John Sands
@iohn.bsky.social
information•society•cats•knightfoundation.org
Opinions my own
Opinions my own
Reposted by John Sands
Hi everybody,
It's Black Friday, a big day for us at The Onion, since we rely almost entirely on your memberships.
Our goal for 2026? More print subscribers than the Washington Post.
This is, somehow, feasible.
So sign up! A year of print is $75 for the year today. Help us do a very funny thing.
It's Black Friday, a big day for us at The Onion, since we rely almost entirely on your memberships.
Our goal for 2026? More print subscribers than the Washington Post.
This is, somehow, feasible.
So sign up! A year of print is $75 for the year today. Help us do a very funny thing.
Join The Onion
Don’t just read the news. Feel it. Be among the first to feel the news.
membership.theonion.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Hi everybody,
It's Black Friday, a big day for us at The Onion, since we rely almost entirely on your memberships.
Our goal for 2026? More print subscribers than the Washington Post.
This is, somehow, feasible.
So sign up! A year of print is $75 for the year today. Help us do a very funny thing.
It's Black Friday, a big day for us at The Onion, since we rely almost entirely on your memberships.
Our goal for 2026? More print subscribers than the Washington Post.
This is, somehow, feasible.
So sign up! A year of print is $75 for the year today. Help us do a very funny thing.
Reposted by John Sands
we have to go back. to warn them.
November 28, 2025 at 2:49 AM
we have to go back. to warn them.
It’s like that Golden Girls episode where Rose is jazzed about seeing Charles Nelson Reilly
The Macy’s parade performers are like
JOHNNY MCHARMON!
ELLIE GROPPER!
DWEK CRUMBO!
BINGO X!
FROMP SHREK! and
BUSTA RHYMES!
JOHNNY MCHARMON!
ELLIE GROPPER!
DWEK CRUMBO!
BINGO X!
FROMP SHREK! and
BUSTA RHYMES!
November 27, 2025 at 1:57 PM
It’s like that Golden Girls episode where Rose is jazzed about seeing Charles Nelson Reilly
Reposted by John Sands
I've given up on pointing this out, but it is 100% true. The list of "new discoveries" about platforms that I literally filed public affidavits about in 2010 or testified on live TV about in 2012 is... really long.
We could skip a bunch of bullshit by looking at what is already public.
We could skip a bunch of bullshit by looking at what is already public.
The biggest source for any DSA investigation into addictive design features might not be platforms' risk assessments, but the more than 6 million documents that are part of the pretrial discovery process in the US www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
‘Massive Legal Siege’ Against Social Media Companies Looms
Thousands of plaintiffs’ complaints, millions of pages of internal documents and transcripts of countless hours of depositions are about to land in US courtrooms, threatening the future of the biggest...
www.bloomberg.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:01 PM
I've given up on pointing this out, but it is 100% true. The list of "new discoveries" about platforms that I literally filed public affidavits about in 2010 or testified on live TV about in 2012 is... really long.
We could skip a bunch of bullshit by looking at what is already public.
We could skip a bunch of bullshit by looking at what is already public.
"State public utility commissions are emerging as indirect regulators of artificial intelligence, as the race to develop AI brings more energy-hungry data centers seeking commission approvals for energy infrastructure..."
Public utility commissions under microscope as proxy AI regulators – Pluribus News
pluribusnews.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:18 PM
"State public utility commissions are emerging as indirect regulators of artificial intelligence, as the race to develop AI brings more energy-hungry data centers seeking commission approvals for energy infrastructure..."
Reposted by John Sands
This week, I withdrew from a speaking engagement at a public university because they sent me a list of prohibited “words & concepts.” I will not humor this censorship. It does a disservice to the stories I’m discussing & the audience, who deserve unfettered access to information & conversation.
November 20, 2025 at 10:20 PM
This week, I withdrew from a speaking engagement at a public university because they sent me a list of prohibited “words & concepts.” I will not humor this censorship. It does a disservice to the stories I’m discussing & the audience, who deserve unfettered access to information & conversation.
OPPORTUNITY: @knightfoundation.org is looking for curious, motivated, civically-minded students or recent grads for our 10-week summer internship program.
Internship Program
Thank you for your interest in Knight Foundation! Internships at Knight Foundation offer talented college students and recent graduates a…
knightfoundation.org
November 20, 2025 at 3:20 PM
OPPORTUNITY: @knightfoundation.org is looking for curious, motivated, civically-minded students or recent grads for our 10-week summer internship program.
