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Emma Silvers

@emmaruthless.bsky.social
1.6K followers 559 following 619 posts

Writer, editor, cofounder @coyotemedia.org. Erstwhile culture editor @ KQED, SF Chronicle, various beloved & defunct alt-weeklies emmasilvers.com

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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 3h
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 3h
oh my god Sherrod Brown will not. stop. hitting me up for $10
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 5h
ugh i'm sorry. Ifeoma who did a ton of work in New Mexico made a lot of resources public here so folks can replicate her campaign, if this is helpful www.amiraoptoutsfps.com
amiraoptoutsfps.com
Amira Opt-Out SFPS
Updates
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 9h
ha, nope! there is a good chance you didn't sign anything. You don't have to. The company says the district can opt kids in and consent to it on behalf of parents.
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 9h
“The old digital divide used to be wanting to make sure everyone had access to tech,” one parent & educator told me. “The new digital divide is, who are the families who have the privilege to protect their children *from* tech? ... This is an equity issue.” www.coyotemedia.org/sfusd-ai-ami...
coyotemedia.org
In Which I Decline to Let an AI Company Experiment on My Kid at School
Living in San Francisco means being a guinea pig for the tech industry — but I draw the line at my second-grader.
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 9h
For parents who didn't know their kids were being recorded, the Amira rollout crosses a line. It may also be a turning point in pressuring SFUSD to implement tech guardrails: Nearly 1100 ppl have signed a petition from the SF group Tech in Check, demanding a policy. www.fournorms.com/campaigns/te...
fournorms.com
SFUSD’s Intentional Technology Petition - By Tech in Check | Tech in Check San Francisco
Four Norms makes collective action possible for parents — with the tools, language, and support to push back on tech's influence and rebuild what childhood should be.
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 9h
SF residents have been primed to see public-private entanglements that position citizens & city agencies as beholden to tech CEOs as normal. But it's worth repeating: For-profit tech companies cannot be altruistic. Their goal is to return value to their shareholders, not to fix the literacy crisis.
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 9h
Salesforce has given $150 million+ to Bay Area schools over the last 13 years, w/ more recent grants focused explicitly on getting AI into classrooms. At Dreamforce, SFUSD Superintendent Maria Su affirmed the relationship: “If you commit to us, we’ll commit to you.” www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
sfgate.com
SF schools chief faces teacher, parent backlash over Salesforce-backed tech push
The tech rollout is controversial among parents and teachers.
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 9h
In the absence of real regulation, school districts are putting tech policies in place. NYC Mayor Mamdani banned AI in all elementary & middle schools. LA Unified implemented its own AI policy at the start of the school year. In SF, amid the AI boom that's reshaping the city, there is no policy.
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 10h
Ed tech, which exploded early in the pandemic, is now a $213 billion industry. But regulation hasn't kept pace with growth, and experts say its branding papers over practices like data harvesting. Emily Cherkin calls it "big tech in a sweater vest" sustainablemedia.substack.com/p/big-tech-i...
sustainablemedia.substack.com
Big Tech in a Sweater Vest: Emily Cherkin on EdTech, AI, and Reclaiming Childhood
As a new school year begins, SMC’s Director of GenZ Advocacy Emma Lembke sits down with Emily Cherkin, The Screentime Consultant, former teacher and author of The Screentime Solution, to talk about wh...
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 10h
Ozoma, a longtime tech policy advocate & whistleblower who lives in Santa Fe, has organized other parents around this so effectively that 18 school districts in New Mexico have opted out of using Amira. Her work is *well* worth following. www.505omatic.com/parents-foug...
505omatic.com
Parents fought back, forcing NM to allow opt outs from the AI reading program Amira. But state still has no rules governing student data in AI
After tech policy expert Ifeoma Ozoma sounded the alarm about Amira, the state-required AI reading assessment, parents across New Mexico stormed local school board meetings. After first doubling down ...
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 10h
Disturbingly, many parents don't know their kid is talking to it, because the company says a district can give consent on behalf of families. “The whole model depends on parents not finding out,” Ifeoma Ozoma told me, “because as soon as parents are aware, they don’t want anything to do with it.”
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 10h
Amira, which is backed by VC money from Google and Amazon, is an “AI tutor” that records kids reading without parental consent. Privacy advocates have been sounding the alarm on Amira for months, citing a lack of clarity about where audio recordings go and unproven claims of efficacy.
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 10h
Last month, an email from SFUSD informed me that my 7yo would be taking a state-mandated test from a company called Amira, and it led me down a rabbit hole. Here's how big tech is infiltrating SF public schools — whether families & teachers want it or not. www.coyotemedia.org/sfusd-ai-ami...
coyotemedia.org
In Which I Decline to Let an AI Company Experiment on My Kid at School
Living in San Francisco means being a guinea pig for the tech industry — but I draw the line at my second-grader.
