Tom Coates
@tomcoates.bsky.social
English technologist, founder and product designer living in San Francisco. Prev: BBC, Yahoo, Time Out, Nokia, Jawbone, Wired & Eero. Founded things too. Currently trying to find something to get excited rather than angry about. http://www.plasticbag.org
Reposted by Tom Coates
BBC News and Current Affairs has taken a noticeably anti-trans editorial turn in recent years, to the point where 70% of trans people surveyed in the UK last month say the BBC is hostile towards them
goodlawproject.org/poll-shows-7...
goodlawproject.org/poll-shows-7...
Poll shows 70% of trans people think BBC News is ‘hostile’
The right wing claims the corporation is ‘pro-trans’, but the people at the sharp end of its coverage disagree. The BBC must stop its attack on trans people.
goodlawproject.org
November 26, 2025 at 12:08 AM
BBC News and Current Affairs has taken a noticeably anti-trans editorial turn in recent years, to the point where 70% of trans people surveyed in the UK last month say the BBC is hostile towards them
goodlawproject.org/poll-shows-7...
goodlawproject.org/poll-shows-7...
Reposted by Tom Coates
This feels like a relevant share
bsky.app/profile/what...
bsky.app/profile/what...
Reminder that Violent J of Insane Clown Posse has the correct response to a lot of the shitty things he said in the early days.
November 25, 2025 at 8:08 PM
This feels like a relevant share
bsky.app/profile/what...
bsky.app/profile/what...
Having lived through the anti-gay rhetoric of the 80s, I'd like to put out a message to journalists who think they're chasing the glory of a good ethical story by going after trans people or rights. I suggest you think about what the rest of your career looks like when this fever finally breaks...
November 26, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Having lived through the anti-gay rhetoric of the 80s, I'd like to put out a message to journalists who think they're chasing the glory of a good ethical story by going after trans people or rights. I suggest you think about what the rest of your career looks like when this fever finally breaks...
I'm not sure quite hot to express this. Earlier today I wrote a thread inspired by an e-mail from a journalist looking to find people who could be critical of an organization aimed at trans people. I pointed out that a lot of people currently are buying into this anti-trans rhetoric...
November 26, 2025 at 12:28 AM
I'm not sure quite hot to express this. Earlier today I wrote a thread inspired by an e-mail from a journalist looking to find people who could be critical of an organization aimed at trans people. I pointed out that a lot of people currently are buying into this anti-trans rhetoric...
FRIENDS
BEACH
POT
BEACH
POT
The first three words you see will define your 2026
TRAVEL
FRIENDS
BOOBS
I mean. This all sounds pretty promising to me.
TRAVEL
FRIENDS
BOOBS
I mean. This all sounds pretty promising to me.
November 25, 2025 at 9:49 PM
FRIENDS
BEACH
POT
BEACH
POT
Reposted by Tom Coates
American public opinion is largely generated by foreigners who make money by lying to Americans over unregulated social media. Out of respect to those entrepreneurial foreigners, we will continue to treat their commodified fictions as one side of a reasoned American debate.
-The Editorial Board
-The Editorial Board
November 25, 2025 at 3:16 PM
American public opinion is largely generated by foreigners who make money by lying to Americans over unregulated social media. Out of respect to those entrepreneurial foreigners, we will continue to treat their commodified fictions as one side of a reasoned American debate.
-The Editorial Board
-The Editorial Board
Reposted by Tom Coates
I’m sorry, but if Democrats were in power, would this not be in the headlines every single day?
Average electricity cost increase since Jan:
Missouri ⬆️ 37%
Iowa ⬆️ 30%
North Dakota ⬆️ 30%
Oklahoma ⬆️ 30%
New Jersey ⬆️ 27%
Nebraska ⬆️ 25%
Montana ⬆️ 25%
Wyoming ⬆️ 23%
NATIONWIDE ⬆️ 11%
Instead of working to lower costs, Trump is boosting power-hungry AI data centers.
