As a rule, social networks are terrible at understanding their human users — no matter the ooey-gooey platitudes about bringing us "closer together" their executives piece together. 

Never has this been more clear than over the past few days, when Instagram's algorithm continually shoved well-meaning but emotionally ruinous "happy Father's Day!" garbage down my throat.

Quick background: A brain tumor put my dad six feet under close to 11 years ago, when I was still a teenager. It was, I'd say, pretty traumatic: he spent close to two years incredibly sick, confused, and weak.  Read more...