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AI Moratorium for NYC Schools @aimoratoriumnyc.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Fun fact: New York City is rolling out pilots to product test AI on high school students, and NO STUDENT WE TALK TO knows anything about it - it's almost like the model also depends on students not finding out. If this is so great, why the cloak of secrecy??
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ParentsResist.Tech @parentsresist.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
As an AI boom reshapes San Francisco and a chorus of experts simultaneously sounds the alarm on the harms of AI in classrooms, the city’s public school children find themselves at the center of a volatile Venn diagram. www.coyotemedia.org/sfusd-ai-ami...
coyotemedia.org
In Which I Decline to Let an AI Company Experiment on My Kid at School
Living in San Francisco means being a guinea pig for the tech industry — but I draw the line at my second-grader.
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Damin Esper @daminesper.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
It sucks that people have to be vigilant about AI but it especially sucks that parents have to be vigilant about their kids being exploited by for-profit AI companies. www.coyotemedia.org/sfusd-ai-ami...
coyotemedia.org
In Which I Decline to Let an AI Company Experiment on My Kid at School
Living in San Francisco means being a guinea pig for the tech industry — but I draw the line at my second-grader.
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COYOTE @coyotemedia.org · 06/10/2026
“The old digital divide used to be wanting to make sure everyone had access to tech. But the new digital divide is, who are the families who have the privilege to protect their children *from* tech? … this very much is an equity issue.” www.coyotemedia.org/sfusd-ai-ami...
coyotemedia.org
In Which I Decline to Let an AI Company Experiment on My Kid at School
Living in San Francisco means being a guinea pig for the tech industry — but I draw the line at my second-grader.
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Lenticulus @lenticulus.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
“Exploiting vagaries in federal law,… Amira argues that the district can consent to data collection on behalf of caregivers — apparently without even informing them.” www.coyotemedia.org/sfusd-ai-ami...
coyotemedia.org
In Which I Decline to Let an AI Company Experiment on My Kid at School
Living in San Francisco means being a guinea pig for the tech industry — but I draw the line at my second-grader.
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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 05/10/2026
Holy shit.
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Random Jeweler @randomjeweler.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
www.coyotemedia.org/sfusd-ai-ami... They never have money for anything but nonsense
coyotemedia.org
In Which I Decline to Let an AI Company Experiment on My Kid at School
Living in San Francisco means being a guinea pig for the tech industry — but I draw the line at my second-grader.
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COYOTE @coyotemedia.org · 05/10/2026
“The whole model depends on parents not finding out," says ifeoma.bsky.social. "Because as soon as parents are aware, they don’t want anything to do with it.” www.coyotemedia.org/sfusd-ai-ami...
coyotemedia.org
In Which I Decline to Let an AI Company Experiment on My Kid at School
Living in San Francisco means being a guinea pig for the tech industry — but I draw the line at my second-grader.
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soleil ho @soleilho.com · 05/10/2026
today on @coyotemedia.org: @emmaruthless.bsky.social discovers her 6-y.o. may have been opted into AI testing — and dives into the $200+ billion edtech world, SFUSD's marriage to "benevolent" tech grants, & parents' attempts to get any kind of regulation in place. www.coyotemedia.org/sfusd-ai-ami...
coyotemedia.org
In Which I Decline to Let an AI Company Experiment on My Kid at School
Living in San Francisco means being a guinea pig for the tech industry — but I draw the line at my second-grader.
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
for @coyotemedia.org, i wrote about the insidious creep of big tech into elementary school classrooms www.coyotemedia.org/sfusd-ai-ami...
coyotemedia.org
In Which I Decline to Let an AI Company Experiment on My Kid at School
Living in San Francisco means being a guinea pig for the tech industry — but I draw the line at my second-grader.
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COYOTE @coyotemedia.org · 01/10/2026
Pull your head out of the sand, pull up your big kid pants, get with the program, mix your metaphors, and head to your local clinic. It’s time to get vaxxed!
coyotemedia.org
First Aid Kit: How and Why to Get a COVID Vaccine (and Also When and Where)
Protect yourself and others this fall.
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Latin term for medical condition where everything you write comes out 3000 words
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
i want to read this but every word available in this preview makes me feel like barfing so maybe i'm good
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Hannah Vardit @hannahvardit.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
i worry that men think being A Good Guy is dramatically and heroically intervening on behalf of an endangered woman and then being publicly rewarded on a grand scale when actually being A Good Guy is just usually saying, “hey man that’s not funny” or “wow that’s fucked up” and there is no reward
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Cecilia Lei @cecilialei.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
It was an honor to put this piece together, and reflect on Bea Dong’s incredibly powerful legacy with the community.
