Financial TimesFinancial Times

Internet ratings get only three stars from me

By Jemima Kelly

20 Jul 2023 · 3 min read

There are three kinds of lies on the internet. Lies, damned lies, and one-to-five-star ratings.

I’m not just talking about the kind of ratings that can be bought from a fake reviewer for $5 a pop (though those are indeed a plague). I’m talking about the supposedly real ratings that we give by mindlessly tapping our thumbs on all five stars when we are prompted to review yet another nausea-inducing cab ride or mediocre fitness class — not because this is a true reflection of our views but because it’s the fastest, most frictionless and guilt-free option.

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