Reposted by John Sands
So this ad revenue metric is indicative of such a fascinating and weird set of business decisions by Google to inexplicably kill of SEO-- and I honestly don't get how they think this is going to pay off for them in the long run.
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Stereogum says Google's switch to AI Overviews reduced its ad revenue by *70 percent* www.theverge.com/entertainmen...
Stereogum soldiers on in the era of streaming and AI
Stereogum Founder Scott Lapatine on the importance of independent media in the age of AI slop and algorithms.
www.theverge.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:42 PM
So this ad revenue metric is indicative of such a fascinating and weird set of business decisions by Google to inexplicably kill of SEO-- and I honestly don't get how they think this is going to pay off for them in the long run.
🧵
1/
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1/
Reposted by John Sands
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
November 18, 2025 at 7:16 PM
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
Reposted by John Sands
We recently concluded a special article series, “Seeing the Digital Sphere: The Case for Public Platform Data,” in collaboration with the Knight-Georgetown Institute, in which experts explored why access to public platform data is critical. Here’s a snapshot: (1/9)
November 17, 2025 at 6:15 PM
We recently concluded a special article series, “Seeing the Digital Sphere: The Case for Public Platform Data,” in collaboration with the Knight-Georgetown Institute, in which experts explored why access to public platform data is critical. Here’s a snapshot: (1/9)
Reposted by John Sands
Publicly available social media data may appear low-risk, but it raises complex privacy questions, writes Anna Lenhart. A new report, “Performing in Autonomy Theater: Perspectives of High Profile Figures,” explores this issue and outlines some ethical guidelines for researchers to follow.
Balancing the Needs of Social Media Research with the Perspectives of High-Profile Figures | TechPolicy.Press
Anna Lenhart discusses ethical guidance for researchers using public social media data to study high-profile figures, balancing access and privacy.
buff.ly
November 15, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Publicly available social media data may appear low-risk, but it raises complex privacy questions, writes Anna Lenhart. A new report, “Performing in Autonomy Theater: Perspectives of High Profile Figures,” explores this issue and outlines some ethical guidelines for researchers to follow.
Reposted by John Sands
Some inspiring words on cinema in the streaming era from the Pope.
Yes, THAT Pope.
Yes, THAT Pope.
November 15, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Some inspiring words on cinema in the streaming era from the Pope.
Yes, THAT Pope.
Yes, THAT Pope.
Reposted by John Sands
Do Republicans and Democrats trust the United States, EU, and China to regulate AI? 🔵🔴🤖
🧵👇
Full analysis here:
🧵👇
Full analysis here:
Republicans, Democrats now equally concerned about AI in daily life, but views on regulation differ
Overall, 44% of U.S. adults say they trust the U.S. a lot or some to regulate the use of AI effectively, while 47% have little to no trust in the U.S. to do this.
www.pewresearch.org
November 12, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Do Republicans and Democrats trust the United States, EU, and China to regulate AI? 🔵🔴🤖
🧵👇
Full analysis here:
🧵👇
Full analysis here:
Reposted by John Sands
💡
A new KGI expert report lays out a framework to facilitate access to high-influence public platform data—“the narrow slice of public platform data that has the greatest impact on civic life due to its reach, source, or role in shaping what people see online.”
kgi.georgetown.edu/research-and...
A new KGI expert report lays out a framework to facilitate access to high-influence public platform data—“the narrow slice of public platform data that has the greatest impact on civic life due to its reach, source, or role in shaping what people see online.”
kgi.georgetown.edu/research-and...
Better Access: Data for the Common Good – Knight-Georgetown Institute
kgi.georgetown.edu
November 6, 2025 at 2:39 PM
💡
A new KGI expert report lays out a framework to facilitate access to high-influence public platform data—“the narrow slice of public platform data that has the greatest impact on civic life due to its reach, source, or role in shaping what people see online.”
kgi.georgetown.edu/research-and...
A new KGI expert report lays out a framework to facilitate access to high-influence public platform data—“the narrow slice of public platform data that has the greatest impact on civic life due to its reach, source, or role in shaping what people see online.”
kgi.georgetown.edu/research-and...
Reposted by John Sands
📣 Online platforms shape what we know, how we connect, and who gets heard, yet researcher access to public platform data is shrinking, while platforms monetize this data. Our new report "Better Access" offers a framework for accessing this critical data: kgi.georgetown.edu/research-and...
