Author: Ned Dymoke / Source: Big Think

Facebook! Previously a global communication tool for its 2 billion users, it’s now what your distant uncle uses to stay in your life. While it has (many) faults, it’s also a marvel of technology. It’s powered by an algorithm that, allegedly, is supposed to give you the most relevant content and for much of its users, it does just that.
From minion memes to Russian troll farms, Facebook’s greatest feat—and biggest flaw—has been its equalizing of content. For the most part, this works. Although over the July 4th holiday this very algorithm found the U.S. Declaration of Independence to be racist.The Liberty County Vindicator, a small community newspaper for the town of Liberty, outside of Houston, TX, had been posting the Declaration of Independence in serialized posts on their Facebook page and part 10 was subsequentially taken down by the Facebook algorithm due to the phrase “merciless Indian savages.” This is, admittedly, quite a harsh and terrible phrase to see in 2018, but is in…
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