Klout

Klout was a website and cell phone application that created a score (called a Klout score) that rated an individual’s online influence, using a scale of 1–100. Klout was founded in 2008, purchased in 2014 by Lithium Technologies, and closed in 2018. Lithium Technology has suggested that a replacement for Klout was being developed and that elements of the application related to artificial intelligence and machine learning were being used in other Lithium endeavors. While Klout may be no more, it is credited with being a precursor to the 21st-century influencer economy, in which individuals with online connections (i.e., influencers) significantly impact the opinions and consumption choices of others. This entry provides an overview of Klout, including its history and functions, as well as controversies ...