Go Rando is Disrupting Facebook’s Info-Gathering Algorithm

You already know that using Facebook can take a toll on your privacy. But maybe you didn’t know the extent of that toll. Whenever you use a reaction emoji to a friend’s post of a cute puppy or important news story, you’re giving Facebook information about yourself. Yes, Facebook is always gathering information about its users, such as when you tag photos, how you react to different types of content, and even the words you type.

To some, Facebook’s constant gathering of data is disturbing. One person disturbed by the algorithm is artist Ben Grosser, whose Go Rando app lets users hide likes so they can’t be detected by the Facebook algorithm. This is just one way to ensure your privacy and remain secure on the Web. You should also scan your devices regularly for malware and security threats. Facebook is frequently targeted with malware, and it’s easy to click on — and spread — a malicious link. By regularly scanning your phone, you can find viruses before they cause any problems. Click here to perform a quick virus scan on your device:

What is Go Rando?
Go Rando is a web browser extension that intercepts the actual emoji choice you’ve made on Facebook and randomizes it amongst the six reaction icons. That means if you clicked a thumbs up on Facebook, Go Rando might have turned it into a mad-faced emoji for the algorithm. The software is free.

Because of the app, Facebook will start seeing you as an emotionally-balanced person: you’ll be sad, happy, and angry at Facebook postings equally. Additionally, Facebook will have a difficult time knowing whether your reactions are genuine. In other words, you might start being perceived as a bot or a fake account.

What’s the Purpose of Go Rando?
The artist didn’t create the web browser simply out of the goodness of his heart, however. Grosser created the app as part of the Blinding Pleasures exhibit held at London’s Arebyte Gallery.

Why Does Facebook Collect my Data Anyway?
Facebook uses data for several purposes. For one, your data determines what kind of content you see on your Facebook news feed. That means that, depending on which types of content you’d prefer to see, your news feed will become, for example, more or less politicized.

Off the site, Facebook data is used for things like targeted ads and, in some cases, government surveillance. Additionally, social media sells user data to corporations, and the United States might start reviewing social media pages of those applicants seeking visas to enter the United States.