Facebook has tested the mood of users. Many were not … – Business Journal – Portugal

Facebook has tested the mood of users. Many were not satisfied

See publications positive leads users to publish more content of this type. The company is said to be worried about “emotional impact” on the social network. Users talk about lack of ethics

readability=”59.458297506449″> The investigation lasted one week during the year 2012 but only now is causing a flood of criticism on the Internet:. Held a Facebook psychological experience of 689 000 users, without their prior knowledge.

The study was to manipulate the “feeds” news this sample, drawn at random, in order to understand the impact that these contents would have on emotional states . of users evaluated through information subsequently published

The results of the survey, conducted in collaboration with two U.S. universities, were made public through an article published in a magazine: humor is contagious network . social

So, when Facebook has reduced the number of positive content available in the “feeds” of users, the trend showed an increase in the publication of states with a more negative emotional charge – and vice versa <. / p> The findings thus contradict a view that defended very positive to see posts from friends leads users to feel worse about their own lives.

The justifications Facebook did not delay through a state that Adam Kramer social network. Responsible for this study ensured that the same was conducted anonymously and has not been an “unnecessary collection of personal data.”

While recognizing that the impact of the experience was very limited, Kramer vents that “benefits of this research can not be justified any anxiety” that has arisen around it.

Still, the company states that by accepting the terms of service of the social network, users agree with this type of manipulation. “We did this research because we care about the emotional impact of Facebook,” he wrote.

The ethical dimension of this research without consent of the users is the argument repeated by most experts interviewed by the international press. At BBC, Jim Sheridan arrives just talking a request for investigation into this matter.

Deputy Labour Party is concerned about the lack of existing legislation at this level and highlights the possibility of platforms like Facebook can “manipulate the thinking in politics and other areas.”