Mike Agg has moved @countingquoll@qoto.org

@Jedigirl

IMPORTANT. Threads stated policy is to collect and exploit Fediverse user personal data without explicit consent.

Now is a very good time to review Threads Terms of Use (https://terms.threads.com/terms-of-use) and Supplemental Privacy Policy (https://help.instagram.com/515230437301944).

Note just by following a Threads user or replying to a post, Meta claims they are entitled to your personal data.

And what do they say they will do with your data? Provide you with "business services (including ads)."

#threads #DataPrivacy

A new study published by PNAS adds more detail to the debate over YouTube recommendations and extremism.

The researchers found that YouTube's systems do recommend extremist content as they defined extremism, and that it's more pronounced for right-leaning users. This study used sock-puppet accounts in an algorithm audit.

Press release: https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/youtube-video-recommendations-lead-more-extremist-content-right-leaning-users-researchers

Paper: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2213020120

Today’s poem is for anyone concerned about their energy bills this winter. It’s called ‘The Cost of Loving’.

People worry a lot about losing knowledge — about "burned-down libraries".

Comparatively few people seem to worry about what happens if you take a billion books full of auto-generated, often-untrue junk text and *add* them all to the library.

In theory, nothing is lost. In reality, everything is lost, because nothing useful can now be found.

Elon: We’re chatting with sex traffickers and criminals and loathsome conspiracy peddlers today! Join us!

Linda Yaccarino: What do you guys think about auras? Do they really exist, and should they occasionally be fluffed up?

Bought some fancy socks online and got this sticker in the package when they came. Can definitely get behind this campaign!

"The real sign of getting old is getting nostalgic for my approved school". "But me… I'm a country bumpkin". Delightful documentary with Benjamin Zephanaiah, a man that I wish I had had a chance to see on stage. A wonderfully warm, thoughtful, sad and joyful documentary. On the iPlayer, of course.
#BBC #auntie https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001bmc0/a-picture-of-birmingham-by-benjamin-zephaniah

Don't sleep on these first results from the world's largest universal basic income experiment ever. (23,000 cash recipients with 5,000 getting UBI for 12 years)

1. Entrepreneurship skyrocketed thanks to the UBI functioning as both startup capital and spending power for people to be customers at those businesses.

2. NO INFLATION!

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/12/07/1217478771/its-one-of-the-biggest-experiments-in-fighting-global-poverty-now-the-results-ar

Can I just say that as someone who generally finds it 10x easier to learn new things from a well executed video than from an article that I'm really tired of the category of posts that are basically "who wants to watch a video just give me text amirite lads lmao"

Me. It's me. I want to watch the fucking video, actually, thanks

OK, and if you want a handy guide to explain to people why they should NOT join #Threads when it launches in the EU next week, I have written a quick explainer!

https://euroblog.jonworth.eu/should-i-join-threads/

“Sorry, and you’re from the consolidated what?”

“Consolidated union of Mousers, Templekeepers, Ship mascots and housecats. Mostly the latter these days to be honest. We are representing Princess Fluffykins in this matter.”

“The matter of morning lap time?”

“Yes, we’re told there has been a sudden and unannounced reduction.”

“Look, I have to be at work by seven, I love Fluffykins dearly but I can’t cuddle all day.”

“Ms Fluffykins said you used to leave at eight”

“Yes well it’s a really busy time at work and I’m trying to get more done.”

“Ms Fluffykins is prepared to renegotiate her compensation if an appropriate portion of your your overtime payments are recognized in kitty treats”

“Oh, I don’t get paid overtime”

“You should join a union”

#TootFic #MicroFiction

23andMe was hacked and DNA records of 7 million people were compromised. Originally they said it was 14,000.

They just sent out an innocuous sounding email about change in Terms of Service.

If you do not respond rejecting the change, you will give up the ability to be part of the class action lawsuits that are being filed, or take action in court against them.

They sent this out before they are notifying those whose data were breached.

Strongly recommend you opt out of the change.

#23andMe

This should be a movie.

Me to friend: "I love Beyoncé."

Friend: "Whatever floats your boat."

Me: "No, that's buoyancy."

@Suig @inthehands “We thought of life by analogy with a journey, a pilgrimage, which had a serious purpose at the end, and the thing was to get to that end, success or whatever it is, maybe heaven after you’re dead. But we missed the point the whole way along. It was a musical thing and you were supposed to sing or to dance while the music was being played.” - Alan Watts

Duke University Libraries are canceling their subscription to Basecamp. Their post explaining the move is very good, and worth your time: https://blogs.library.duke.edu/blog/2023/11/30/why-were-dropping-basecamp/