Yoel Roth
@yoyoel.com
Internet sanitation enthusiast and full-time corgi wrangler.
Reposted by Yoel Roth
@yoyoel.com at TrustCon making the key point that big platforms can weather storms and absorb blows (litigation, regulatory churn) that kill their smaller rivals.
The legal threat may look the same to an array of platforms, but the real question is who can survive it.
The legal threat may look the same to an array of platforms, but the real question is who can survive it.
July 21, 2025 at 6:43 PM
@yoyoel.com at TrustCon making the key point that big platforms can weather storms and absorb blows (litigation, regulatory churn) that kill their smaller rivals.
The legal threat may look the same to an array of platforms, but the real question is who can survive it.
The legal threat may look the same to an array of platforms, but the real question is who can survive it.
This is an extraordinary and courageous piece of writing that wrestles with one of the great challenges of this moment: How do you decide whether to remain a part of broken institutions to try to fix them from within?
"For me, the answer now lies in refusal, the withdrawal of participation from systems that require dishonesty as the price of belonging."
Today I am resigning from the National Science Board and the Library of Congress Scholars Council.
I wrote about my decision in TIME.
time.com/7285045/resi...
Today I am resigning from the National Science Board and the Library of Congress Scholars Council.
I wrote about my decision in TIME.
time.com/7285045/resi...
Why I’m Resigning from the NSF and Library of Congress
I cannot participate in systems that require dishonesty as the price of belonging.
time.com
May 13, 2025 at 1:01 PM
This is an extraordinary and courageous piece of writing that wrestles with one of the great challenges of this moment: How do you decide whether to remain a part of broken institutions to try to fix them from within?
Reposted by Yoel Roth
An article by @samlai.bsky.social @yoyoel.com @noupside.bsky.social @klonick.bsky.social @mallory.techpolicy.social.ap.brid.gy @evan.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy and @aaron.bsky.team?!?!?!
Basically the Wu-Tang Clan of the fediverse right here...
Well played, @carnegieendowment.org
Basically the Wu-Tang Clan of the fediverse right here...
Well played, @carnegieendowment.org
New Paradigms in Trust and Safety: Navigating Defederation on Decentralized Social Media Platforms
Defederation on decentralized social media offers new possibilities for online governance. Experts consider how it can be used responsibly, in a way that balances speech and safety.
carnegieendowment.org
March 26, 2025 at 3:13 PM
An article by @samlai.bsky.social @yoyoel.com @noupside.bsky.social @klonick.bsky.social @mallory.techpolicy.social.ap.brid.gy @evan.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy and @aaron.bsky.team?!?!?!
Basically the Wu-Tang Clan of the fediverse right here...
Well played, @carnegieendowment.org
Basically the Wu-Tang Clan of the fediverse right here...
Well played, @carnegieendowment.org
Genuinely baffled by the unempirical assertion that Community Notes “works.” Does it? How do Meta know? The best available research is pretty mixed on this point.
And as they go all-in on an unproven concept, will Meta commit to publicly releasing data so people can actually study this?
And as they go all-in on an unproven concept, will Meta commit to publicly releasing data so people can actually study this?
January 7, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Genuinely baffled by the unempirical assertion that Community Notes “works.” Does it? How do Meta know? The best available research is pretty mixed on this point.
And as they go all-in on an unproven concept, will Meta commit to publicly releasing data so people can actually study this?
And as they go all-in on an unproven concept, will Meta commit to publicly releasing data so people can actually study this?
Reposted by Yoel Roth
Community Notes don't work by themselves. So many things don't get labeled because people don't reach "consensus" on them, which is really what Community Notes optimize for, not factuality
What an utter failure. So disappointing
What an utter failure. So disappointing
"We're going to get rid of fact-checkers and replace them with community notes, similar to X, starting in the U.S," Mark Zuckerberg announces
He asserts that "the fact-checkers have just been too politically biased, and have destroyed more trust than they've created, especially in the U.S."
He asserts that "the fact-checkers have just been too politically biased, and have destroyed more trust than they've created, especially in the U.S."
January 7, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Community Notes don't work by themselves. So many things don't get labeled because people don't reach "consensus" on them, which is really what Community Notes optimize for, not factuality
What an utter failure. So disappointing
What an utter failure. So disappointing
One of the things we all really need from platform T&S teams — honest, authentic, human conversations about the impossible tradeoffs involved in this work — is made effectively impossible by the deranged ways a small number of people treat platform staff when they speak publicly. Ask me how I know.
this shit is literally fucking unhinged and it is a perfect example of why every single head of T&S of every single fucking site ever rapidly stops using the site
December 10, 2024 at 2:21 AM
One of the things we all really need from platform T&S teams — honest, authentic, human conversations about the impossible tradeoffs involved in this work — is made effectively impossible by the deranged ways a small number of people treat platform staff when they speak publicly. Ask me how I know.
