Mashable is attempting to predict the future. Or at least the future of the latest viral cat meme. The 7-year-old digital publishing startup has been fine-tuning its "velocity" algorithm-a set of predictive tools that monitor Mashable's content for clues of online virility-since it first launched the patent-pending technology in the fall of 2012. The algorithm even determines where content is placed on the site; if a video or story starts trending, it gets bumped up to reflect its virtual popularity. Subsequently, if a story gets fewer hits on social media, it gets placed farther below the fold as content gaining more traction moves up to replace it. But the most eye-catching element of Mashable's new form of predictive modeling is the small velocity graph located in the top right-hand corner of each story. The graph is a visual representation of how quickly a story is spreading online, so readers-and marketers-can chart the success of its journey through the Web.
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