[mbateman]

What exactly are those data points? I doubt they are individuals, they wouldn't wrap so tightly around the curve around such a tiny scale (between 1.5 and 1.7 timeline posts per day).

This looks like a very small effect but one with a very distinct form so I'd be curious to see the details.

[ottocoder]

I was thinking along the same lines. With millions of users, I suppose it makes sense that you can see "average" number of posts per day change when a relationship changes, but at the individual level how could the algorithm tell if it is a change in relationship or somebody was having a good week and felt like being chatty (of course these options aren't mutually exclusive! :) ).

[eamsen]

Exactly my thoughts and I don't see a reasonable person/group filter to construct averages without introducing some kind of bias. And with the graph's axis starting at a non-zero value, I'm not convinced that the goal was to provide an objective view on the effects of relationships.

More details would help to reduce the skepticism.

[pistle]

So, if you share more than 1 post in your timeline... POKE - it's on. And the day after POKE, you're ~~~ha-pp-i-er~~~.

They have macro data which is interesting, but yeah, the utility of this for individuals? It's Complicated

Facebook. Fire some data "scientists." Especially any that came from OK Cupid's marketing department.

If you grant Amazon access to your timeline, they will pre-deliver love-dove gifts to your poke-ee before you even know to order them.