November 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM
📣 Online platforms shape what we know, how we connect, and who gets heard, yet researcher access to public platform data is shrinking, while platforms monetize this data. Our new report "Better Access" offers a framework for accessing this critical data: kgi.georgetown.edu/research-and...
Reposted by John Sands
Meta's fraud problem: The social media giant projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, documents seen by @Reuters show reut.rs/4qJTpdH
November 6, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Meta's fraud problem: The social media giant projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, documents seen by @Reuters show reut.rs/4qJTpdH
💡
A new KGI expert report lays out a framework to facilitate access to high-influence public platform data—“the narrow slice of public platform data that has the greatest impact on civic life due to its reach, source, or role in shaping what people see online.”
kgi.georgetown.edu/research-and...
A new KGI expert report lays out a framework to facilitate access to high-influence public platform data—“the narrow slice of public platform data that has the greatest impact on civic life due to its reach, source, or role in shaping what people see online.”
kgi.georgetown.edu/research-and...
Better Access: Data for the Common Good – Knight-Georgetown Institute
kgi.georgetown.edu
November 6, 2025 at 2:39 PM
💡
A new KGI expert report lays out a framework to facilitate access to high-influence public platform data—“the narrow slice of public platform data that has the greatest impact on civic life due to its reach, source, or role in shaping what people see online.”
kgi.georgetown.edu/research-and...
A new KGI expert report lays out a framework to facilitate access to high-influence public platform data—“the narrow slice of public platform data that has the greatest impact on civic life due to its reach, source, or role in shaping what people see online.”
kgi.georgetown.edu/research-and...
Reposted by John Sands
Rob Leathern and Rob Goldman, who both worked at Meta, are launching a new nonprofit that aims to bring transparency to an increasingly opaque, scam-filled social media ecosystem. www.wired.com/story/scam-a...
Scam Ads Are Flooding Social Media. These Former Meta Staffers Have a Plan
Rob Leathern and Rob Goldman, who both worked at Meta, are launching a new nonprofit that aims to bring transparency to an increasingly opaque, scam-filled social media ecosystem.
www.wired.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Rob Leathern and Rob Goldman, who both worked at Meta, are launching a new nonprofit that aims to bring transparency to an increasingly opaque, scam-filled social media ecosystem. www.wired.com/story/scam-a...
Reposted by John Sands
Anthony Hopkins recitant un fragment del poema The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock de T.S.Eliot, al programa del Stephen Colbert 😍
October 31, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Anthony Hopkins recitant un fragment del poema The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock de T.S.Eliot, al programa del Stephen Colbert 😍
Reposted by John Sands
Many Americans say they often come across inaccurate news – and have a hard time knowing what’s true
Many Americans say they often come across inaccurate news – and have a hard time knowing what’s true
Those who report often encountering inaccurate news are more likely than those who rarely or never do to say it’s hard to know what is true (59% vs. 31%).
www.pewresearch.org
October 29, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Many Americans say they often come across inaccurate news – and have a hard time knowing what’s true
Reposted by John Sands
1. We ( @jbakcoleman.bsky.social, @cailinmeister.bsky.social, @jevinwest.bsky.social, and I) have a new preprint up on the arXiv.
There we explore how social media companies and other online information technology firms are able to manipulate scientific research about the effects of their products.
There we explore how social media companies and other online information technology firms are able to manipulate scientific research about the effects of their products.
October 24, 2025 at 12:47 AM
1. We ( @jbakcoleman.bsky.social, @cailinmeister.bsky.social, @jevinwest.bsky.social, and I) have a new preprint up on the arXiv.
There we explore how social media companies and other online information technology firms are able to manipulate scientific research about the effects of their products.
There we explore how social media companies and other online information technology firms are able to manipulate scientific research about the effects of their products.
Reposted by John Sands
American students are falling behind, and the most common explanations overlook the main problem, Idrees Kahloon argues.
America Is Sliding Toward Illiteracy
Declining standards and low expectations are destroying American education.
bit.ly
October 19, 2025 at 12:15 AM
American students are falling behind, and the most common explanations overlook the main problem, Idrees Kahloon argues.
Reposted by John Sands
New copyright scenario: lawyers threaten researchers over cryptographic solution found in Smithsonian archive
A C.I.A. Secret Kept for 35 Years Is Found in the Smithsonian’s Vault
www.nytimes.com
October 16, 2025 at 1:01 PM
New copyright scenario: lawyers threaten researchers over cryptographic solution found in Smithsonian archive