November 7, 2025
Face it: you’re not hired?
Should facial analysis help determine whom companies hire?
Internet calls it rage-bait and jokes we’re reviving Victorian face-reading
TLDR: A paper claims a photo can reveal personality for hiring decisions. Commenters call it rage-bait and pseudoscience—comparing it to a debunked “AI gaydar” claim—while mocking grammar and sharing [no-cookies links](https://archive.is/uKGJL); the real concern is biased, discriminatory hiring disguised as tech.
A new paper suggests a photo can tell recruiters about an applicant’s personality—basically, face-reading for hiring. The internet did not take it quietly. One top comment calls it rage-bait, accusing the story of stirring outrage more than science. Another drags last year’s viral claim that an “AI” could tell if someone was gay from one picture, saying that was debunked and this feels the same. In simple terms: the pitch is that a snapshot of your face could reveal traits like friendliness or reliability. Critics say that’s a slippery slope to bias dressed up as tech, and they’re not here for it.
Snark levels also spiked. A commenter quipped, “yes, also bring back physiognomy”—the old, discredited practice of judging character by facial features. Grammar police showed up too, clowning the outlet’s use of “who” vs “whom.” And for readers blocked by paywalls, someone dropped a No cookies link. The vibe: mistrust, side-eye, and meme-fueled pushback. The community’s bottom line? If your “hire-o-meter” is a headshot, expect lawsuits, not better employees.
Key Points
- •A new paper claims a single photo can reveal aspects of an applicant’s personality to recruiters.
- •The article questions whether facial analysis should be used in hiring decisions.
- •It illustrates a scenario of a candidate being rejected because their “face didn’t fit.”
- •Such practices would likely be perceived as discriminatory.
- •The article notes potential legal consequences, including litigation, if hiring relies on facial features.