How People Disappear

Vsauce2 minutes read

Target's algorithm predicted a girl's pregnancy and sent her baby item coupons before her father knew, while cases of missing persons can result from various reasons, including being declared dead in absentia after years of no contact. Instances of mistaken death declarations or missing persons exist, highlighting the importance of communication and not assuming someone is unmissed.

Insights

  • Target's algorithms can predict life events like pregnancy based on shopping patterns, showcasing the power of data analytics in consumer behavior analysis.
  • The prevalence of missing persons cases, including mistaken declarations of death, highlights the complexities and uncertainties surrounding disappearances, urging a closer examination of societal systems and individual circumstances.

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Recent questions

  • Can missing persons be declared dead?

    Yes

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Summary

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Mistaken identities, missing persons, and disappearances explained.

  • Target's internal algorithms tracked a high school girl's purchases, deducing she was pregnant before her father knew, leading to the store sending her coupons for baby items.
  • Missing persons can disappear due to unsolved crimes, accidents, or willingly starting a new life, with some being declared dead in absentia after 5-7 years of no contact.
  • French astronomer Guillaume Le Gentil was declared dead after missing the transit of Venus due to a storm, only to return 11 years later to find his life changed.
  • Instances of people being mistakenly declared dead or missing occur, with premature obituaries being common, sometimes leading to negative legacies.
  • Hospital mix-ups at birth can result in switched babies, discovered through DNA tests, while some individuals may be missing without authorities' knowledge, termed as "missing missing."
  • Approximately 50,000 missing children are reported in the FBI's database, but more than a million children in America may be missing without any official reports.
  • Disappearing voluntarily is not illegal, but the belief that no one would miss you is refuted by statistics, emphasizing the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences with others.
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