One side-effect of clicking on a lot of climate links is that the Google algorithm sometimes lets the crazy stuff through too.

Case in point: A “news source” called fitsnews has published an article called “Man-Made Global Warming Theory Takes Major Hit to the Goonies”.

I may have added the last three words because their title like totally sucked, dude.

The article popped up on the Google feed on my Pixel phone. I sent Google grumpy feedback on it, including a swear word to amuse the moderator slaves in their dimly lit cave.

A few hours later, I was fed the same “news” on my Pixel but from a new source: RT News, the Russian state-owned website, whose slogan by the way is: “Question More” .

Indeed.

This chain of events suggests that the Google algorithm correctly recorded my tap on the first item—and decided: Give Him More Of This Good Stuff He Clicks On! —but had not yet taken into account me reporting the first article for nutjobbery. Ok, that’s definitely enough about nuts for one day.

I imagine this algorithmic asymmetry is a feature, not a flaw.

[[I refuse to link to either of the two sites, but you will not have any trouble finding the articles if you are in the mood for propaganda.]]