- I wrote this piece, in part, in preparation for a presentation I am giving to the UBC SyMETRI: Science & Mathematics Education Teaching Inquiry group next week.
Almost everyone has seen these but it’s unlikely that you’ve given them much thought. I have given them quite a lot of thought, so read on and allow me to do some of the heavy lifting for you.
➡ In short, I believe you should claim your knowledge panel (if/when you get one).
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Google tells us in About knowledge panels that
The important part of the above is “based on Google’s understanding” i.e. the person in question may not even be aware that the knowledge panel exists and thus how (or even why) Google has decided that they should be presented to the world.
Now, it is important to note that these Knowledge Panels are automatically generated. They just appear one day, if the algorithm determines it should be so. Google someone famous and you’ll see they have a knowledge panel. You’ll see below that Cillian Murphy has not yet claimed his; as I understand it, most actually famous people do not.
Now, like you might be, I was surprised to learn one day that I had/have a knowledge panel too 🤔. In May 2021, I guess (and I can only guess) Google saw my name in web traffic enough times that they thought I might be worth a look; this was likely due to a month where I was mentioned on Twitter, the UBC website, and elsewhere more than X times.
Now, I happened to notice that the knowledge panel had appeared so I immediately claimed it fearing that Google might determine that I am not, in fact, sufficiently noteworthy and that it might disappear (this actually happens).
Google also tells us that we “prominent individuals” get to suggest edits because knowledge panels are “self-authoritative” – a very interesting statement if you think about it. I looked into this and determined to see what influence I could have on what was displayed there. After all, this is essentially my front page on Google, the “official/public” me, so I wanted to be proactive about what was displayed there.
I also wanted to do it before another Kieran Forde claimed ownership of the name on Google, relegating me to “the other Kieran Forde” /”Kieran Forde 2nd” status [à la LinkedIn], and as was sometimes the case in my childhood when people referred to my cousin of the same name.
If you Google “Kieran Forde” now, you’ll see my preferred photo appear (getting that approved is a story in itself!) before you finish typing.
Before I continue with my own story, I want to segue to speak about some other folk at UBC.
The four, genuinely noteworthy, Professors above all work in the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy.
Jillianne is my PhD advisor. Some time back, after I’d claimed my knowledge panel, I suggested she claim hers. She did so and now when you Google her, you’ll see her profile. More importantly, if you click the hamburger on her profile (see below) and try to claim her knowledge panel, you’ll be led to a page that tells you that “Jillianne Code” is already being managed. She has claimed herself and is now in a position to have some impact on what is displayed when someone Googles her i.e. she, not Google, manages her profile.
You’ll notice that
- Dr. Code is listed as “Researcher”.
- Dr. Milner-Bolotin is listed as “Educator”.
- Dr. Pinar is listed as “American Pedagogue”.
- Dr. Gerofsky is listed as “Author”.
Now, Drs. Milner-Bolotin, Pinar, and Gerofsky may well be quite satisfied with these labels as they are but if they were not, would they be able to do anything about it? Well, firstly, they would have to claim their knowledge panel and then engage with Google to curate their profile.
For example, Google tells us that the featured images are auto-generated but that, should they claim their knowledge panel, the people themselves can select these images.
Next a few comments about my communication with Google in trying to curate my own profile.
➡ Before now, I have had some success in negotiating with Google to curate how I am encountered online: you can see that process here: (Feb 17, 2023) Using my Right to be Forgotten.
Notice that there is no label under my name in my profile, something I will be experimenting with in the coming weeks.
Before now, after Getting verified on Google, I made use of the Submit feedback on content about you form. My main “success”, such as it is, was to insist that this pixilated photo (Jillianne made this some years ago) was suitable for my “official image”. Before doing so, there was no image at all – I have made an effort to keep images of me offline so Google didn’t have any other image to use.
I argued that it was good enough for UBC [1] [2] and that, given my research interests (which I also suggested [in that order]), the photo was both an identifier and a statement of my identity i.e. one where I guard my privacy and claim what agency I can of my identity as presented by Google.
My argument was accepted and the photo became my “official” pic. The only other readily available photo of me online, the flattering animated image, was also made by Jillianne for the ALIVE Lab members page.
I do wonder what will happen when/if another photo of me is auto-generated into the profile; can I ask them to remove it or can I edit it and ask them to use the edited one?
I wonder also if/when a label will appear under my name. I believe I might endeavor to have Google add a label/tag under my name. Unfortunately, I do not have a record of my previous communicatons with Google about my knowledge panel but I will put be sure to add below the comms related my attempt at becoming Kieran Forde”Irish Pedagogue” (or “Irish-Canadian Mischief-maker” or sth) 🤣
UPDATE: Mar 14
➡ Yesterday I clicked the hamburger button beside my name and then on the ‘send feedback’ option
I made a suggestion for an edit and, lo and behold, I now have a profession/occupation listed under my name.
Again, as when I Used my Right to be Forgotten, this was a fascinating academic exercise in seeing how one might manage one’s online identity.
However, I am again left wondering WHO made the decision to approve this edit…where are they…how do they decide to approve/decline an edit…is there a way to appeal if the edit request is declined…
When I was banned from YouTube for a year, I used my one-shot appeal to no avail only to have my (supposedly impossible) re-appeal vindicate me and see my account reinstated.
Who makes these decisions!?
It was bizarrely emotional getting my account back and listing to my old playlists. It was like going back to a childhood bedroom and finding old mix-tapes. Strange to think that I could be barred from these memories mistakenly being ‘convicted’ of “spamming” on YouTube.
Still, some people use YouTube as a main income source or as platform for speech and YouTube can decide to cut them off any time (often by mistake). What can people do? What comparable platform is there? None.
So “Bless me Google, for I have sinned…” is the order of the day. We beg for digital redemption and the right to fuck up and not have it cost us forever. [I have a chunk of writing on “Google as the secular confessional” that I have been sitting on for years that I need to make public].
Of course, all businesses claim their knowledge panel….[more to write here]
(July 20, 2024) ‘Google says I’m a dead physicist’: is the world’s biggest search engine broken?
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/jul/20/google-is-the-worlds-biggest-search-engine-broken
- The problem was the picture. When you search the name of a notable person, Google may create what it calls a “knowledge panel”, a little box with basic information taken from Wikipedia. Somewhere along the way, the algorithm had confused pictures of my face with the biography of another man who shared my name.
- [Google’s vice-president of search, Pandu Nayak] apologised, saying the panels were created automatically using algorithms and sometimes they messed up
Archives: https://archive.is/2NG0u; https://archive.is/r7VPw;