# Towards a Theory of Bullshit Visualization

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2109.12975 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2109.12975/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 23 Sep 2021.

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- ["Trust Junk" Leads to Unjustified Support for Highly Discriminatory Predictive Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.14152/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

In this unhinged rant, I lay out my suspicion that a lot of visualizations are bullshit: charts that do not have even the common decency to intentionally lie but are totally unconcerned about the state of the world or any practical utility. I suspect that bullshit charts take up a large fraction of the time and attention of actual visualization producers and consumers, and yet are seemingly absent from academic research into visualization design.