Missouri ⬆️ 37%
Iowa ⬆️ 30%
North Dakota ⬆️ 30%
Oklahoma ⬆️ 30%
New Jersey ⬆️ 27%
Nebraska ⬆️ 25%
Montana ⬆️ 25%
Wyoming ⬆️ 23%
NATIONWIDE ⬆️ 11%
Instead of working to lower costs, Trump is boosting power-hungry AI data centers.
November 25, 2025 at 9:25 PM
I’m sorry, but if Democrats were in power, would this not be in the headlines every single day?
Reposted by Tom Coates
Does this put voters off him? Feels like ‘grab em by the pussy‘ revelations about Trump
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Three more ex-pupils at school with Nigel Farage reject ‘banter’ claims
Exclusive: Dulwich college contemporaries ‘rubbish’ Reform UK leader’s suggestion alleged racist taunts not intended to hurt
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Does this put voters off him? Feels like ‘grab em by the pussy‘ revelations about Trump
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Tom Coates
Sign this petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy. #StandWithUkraine #3E
The government responds to petitions with over 10,000 signatures, and at 100,000 signatures the petition is eligible for a parliamentary debate.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
The government responds to petitions with over 10,000 signatures, and at 100,000 signatures the petition is eligible for a parliamentary debate.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy
We are concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere. We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaig...
petition.parliament.uk
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Sign this petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy. #StandWithUkraine #3E
The government responds to petitions with over 10,000 signatures, and at 100,000 signatures the petition is eligible for a parliamentary debate.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
The government responds to petitions with over 10,000 signatures, and at 100,000 signatures the petition is eligible for a parliamentary debate.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Tom Coates
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Reposted by Tom Coates
That pro-trans bias just keeps showing up doesn’t it
From r/TransgenderUK: The BBC is putting together a hit piece against GenderGP.
November 25, 2025 at 5:54 PM
That pro-trans bias just keeps showing up doesn’t it
For all the turmoil in UK politics, pretty much the only thing I can take comfort in is that despite being a gay Labour voter for the last thirty plus years, apparently I still have sufficient principle to be absolutely clear I’d not vote for today’s Labour Party or Wes Streeting.
November 25, 2025 at 4:22 PM
For all the turmoil in UK politics, pretty much the only thing I can take comfort in is that despite being a gay Labour voter for the last thirty plus years, apparently I still have sufficient principle to be absolutely clear I’d not vote for today’s Labour Party or Wes Streeting.
Reposted by Tom Coates
Campbell's soup VP caught on tape trashing his own brand. Oof. www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2...
November 24, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Campbell's soup VP caught on tape trashing his own brand. Oof. www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2...
Reposted by Tom Coates
Reposted by Tom Coates
BREAKING🚨🚨🚨: Judge rules Trump pick Lindsey Halligan illegally appointed to US Attorney post, dismisses Comey & James cases. But "without prejudice," so they could be refiled although Comey's attorneys say statute of limitations has run. w/ @kyledcheney.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Comey, James cases dismissed as judge disqualifies interim US attorney Lindsey Halligan
A judge concluded Halligan’s appointment violated laws that limit the ability of DOJ to install top prosecutors without Senate confirmation.
www.politico.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:54 PM
BREAKING🚨🚨🚨: Judge rules Trump pick Lindsey Halligan illegally appointed to US Attorney post, dismisses Comey & James cases. But "without prejudice," so they could be refiled although Comey's attorneys say statute of limitations has run. w/ @kyledcheney.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Tom Coates
Reposted by Tom Coates
Seeing how much of the right-wing on Twitter is just bot farms, kinda lays bare how much hate and hatred is a project that needs to be constantly maintained, a fire that needs to be fed all the time lest it go out for a moment, so much time, effort, and resources to keep people angry and hateful.
