Category: Web/Tech

The demographics of web search: which groups search for what?

by  Tyler Cowen in

In a recent research paper, Weber and Castillo report:

How does the web search behavior of  "rich'' and "poor'' people differ? Do men and women tend to click on different results for the same query? What are some queries almost exclusively issued by African Americans? These are some of the questions we address in this study. Our research combines three data sources: the query log of a major US-based web search engine, profile information provided by 28 million of its users (birth year, gender and zip code), and US-census information including detailed demographic information aggregated at the level of ZIP code. Through this combination we can annotate each query with, e.g., the average per-capita income in the ZIP code it originated from….

Here are a few details:

What kind of web results would you personally want to see for the query "wagner"? Well, if you are a typical female US web user you probably have pages about the composer Richard Wagner in mind. However, if you are a male US web user you are more likely to be referring to a company called Wagner which produces paint sprayers. Similarly, the term most likely to complete the beginning "hal" is in general "lindsey," [an evangelist and Christian writer] whereas for people living in areas with an above average education level the most likely completion is "higdon." [an American writer and runner]

And what are the "most discriminating" search queries for various demographic groups?  Suddenly I felt awkward reading this piece.  Do note that the method of construction means the list will be dominated by demographically skewed neighborhoods, which need not be representative of the group as a whole.

Below the poverty line:

www.unitnet.com

slaker [seems to be an informal misspelling of "slacker"]

kipasa [Spanish-language animation site]

www.tokbox.com

I had never heard of any of those. 

If you have a BA, the most discriminating search query is

"spencer stuart executive search," followed by some other boring-sounding choices, such as "four seasons jackson hole."  To continue with some groups: 

Whites:

pulloff.com [concerns tractors and motorsport]

central boiler wood furnace

firewood processors

midwest super cub

African-Americans:

trey songs bio [should be "songz"]

def jam records address

s2s magazine

madinaonline [sells body oils]

There is more information on p.5 of the paper.  Can you guess which group is well-predicted by the search query "jingos para baby shower"?

For the pointer I thank David Curran.

Robin Hanson responds on cryonics

by  Tyler Cowen in

Does Tyler think the world would be equally better off if foodies were to act contrary to type, express less via buying less fancy food, and give the difference to charity? If so, why has he never mentioned it in his hundreds of food posts?

Could it be Tyler knows that tech nerds are low status in our society and fair game for criticism? Is this really any different than rich folks complaining about inner city kids who buy $100 sneakers instead of saving their money or giving it to charity, even while they buy $1000 suits and dresses instead of saving their money or giving it to charity?

There is much more here.  This is not essential to the points under discussion, but I should add that I consider tech nerds to be a relatively high status group in American society, at least above the age of thirty.

Assorted links

by  Tyler Cowen in

1. Profile of Chris Bosh.

2. Profile of Zizek: "He has many talents, but keeping still is not one of them."  I also liked this part:

The Chinese had invited him because of his status as a communist thought leader, but he doesn't believe that they understand his theories.

"They translated 10 of my books, the idiots," says Zizek. The Chinese translated the books as poetry and not as philosophical and political works. The translators had supposedly never heard of Hegel and had no idea what they were actually translating. To make up for these deficiencies, they tried to make his words sound appealing.

Or:

At the end of Zizek's lecture, an audience member asks a complicated and unintelligible question. "You made a good point," says Zizek, and continues to talk about Hegel. His response has nothing to do with the question, which in turn has nothing to do with the lecture. The game could continue endlessly in the same vein. Suddenly Zizek pushes aside the cardboard screen and interrupts his Hegel lecture. "Okay! It doesn't matter. As I said already, you made quite a good point. And the truth is that I have no response. In fact, my long-winded talk was also just an attempt to cover up that fact!"