MIT Experiement Reveals Sexual Orientation of Social Network Users
A student research project conducted in 2007 is said to reveal the sexual orientation of Internet users based on social network contacts. The research project was produced as part of a course assignment. Students based it upon a principle that people of like interests will form relationships. There is an effort underway to publish the research findings in a scientific journal. Analysis of social networking service users is an ongoing part of the research done by Internet service providers to place meaning and context to the behavior of users for commercial purposes and to enhance the experience of users. The lack of transparency on what is being collected about users and how that information will be used is a critical part of the privacy debate.
Project 'Gaydar', Carolyn Y. Johnson, Boston Globe, September 20, 2009
