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Does Anybody Really Care About Klout?

Yes, today Klout changed their algorithm for calculating your Klout score — their attempt to measure your online influence via Twitter, Facebook and several other social networks. And the Twitterverse exploded with complaints about falling scores.

[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/BrandFlair/status/129244646516854785″]

[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/staceysoleil/status/129071763064750080″]

And even the well-known Klout gamers like Mark Davidson are up in arms (or is that just a game?).

[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/markdavidson/status/129243994424225792″]

But really, does anybody really care about your Klout score? We’ve already seen how easy it is to game the Klout system. Is your Klout score really helping you get more work, a better job, or a hotter date? And even if it has, if Klout adjusts the algorithm in a way that improves the scoring (even if the net result is most people see a dip in the number), won’t you still essentially stack up the same in a comparison?

The whole hoopla reminded me of a song by Chicago, that if written today, might go something like this:

Does Anybody Really Know What My Klout Is?

As I was walking down the street one day, a man came up to me
and asked me what the Klout was that was on my Mac, yeah, and I said-
Does anybody really know what my Klout is? Does anybody really care?
If so, I can’t imagine why we’ve all got time enough to cry.

And I was walking down the street one day. A pretty lady looked at me
and said her diamond Klout score had dropped cold dead and I said,
Does anybody really know what your Klout is? Does anybody really care?
If so, I can’t imagine why we’ve all got time enough to cry.

And I was walking down the street one day (people running everywhere).
Being pushed and shoved (don’t know where to go)
by people trying to beat the Klout (don’t know where I am)
oh, no I just don’t know (can’t see past the next step),
I don’t know (don’t have the Klout to influence the last Tweeter),
I don’t know, (have no K+ in my topic areas),
And I said, yes I said (just run around, run around and think why)-
Does anybody really know what their Klout is? Does anybody really care?
If so, I can’t imagine why we’ve all got Klout enough to die. Everybody’s running.

What’s your take on the Klout changes? Personally, my Klout score dropped from 59 to 49. And personally, I don’t care.