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
lol thank you for this cursed google image search
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
it seems to me that if you are at risk of becoming That Famous you should designate a trusted "break glass in case of emergency" person whose job it is to tell you no and you always have to listen
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
is there truly no one who can tell Taylor to stop
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COYOTE @coyotemedia.org · 29/09/2026
Beatrice Dong, co-founder of Berkeley’s Eastwind Books and a longtime Asian American activist, passed away last month. We asked community members to reflect on her life, legacy and the movements she helped build — and what her work meant to them. www.coyotemedia.org/beatrice-don...
coyotemedia.org
What Beatrice Dong Taught Us About Being Asian American
Bay Area community members remember “fierce and generous” Beatrice Dong, the co-founder of Berkeley’s Eastwind Books and lifelong activist for racial solidarity.
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Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 28/09/2026
San Francisco's richest have never been richer, more brazen or faced weaker political opposition — going back to the Gold Rush. Latest column from @esksf.bsky.social missionlocal.org/2026/09/san-...
missionlocal.org
San Francisco's wealthiest have unprecedented control of city politics
Our city fathers (if you like them) or oligarchs (if you don’t) have never been richer, more brazen or faced weaker opposition
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COYOTE @coyotemedia.org · 28/09/2026
The latest fiction from @annaleen.bsky.social is a subversive adventure tale told from the perspective of a single-cell alien creature. Read an excerpt here, then go see them (Annalee, not the slime mold) read in SF Oct. 6. www.coyotemedia.org/excerpt-anna...
coyotemedia.org
Excerpt: ‘A Wall Is Also a Road’
The new novel from San Francisco sci-fi writer Annalee Newitz is a thought-provoking meditation on human nature, told from the perspective of an adventurous alien amoeba.
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Peter Hartlaub @peterhartlaub.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
“You cannot engage with Newsom in good faith, because what faith can you have in a shell of a person who so baldly pursues wealth, power, the next shiniest thing?” Nice work. His first Chronicle quote in 1991 was bragging about giving wine discounts to his wealthy benefactors. Has anything changed?
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Jason Koebler @jasonkoebler.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
it’s forbidden content but i have watched this video of the AI songs a man made for his mistress after murdering his wife being played in court maybe 20 times today. It is one of the most compelling things i have ever seen
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
me: no I'm not gonna introduce the kid to Harry Potter also me: sticking my fingers in my ears and going LALALA when anyone says anything factual about Roald Dahl
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
watching the 1990 The Witches with the boy ... and I did not realize how much The Substance's Elisasue owes to this queen
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
hell yeah, thank you!
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Rahawa Haile @rahawahaile.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
“The political consultant class isn’t going to read this, but it’s worth saying anyway: Electability is a fake idea. It’s why we’ve spent 10 years reliving 2016.” - Soleil Ho for @coyotemedia.org
coyotemedia.org
What Is the Point of Gavin Newsom?
You can’t build a movement around a person whose only commitment is staying uncommitted.
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
moment of appreciation for the fact that @soleilho.com spat out this perfect, true, and venom-filled post in like an hour *on their birthday*
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COYOTE @coyotemedia.org · 24/09/2026
COYOTE calendar time! On this edition: pond scum! Pigeon bone structure! Trans bouldering! COVID-safe kink! And lotssss more! Get out there, Bay Area! www.coyotemedia.org/coyote-calen...
coyotemedia.org
COYOTE Calendar: September 24-September 30
This week we've got COVID-safe kink, making art with maíz, haunted dolls, and more.
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
ICYMI -- this show/sleepover is this Saturday! I am told there are exactly four tickets left
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
you’re telling me some of the best paid copywriters in the world couldn’t come up with anything better than “if you like YouTube, you’ll love YouTube premium”
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Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
ordered food to go just as that “why you gotta be so rude” song was coming on the radio at the food place and then I stayed there for the duration of the song in order to pick said food up without begging them to change it OR killing myself, please clap
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Ann Powers @annkpowers.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
This is what music writing can and should be
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Maggie Tokuda-Hall @maggietokudahall.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Fun fact I would die for Ms Rachel
3 comments ms Rachel left on her subway takes IG video:

1. Retire racist nursery rhymes and kids songs 
2. Free Palestine 
3. Pie for all kittens
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Noah Berlatsky @nberlat.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
still evergreen. www.everythingishorrible.net/p/gavin-news...
everythingishorrible.net
Gavin Newsom Is A Piece of Shit
Let us count the ways.
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Reo Eveleth @reveleth.com · 22/09/2026
It sucks to come across an event that looks possibly cool for the @coyotemedia.org calendar and seeing that they clearly used AI generated art for the flyer. I don't put those on the list. There are SO many events out there, I can skip the ones that don't care about the lives and work of artists.
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