing how people see the

algorithms is biasing how people see the world around them and it’s affecting

world around them and it’s affecting

world around them and it’s affecting their it’s reaffirming their existing

their it’s reaffirming their existing

their it’s reaffirming their existing beliefs but what I’m really getting at

beliefs but what I’m really getting at

beliefs but what I’m really getting at is the shoe warehouse is vanishing

is the shoe warehouse is vanishing

is the shoe warehouse is vanishing before our eyes and our entire

before our eyes and our entire

before our eyes and our entire perception of the Internet is becoming

perception of the Internet is becoming

perception of the Internet is becoming the shoe sales person’s offerings it

the shoe sales person’s offerings it

the shoe sales person’s offerings it sounds so simple but it’s really quite

sounds so simple but it’s really quite

sounds so simple but it’s really quite invisible there’s just so much out there

invisible there’s just so much out there

invisible there’s just so much out there in the vastness of the internet that

in the vastness of the internet that

in the vastness of the internet that even the most small customized subset of

even the most small customized subset of

even the most small customized subset of this vastness can feel like an entire

this vastness can feel like an entire

this vastness can feel like an entire universe unto itself

universe unto itself

universe unto itself every point of access to information on

every point of access to information on

every point of access to information on the Internet is being censored with what

the Internet is being censored with what

the Internet is being censored with what content providers think you want to see

content providers think you want to see

content providers think you want to see it reminds me of this great book called

it reminds me of this great book called

it reminds me of this great book called feed where every character has a device

feed where every character has a device

feed where every character has a device embedded into their brainstem and

embedded into their brainstem and

embedded into their brainstem and companies send them content right to

companies send them content right to

companies send them content right to their eyes and ears the characters

their eyes and ears the characters

their eyes and ears the characters entire world right down to their senses

entire world right down to their senses

entire world right down to their senses is customized and sold right back to

is customized and sold right back to

is customized and sold right back to them kind of sounds like the modern

them kind of sounds like the modern

them kind of sounds like the modern internet experience these characters

internet experience these characters

internet experience these characters become incredibly small-minded and

become incredibly small-minded and

become incredibly small-minded and unaware as their world crumbles around

unaware as their world crumbles around

unaware as their world crumbles around them a good example of the

them a good example of the

them a good example of the dangers of content targeting algorithms

dangers of content targeting algorithms

dangers of content targeting algorithms is the fake news outbreak that play 2016

is the fake news outbreak that play 2016

is the fake news outbreak that play 2016 for instance a group of Macedonian men

for instance a group of Macedonian men

for instance a group of Macedonian men realized that it could be profitable to

realized that it could be profitable to

realized that it could be profitable to write inflammatory and mind you

write inflammatory and mind you

write inflammatory and mind you completely fake news stories and post

completely fake news stories and post

completely fake news stories and post them on Facebook and generate revenue

them on Facebook and generate revenue

them on Facebook and generate revenue from the ad banners on the sides

from the ad banners on the sides

from the ad banners on the sides Facebook content targeting algorithms

Facebook content targeting algorithms

Facebook content targeting algorithms would then extract keywords from the

would then extract keywords from the

would then extract keywords from the articles and know to share them to the

articles and know to share them to the

articles and know to share them to the right people who would probably agree

right people who would probably agree

right people who would probably agree with the most this set off a chain

with the most this set off a chain

with the most this set off a chain reaction where these people in turn

reaction where these people in turn

reaction where these people in turn would share the articles and their

would share the articles and their

would share the articles and their friends without maybe reading would

friends without maybe reading would

friends without maybe reading would share and post and set so I’m putting

share and post and set so I’m putting

share and post and set so I’m putting the blame on us broadly speaking the

the blame on us broadly speaking the

the blame on us broadly speaking the humans involved we all sometimes click

humans involved we all sometimes click

humans involved we all sometimes click and share without really reading through

and share without really reading through

and share without really reading through or fact-checking

or fact-checking

or fact-checking but most importantly I credit the

but most importantly I credit the

but most importantly I credit the content targeting algorithms not once

content targeting algorithms not once

content targeting algorithms not once did any of these algorithms stop to

did any of these algorithms stop to

did any of these algorithms stop to think whether these articles made any

think whether these articles made any

think whether these articles made any sense for had any hint of fact to them

sense for had any hint of fact to them

sense for had any hint of fact to them they never paused to evaluate whether it

they never paused to evaluate whether it

they never paused to evaluate whether it was even ethical to be spreading

was even ethical to be spreading

was even ethical to be spreading information that was so unequivocally

information that was so unequivocally

information that was so unequivocally false well nobody was watching fake news

false well nobody was watching fake news

false well nobody was watching fake news spread like wildfire and when I say

spread like wildfire and when I say

spread like wildfire and when I say nobody was watching is because anybody

nobody was watching is because anybody

nobody was watching is because anybody who disagreed with or could have

who disagreed with or could have

who disagreed with or could have otherwise critically evaluated the

otherwise critically evaluated the

otherwise critically evaluated the content of these articles they weren’t

content of these articles they weren’t

content of these articles they weren’t even being shown the articles fake news

even being shown the articles fake news

even being shown the articles fake news is insidious just like spam and Mark

is insidious just like spam and Mark

is insidious just like spam and Mark Zuckerberg has committed Facebook to

Zuckerberg has committed Facebook to

Zuckerberg has committed Facebook to fact-checking his way out of this mess

fact-checking his way out of this mess

fact-checking his way out of this mess he’s hoping that fake news will go the

he’s hoping that fake news will go the

he’s hoping that fake news will go the way of spam we currently have excellent

way of spam we currently have excellent

way of spam we currently have excellent programs sorting away junk mail so none

programs sorting away junk mail so none

programs sorting away junk mail so none of it meets our eyes but this isn’t

of it meets our eyes but this isn’t

of it meets our eyes but this isn’t really getting at the issue at hand what

really getting at the issue at hand what

really getting at the issue at hand what we need is a jump out button for all of

we need is a jump out button for all of

we need is a jump out button for all of our content providers get that shoe

our content providers get that shoe

our content providers get that shoe salesman out of my face I’m feeling

salesman out of my face I’m feeling

salesman out of my face I’m feeling adventurous today we need this button

adventurous today we need this button

adventurous today we need this button because it would produce less bias less

because it would produce less bias less

because it would produce less bias less infinite echo chambers less self

infinite echo chambers less self

infinite echo chambers less self confirmation and most importantly less

confirmation and most importantly less

confirmation and most importantly less fake news free is how the internet was

fake news free is how the internet was

fake news free is how the internet was meant to be and we need to be able to

meant to be and we need to be able to

meant to be and we need to be able to lift the veil of bias and misdirection

lift the veil of bias and misdirection

lift the veil of bias and misdirection that we were being fed online so with

that we were being fed online so with

that we were being fed online so with that in mind and looking to the future

that in mind and looking to the future

that in mind and looking to the future let’s spark a change with how we

let’s spark a change with how we

let’s spark a change with how we interact with information on the

interact with information on the

interact with information on the Internet today thank you

Internet today thank you

Internet today thank you you

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