In one corner is Princeton University. within the different, Facebook.
At stake is that the quality of Princeton's analysis and -- gasp! -- the longer term viability of Mark Zuckerberg's network. Or, at least, the hearts and minds of the thousands of observers taking sides on social media.
It all started last week once a bunch of Princeton researchers revealed a paper that urged Facebook may lose a walloping eightieth of its users by 2017. They based mostly their projection on epidemiologic models, usually accustomed chart the unfold of unwellness, victimization the ending of Myspace as a case study.
Data "suggests that Facebook has already reached the height of its quality and has entered a decline section," the researchers wrote within the paper, that has not been peer-reviewed.
Recent analysis has urged, and Facebook has admitted, that younger users square measure abandoning Facebook for different social platforms. Even so, several observers were skeptical of Princeton's methodology.
"It's Associate in Nursing recent print media trick: simply add the words 'research' or 'study' to a sensational claim for immediate quality," wrote Slate's can Oremus, UN agency criticized news shops for news uncritically on the paper. "Best of all, you are exculpated of any responsibility for corroborative its truth, since everybody is aware of journalists are not qualified to dispute scientific findings."
On Th, Facebook dismissed back. however rather than a canned statement or a point-by-point renunciation of the researchers' ways, they took a a lot of puckish tack.
"Using identical sturdy methodology featured within the paper, we have a tendency to tried to search out out a lot of regarding this 'Princeton University' -- and you will not believe what we have a tendency to found!" Facebook knowledge individual microphone Develin wrote during a web log post on his page.
An examination of Facebook and Google patterns spells unhealthy news ahead for the university, Develin aforesaid, tongue firmly planted during a barbed cheek.
"This trend suggests that Princeton can have solely [*fr1] its current enrollment by 2018, and by 2021 it'll haven't any students in the least, accepting with the previous graph of intellectual scholarliness. supported our sturdy scientific analysis, future generations can solely be able to imagine this now-rubble establishment that after walked this earth," he added.
"Although this analysis has not nevertheless been peer-reviewed, each Like for this post counts as a referee. begin reviewing!"
By Fri afternoon his post had attracted over eight,100 likes and comments like "well played!"
"You return at the king of social media, you best not miss," wrote Chris Taylor on Mashable. CNET referred to as it "the comeback of all comebacks."
The smackdown conjointly spilled over to Twitter, wherever the Huffington Post referred to as it a "nerd brawl" and most observers gave credit to Facebook for having a way of humor.
A Princeton University interpreter didn't right away respond Fri to CNN's request for comment.
In reality, neither establishment is at risk of atrophy any time before long. Princeton received twenty four,498 candidates for its current freshman category and accepted solely seven.4% of them, making certain its standing together of the nation's elite universities. And as of Sept 2013 Facebook had one.2 billion monthly active users.
Source : cnn.com
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