Facebook Is Sorry For a Bad Design Decision In 'Year In Review' Feature

Those who are active on Facebook, might have noticed Year-in-Review posts in their News Feed. The feature algorithmically generates slideshow of most engaging content, photos and updates, over the last 12 months. Every user has an option to customize the slideshow before sharing.

For sure, the feature would bring smile for many people but it has caused heartache to at least one user. The algorithm included image of user's daughter who died in June following a battle with cancer.

The algorithm included Eric Meyer's daughter, Rebecca, along with illustrations of people dancing in a part atmosphere, and said at the top of it: "Eric, here's what your year looked like!"

Meyer, who is a web consultant, wrote a heartfelt piece explaining how Facebook's Year-in-Review tool tripped up and highlighted his personal tragedy.

"I know, of course, that this is not a deliberate assault," Meyer wrote. "This inadvertent algorithmic cruelty is the result of code that works in the overwhelming majority of cases, reminding people of the awesomeness of their years, showing them selfies at a party or whale spouts from sailing boats or the marina outside their vacation house."

He continues, "But for those of us who lived through the death of loved ones, or spent extended time in the hospital, or were hit by divorce or losing a job or any one of a hundred crises, we might not want another look at this past year."

Facebook's Year in Review app product manager said Washington Post that he'd been in touch with Meyer to apologize for the upset caused.

"[The Year in Review feature is] awesome for a lot of people, but clearly in this case we brought him grief rather than joy," Jonathan Gheller told the Post.

He added that Meyer's feedback is valuable and his team would improve the feature to prevent similar accidents.