Oh no, the Signal icon very subtly changed colors and now it’s setting off my “what is weird right now” alarms every time I unlock my phone
November 19, 2024 at 8:37 AM
Oh no, the Signal icon very subtly changed colors and now it’s setting off my “what is weird right now” alarms every time I unlock my phone
Reposted by Yoel Roth
For recent migrants from other corners of the internet who might be wondering what makes Bluesky different (and imho better), I'm resurfacing this terrific conversation from earlier this year between @bsky.app CEO @jay.bsky.team, @mmasnick.bsky.social, and @yoyoel.com. 🫶
Protocols, Not Platforms: The Promise and Peril of Federated Social Media Networks – Informed 2024
In recent years, federated social media networks have begun to offer an alternative to the platforms that have grown over the last two decades. Three leaders in…
vimeo.com
November 14, 2024 at 4:45 PM
For recent migrants from other corners of the internet who might be wondering what makes Bluesky different (and imho better), I'm resurfacing this terrific conversation from earlier this year between @bsky.app CEO @jay.bsky.team, @mmasnick.bsky.social, and @yoyoel.com. 🫶
Reminder for corporate folks: It’s oh-crap-I-haven’t-spent-my-annual-learning-stipend season — and most companies allow you to use your learning budget on newspaper/newsletter subscriptions.
Good opportunity to support (and expand your access to) independent journalism.
Good opportunity to support (and expand your access to) independent journalism.
November 12, 2024 at 1:03 AM
Reminder for corporate folks: It’s oh-crap-I-haven’t-spent-my-annual-learning-stipend season — and most companies allow you to use your learning budget on newspaper/newsletter subscriptions.
Good opportunity to support (and expand your access to) independent journalism.
Good opportunity to support (and expand your access to) independent journalism.
Election Day timeline cleanse, featuring Toast and Rye
November 6, 2024 at 12:01 AM
Election Day timeline cleanse, featuring Toast and Rye
Reposted by Yoel Roth
Decentralized social media platforms offer the promise of alternative governance, but remain ill-equipped to address threats to online safety. How can we change that?
Here’s the latest from @yoyoel.com and I:
www.techpolicy.press/online-safet...
Here’s the latest from @yoyoel.com and I:
www.techpolicy.press/online-safet...
Online Safety and the “Great Decentralization” – The Perils and Promises of Federated Social Media | TechPolicy.Press
If we want to empower consumers and rebuild social media, we need to develop shared trust and safety capabilities, write Samantha Lai and Yoel Roth.
www.techpolicy.press
October 17, 2024 at 5:32 PM
Decentralized social media platforms offer the promise of alternative governance, but remain ill-equipped to address threats to online safety. How can we change that?
Here’s the latest from @yoyoel.com and I:
www.techpolicy.press/online-safet...
Here’s the latest from @yoyoel.com and I:
www.techpolicy.press/online-safet...
Reposted by Yoel Roth
If we want to empower consumers and rebuild social media, we need to develop shared trust and safety capabilities, write @samlai.bsky.social and @yoyoel.com.
Online Safety and the “Great Decentralization” – The Perils and Promises of Federated Social Media | TechPolicy.Press
If we want to empower consumers and rebuild social media, we need to develop shared trust and safety capabilities, write Samantha Lai and Yoel Roth.
www.techpolicy.press
October 17, 2024 at 1:33 PM
If we want to empower consumers and rebuild social media, we need to develop shared trust and safety capabilities, write @samlai.bsky.social and @yoyoel.com.
Look at these tiny little penguins!
October 11, 2024 at 8:11 AM
Look at these tiny little penguins!
Reposted by Yoel Roth
Should be a really interesting discussion. I'm moderating, but will have representatives from Bluesky, Threads & ActivityPub talking about decentralized moderation...
Very excited to attend the third annual Trust and Safety Research Conference hosted by the Stanford Internet Observatory, where I’ll be speaking on a panel about decentralized platforms and trust & safety with @evan.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy, @aaron.bsky.team, Liz Arcamona and @mmasnick.bsky.social!
September 25, 2024 at 6:04 PM
Should be a really interesting discussion. I'm moderating, but will have representatives from Bluesky, Threads & ActivityPub talking about decentralized moderation...
Reposted by Yoel Roth
This is going to be a really great @knightcolumbia.org symposium--about the TikTok ban, foreign disinfo, surveillance at the border, selective deportation, and the exchange of ideas across borders--check out the amazing list of contributors. knightcolumbia.org/events/regar...
