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A new social network, Candid, will use machine learning to try and moderate posts:
We use a deep learning NLP (Natural Language Processing) algorithm, which basically looks at what you're saying and decides ... whether it's positive or negative. So it kind of classifies things as having a negative sentiment or a positive sentiment. It then gives it a score of how kind of strong your statement is — let's say you said something about someone or you threatened someone, it classifies that as saying, "Hey this is a very strong statement," because these kinds of categories are not good in terms of social discourse. And when we do that, we basically say if this thing has a score which is more than a particular level, a cut-off, then we basically take out the whole post. So whether it's self harm or like bullying or harassment, we look for certain phrases and the context of those phrases.
On the line between moderation and censorship
I mean, here is the thing between what is "loud free speech," quote-unquote, right? At some level you should be able to say what you want to say, but on another level, you also want to facilitate, you know, what I would say constructive social discussion. ... There is a kind of a trade-off or a fine line that you need to walk, because if you let everything in, you know the fear is that social discussion stops and it just becomes a name-calling game. And that's what happens if you just leave — like certain discussions, just let them be, don't pull things down — you will see they quickly devolve into people calling each other names and not having any kind of constructive conversations.
They've succeeded in getting some free press, if nothing else.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by jmoschner on Tuesday August 02 2016, @08:22PM
So they must want to turn trolls into mean girls who give back handed complements, start false rumors, and socially manipulate people all while seeming like they are more or less innocent. I have a feeling this will make people long for the days of the blatant troll that you can easily identify and ignore.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by kurenai.tsubasa on Tuesday August 02 2016, @09:04PM
Basically what I was thinking. The last time I bothered with MyTwitFace I watched somebody I know get stalked by what was either a bunch of sock puppets or else idiot goons that would report and label anything she posted that was vaguely sexy as being “pro rape.” Stuff like that doesn't deserve a better response than an expletive-laden flame.
The definition of troll seems to have changed in the era of MyTwitFace, and I guess I would expect flaming somebody being a moron would get caught by this “troll” filter, all while letting the actual trolling go on unopposed. Seems like Candid will be an even worse SJW haven than MyTwitFace is.
(Score: 3, Informative) by frojack on Tuesday August 02 2016, @10:24PM
definition of troll seems to have changed
Well, clearly it has changed, so much so that most people have no clue what it originally meant.
"Troll" use to be something well played, to sucker others into commenting, often ending with whooosh, but just as often walking away and leaving them bickering among themselves. Something along the line of these examples [internetmarketingninjas.com].
Now days it means anything to which a few people object. ... For any reason what so ever.
The digital middle finger if you will.
Its pretty well outlived its usefulness.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 03 2016, @12:23AM
Language evolves, man! Clearly, defining troll as "anyone who says mean or disagreeable things" is a very useful change in the language.