On: Using Machine Learning and Node.js to detect the gender of Instagram Users

[gstar]

It's unusual to see a coherent, from-first-principles explanation of a neural network. Especially one that's commercially valuable (i presume) to Totems.

Mildly alarmed to learn I'm only .039 probability male, though - better bloke it up on Instagram.

[st8ic → gstar]

that's okay, I'm only male with a probability of 0.01. Hint: I'm male.

[needacig → gstar]

What's so alarming about being thought female?

[barsonme → needacig]

Personally, being male, I'd rather be thought of as male. Not as a slight towards females, but just because it's who I am.

That said, I did get 0.998 female and 0.996 male. Oh well.

[vezzy-fnord → needacig]

If you're looking to avoid disclosing personal data, then it's a positive. On the other hand, if you're actually making use of a service, then it would probably lead to a lot of unwanted targeted information. Then, assuming a future of ambient intelligence where most people don't question machine mined data (I'd say an inevitability), you'd probably have a lot of awkward moments ensue, especially if public and private institutions hold data to be sacrosanct.

[yarrel → needacig]

That's a very binary take on gender.