(Credit: Tom Scott/Tumblr)
Facebook Graph Search enables a type of discovery never before possible -- you know, like learning which of your married friends like prostitutes. True story.
Tom Scott, a self-described Web comedian, has created a brilliant but disconcerting Tumblr blog called "Actual Facebook Graph Searches" to showcase some of the problematic side effects of a search engine that surfaces tidbits the masses never intended to see the light of the day.
Graph Search, launched in limited beta last week, is Facebook's version of the search engine. It's a structured entity that directs members down a rabbit hole of revelations around people, places, interests, and photos. It's fun, fascinating, and quite freaky, as Scott's Tumblr shows us, particularly if you're interested in "Married people who like Prostitutes" or "Single women who live nearby and who are interested in men and like Getting Drunk!"
Scott's blog, not even 24 hours old, is quickly getting elevated to meme status with the help of Hacker News. The blog, he said, doesn't intend to make a point about privacy, except the obvious: "Facebook does have good privacy settings: but there are many, many people who don't know how to use them!"
Really, the real search images speak for themselves in a Lamebook sort of way: People have a tendency to overshare on Facebook, especially those gals who openly like to get drunk. With that in mind, Actual Facebook Graph Searches seems more akin to commentary on society than any sort of political jab at Facebook.
But then again, moms with kids who identify themselves as Catholics on Facebook probably never expected a search query to expose their preferences for Durex condoms. Please excuse me while I go on an unlike rampage. It might take a while.
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