"We tested this update extensively and have found that the algorithm is very accurate at detecting site quality, but no algorithm is perfect, " the spokesman says.

WSJ: Sites Retool for Google Effect

It makes sense that search would draw from social for its algorithm to determine accurate rankings.

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Together, Twitter and Topsy built a keyword engine, and via repetitive, ongoing spot checks by human observers, they found their algorithm would generate voter-accurate results 90 percent of the time.

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