Question

What are some of the intended and unintended consequences of using recommendation engines? Explain in 3 sentences

Answer 1

Some of the unintended consequences of using recommendation engines are as under:

• Showing results based on previous searches, thereby giving a biased view or displaying results that overlooks various other significant options that would have otherwise got displayed, had the history of searches not been recorded by the recommendation engines.
• Auto display of comparisons of items leading to biased views of the web surfer.
• News and other data becomes so specifically driven that wider picture is missed in the process of surfing through the usage of recommendation engines.

Some intended consequences of using recommendation engines are as under:

• Drawing traffic to certain sites for various reasons such as the recommendation engines may avail sponsorships or fees from those hosting such websites.
• The intention is usually to deliver the contents that are relevant to the Users thereby saving the search time of such Users.
• Facilitating the conversion of the shoppers into actual customers of a business.