November 24, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Seeing how much of the right-wing on Twitter is just bot farms, kinda lays bare how much hate and hatred is a project that needs to be constantly maintained, a fire that needs to be fed all the time lest it go out for a moment, so much time, effort, and resources to keep people angry and hateful.
Reposted by Tom Coates
“They care very few organisations with that level of auditing” Caroline Daniel, who says the BBC has improved in quickly admitting mistakes
November 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM
“They care very few organisations with that level of auditing” Caroline Daniel, who says the BBC has improved in quickly admitting mistakes
Reposted by Tom Coates
I would say I did not find the BBC defensive” - Caroline Daniel, former editorial adviser
November 24, 2025 at 3:50 PM
I would say I did not find the BBC defensive” - Caroline Daniel, former editorial adviser
Reposted by Tom Coates
“Do you think the BBC is institutionally biased?” Michael Prescott, author of the Telegraph dossier: “I don’t”
November 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
“Do you think the BBC is institutionally biased?” Michael Prescott, author of the Telegraph dossier: “I don’t”
Too many books ✅
Plants ✅
Obsolete Cables ✅
Rustic Pottery - I make pots ✅
Needs a bit of tidying up ✅
Jo is some kind of arcane mystic.
Plants ✅
Obsolete Cables ✅
Rustic Pottery - I make pots ✅
Needs a bit of tidying up ✅
Jo is some kind of arcane mystic.
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
November 24, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Too many books ✅
Plants ✅
Obsolete Cables ✅
Rustic Pottery - I make pots ✅
Needs a bit of tidying up ✅
Jo is some kind of arcane mystic.
Plants ✅
Obsolete Cables ✅
Rustic Pottery - I make pots ✅
Needs a bit of tidying up ✅
Jo is some kind of arcane mystic.
Can’t believe we have fucking *Donald Trump* as president. And for the *second time*. I mean, what the ever living fuck.
a man with a beard is sitting on an airplane and says " this is nuts "
ALT: a man with a beard is sitting on an airplane and says " this is nuts "
media.tenor.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Can’t believe we have fucking *Donald Trump* as president. And for the *second time*. I mean, what the ever living fuck.
Reposted by Tom Coates
“if platforms don’t change the incentives, ordinary users will stay exactly what the system has optimized us to be: the marks in an unyielding battle for attention in which grifters & companies profit from pitting Americans against each other”—@noupside
agentsofinfluence.substack.com/p/on-the-int...
agentsofinfluence.substack.com/p/on-the-int...
November 24, 2025 at 1:00 AM
“if platforms don’t change the incentives, ordinary users will stay exactly what the system has optimized us to be: the marks in an unyielding battle for attention in which grifters & companies profit from pitting Americans against each other”—@noupside
agentsofinfluence.substack.com/p/on-the-int...
agentsofinfluence.substack.com/p/on-the-int...
Weirdly most high trust societies imprison considerably fewer people than America does. In fact no country on the planet imprisons as many people as America does.
November 24, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Weirdly most high trust societies imprison considerably fewer people than America does. In fact no country on the planet imprisons as many people as America does.
Take it further. Why is there an engagement KPI important to these companies? Because they sell advertising against it. And they do that because of capitalism. The core problem is an insufficiently strong/competent political system that can curb the excesses of capitalism for the public good.
Engagement KPIs have been responsible for infinite scroll UI traps, RecSys radicalization spirals, public shame brigades, and basically every modern ailment novel to the past decade. At some point, you have to recognize that the problem isn't any one technology, it's the metric.
The company essentially turned a dial that made ChatGPT more appealing and made people use it more, but sent some of them into delusional spirals.
OpenAI has since made the chatbot safer, but that comes with a tradeoff: less usage.
OpenAI has since made the chatbot safer, but that comes with a tradeoff: less usage.
November 23, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Take it further. Why is there an engagement KPI important to these companies? Because they sell advertising against it. And they do that because of capitalism. The core problem is an insufficiently strong/competent political system that can curb the excesses of capitalism for the public good.