Google's new patent
Tired of seeing spoilers for your favorite shows on the internet? In the age of social media, getting spoiled is easier than it has ever been before.
It seems that Google decided to do something about it.
This week, the search engine giant patented a "system and method for processing content spoilers."
So, how does it work? To keep you from seeing spoilers on your social media feeds, the filter tracks which books, shows, and movies you are currently following. Then, if any information found in your feed is deemed to be of spoilerific nature, the filter automatically censors it. Of course, the system doesn't delete those posts, only hides them behind a pop-up warning, so the information can still be viewed if you feel so inclined.
System and method for processing content spoilers
Unfortunately, there's no guarantee that this system will ever materialize in any way, shape, or form.
A Google spokeswoman made the following statement on the matter:
We hold patents on a variety of ideas - some of those ideas later mature into real products or services, some don't. Prospective product announcements should not necessarily be inferred from our patents."
There's also the issue of integration. The patent doesn't mention which social media accounts would be filtered by the system, nor is it clear on how Google would implement it in social networks that don't belong to the company.
However, one thing is for certain – if this project ever comes to fruition, it will be a great boon to people who wish to avoid having their favorite shows, books, or movies spoiled.
Source: CNN Money / United States Patent and Trademark Office
