Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Algorithm Deduces Drunk Tweets From Geolocation, Behavioral Data (thestack.com)

Posted by timothy on from the slurred-lines dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Researchers have devised an algorithm for identifying people who post on Twitter while drunk at home, using both geolocation tags and behavioral data. The researchers analysed alcohol-related tweets from New York City and Rochester, and found that the tweeting drinkers in Monroe were likelier to be out of their houses than New Yorkers. The scientists concluded that the model could reveal important real-time information for public health research — creating a tool for improving a community's health, and using social media as a resource to spread positive health behavior.

5 of 51 comments (clear)

  1. Frist Psot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Frist psot? Two drumk 2 tel;.

  2. Big Brother is watching your liquor cabinet by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 5, Insightful

    using social media as a resource to spread positive health behavior.

    In other words, a resource for insurers to screw you for drinking "at home and/or at inappropriate hours", and for employers to give you a bollocking over the same.

    --
    If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
  3. not scientific, just drunken exaggeration? by sittingnut · · Score: 2

    this does not sound very scientific.

    in the 1st place are these tweets from people who were really drunk? seems there was no real verification.
    without verification of data used, how can one judge the accuracy of the "algorithm"?

    even if there was verification, algorithm would only predict a probability, (eg. "algorithm indicate there is 80% probability that this tweeter is drunk") rather than a certainty.

    given all that, it is rather premature to expect this "model could reveal important real-time information for public health research".
    let alone "improving a community's health, and using social media as a resource to spread positive health behavior."

    more real science, more honesty about limits of what can be known, and less exaggeration of claims, would be better.

    btw who decides what is "positive health behavior" and the "community's" need to "spread" them? sounds rather orwellian to me.

  4. OK, I'll Ask the Hard Question by LifesABeach · · Score: 2

    Is Linux being used here?

  5. Another privacy intrusion by Virtucon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Buy an intelligent thermostat they said, it'll save money and make you more comfortable they said.
    Now they want to track when I'm anywhere "to help determine if I'm away."

    Now they want to analyze my tweets and use my location data to see where I am?!?!?

    Get the fuck out of my life. I do not want to be a statistic, I do not want to be a data point. Now get off my lawn.

    --
    Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"