September 9, 2024 at 8:02 PM
This is going to be a really great @knightcolumbia.org symposium--about the TikTok ban, foreign disinfo, surveillance at the border, selective deportation, and the exchange of ideas across borders--check out the amazing list of contributors. knightcolumbia.org/events/regar...
Reposted by Yoel Roth
a brief guide to terms used in profiles for new site admins:
* professional blogger = spammer
* digital marketer = spammer
* SEO expert = spammer
* professional reviewer = spammer
* affiliate marketer = spammer
* marketing enthusiast = spammer
* passionate about blogging = spammer
* professional blogger = spammer
* digital marketer = spammer
* SEO expert = spammer
* professional reviewer = spammer
* affiliate marketer = spammer
* marketing enthusiast = spammer
* passionate about blogging = spammer
September 8, 2024 at 2:47 AM
a brief guide to terms used in profiles for new site admins:
* professional blogger = spammer
* digital marketer = spammer
* SEO expert = spammer
* professional reviewer = spammer
* affiliate marketer = spammer
* marketing enthusiast = spammer
* passionate about blogging = spammer
* professional blogger = spammer
* digital marketer = spammer
* SEO expert = spammer
* professional reviewer = spammer
* affiliate marketer = spammer
* marketing enthusiast = spammer
* passionate about blogging = spammer
And if you think this is fun, I dare you to find a way to report abuse originating from a Google Voice number.
(Spoiler: It doesn't exist!)
(Spoiler: It doesn't exist!)
Just spent half an hour digging around Google's support pages to see if there's a form for reporting abuse originating from a Gmail account. Turns out — there is!
Submitted a report of the weirdo who sends me very sexually graphic abuse every day. Genuinely curious if Google will do anything.
Submitted a report of the weirdo who sends me very sexually graphic abuse every day. Genuinely curious if Google will do anything.
Report abuse from a Gmail account - Gmail Help
support.google.com
August 21, 2024 at 11:43 PM
And if you think this is fun, I dare you to find a way to report abuse originating from a Google Voice number.
(Spoiler: It doesn't exist!)
(Spoiler: It doesn't exist!)
Just spent half an hour digging around Google's support pages to see if there's a form for reporting abuse originating from a Gmail account. Turns out — there is!
Submitted a report of the weirdo who sends me very sexually graphic abuse every day. Genuinely curious if Google will do anything.
Submitted a report of the weirdo who sends me very sexually graphic abuse every day. Genuinely curious if Google will do anything.
Report abuse from a Gmail account - Gmail Help
support.google.com
August 21, 2024 at 11:37 PM
Just spent half an hour digging around Google's support pages to see if there's a form for reporting abuse originating from a Gmail account. Turns out — there is!
Submitted a report of the weirdo who sends me very sexually graphic abuse every day. Genuinely curious if Google will do anything.
Submitted a report of the weirdo who sends me very sexually graphic abuse every day. Genuinely curious if Google will do anything.
We shall call her Toast, destroyer of gardens
August 17, 2024 at 6:31 PM
We shall call her Toast, destroyer of gardens
The corgis wish you a happy Friday.
August 16, 2024 at 7:40 PM
The corgis wish you a happy Friday.
Reposted by Yoel Roth
Good interview with Yoel by John Starr on the challenges and opportunities within trust and safety youtu.be/v14ySyJhbwo
Safe Space: Talking Trust & Safety with Yoel Roth
YouTube video by Thorn
youtu.be
August 14, 2024 at 8:46 AM
Good interview with Yoel by John Starr on the challenges and opportunities within trust and safety youtu.be/v14ySyJhbwo
An especially happy Friday to Rye, who is doing a remarkably good job not eating Toast for lunch despite her constant barking and face-biting.
August 9, 2024 at 11:51 PM
An especially happy Friday to Rye, who is doing a remarkably good job not eating Toast for lunch despite her constant barking and face-biting.
This is an incredible resource — and as someone who has unthinkingly paid DeleteMe for years, led me to sign up for Optery instead.
We joined forces with @tallpoppy.bsky.social to evaluate seven different people-search removal services. Today we’re releasing the full report of our findings.
New Report: Data Defense: Evaluating People-Search Site Removal Services - Innovation at Consumer Reports
CR joined forces with Tall Poppy to evaluate seven different people-search removal services. The full report reveals our findings.
innovation.consumerreports.org
August 8, 2024 at 11:42 PM
This is an incredible resource — and as someone who has unthinkingly paid DeleteMe for years, led me to sign up for Optery instead.