Recursive Crowds
Websites that revolve around crowd sourcing can reveal stories of neighborhoods, one such story is when a group of Harvard researchers used Yelp data to find moments when property prices start shooting up as neighborhoods start having local artisan coffee shops and other such establishments move in.
However, it is noted by CUNY researchers, that it is possible that Yelp and similar websites may promote such behavior as more information on the conditions of a neighborhood may reveal opportunities that can entice potential occupants to move in thus inducing the motion for property prices to continue on rising.
For better or worse, as we rely on these websites to ensure that we optimize our experiences as we stir away from terrible restaurants with rude waiters, could we be playing a zero-sum game with our neighbors? This brings to mind the power of reviews. In this day and age, paid reviews is here. Imagine a seemingly harmless promotion of a hole in the wall restaurant that would be like the butterfly the flaps it’s wings and causes a tornado at the other side of the world, and by tornado, i mean people being forced to move out of their space of shared experiences.
References:
Bliss, L. (2018, September 7). On Yelp, Gentrification Is in the Stars. Retrieved September 9, 2018, from https://www.citylab.com/equity/2018/09/on-yelp-gentrification-is-in-the-stars/569419/
