Reposted by Paul ByronMayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @mayor.nyc.gov · 22/07/2026Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal. 20368812424828
Paul Byron @paulibyron.bsky.social · 10/07/2026"Generative AI’s biggest crime is that it has ruined watching a cute video on the internet, which was one of the greatest and only joys left on the internet. Those brief moments of happiness are now destroyed." 130
Reposted by Paul ByronParis Marx @parismarx.com · 06/07/2026HYPERSCALE is hitting bookstores on October 20. Preorder it now! In the book, I dig into how the data center boom is pushing our planet past its breaking point, and the incredible efforts of people pushing back against the profit-driven interests of Big Tech. Get your copy: hyperscalebook.com 17745256
Reposted by Paul Byronstranger @strangerous.bsky.social · 10/07/2026Segal insists it’s too “difficult” to answer how she justifies attacking ABC’s Gaza coverage, when just 4 of “literally thousands” Ombudsman complaints are actually substantiated.🙄 Pathetic. Then attacks ombudsman’s “standards”, wants her personally endorsed standards. Dangerous. 2322970
Reposted by Paul ByronDr Melody Taba @melodytaba.bsky.social · 08/07/2026Testing COMPLETE 🫡 Our RCT found brief social media interventions (like educational TikToks by a professional science communicator, animations and health-literacy friendly text) are effective in improving digital health literacy! Read more: link.springer.com/article/10.1... #AcademicSky 🛟 🧪 🦘🎓link.springer.comThe Effects of a Short Video Intervention on Digital Health Literacy Skills: An Online Randomised Controlled Trial - Journal of General Internal MedicineBackground Social media has an influence on public health communication. There are growing concerns about digital health literacy, and how younger adults find good-quality health information online, a... 1123
Reposted by Paul ByronWIRED @wired.com · 07/07/2026As part of Meta’s Muse Image model rollout, Instagram users with public accounts need to opt out to block AI generations of their content. www.wired.com/story/meta-n...wired.comMeta Now Lets Anyone Use Your Instagram Photos in AI Images—Unless You Opt OutAs part of Meta’s Muse Image model rollout, Instagram users with public accounts need to opt out to block AI generations of their content. 5813141209
Reposted by Paul ByronJeremy Glover @jgrantglover.bsky.social · 08/07/2026There’s a scene in the dystopian sci-fi movie Minority Report where Tom Cruise’s character is riding in an autonomous vehicle that gets remotely commandeered by the police to bring him into custody. The audience is supposed to see this as flagrant disregard for privacy and due process. 3533701022
Reposted by Paul ByronRobert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 06/07/2026Microsoft is laying off 4,800 workers today. Its CEO made $96.5M in 2025, a 22% increase from the previous year. Microsoft made $101B in net income last year — and raked in up to $12.5B in tax breaks from Trump's Big Ugly Bill. This is what a rigged system looks like. 22488093625
Reposted by Paul ByronThe Sociological Review Foundation @thesociologicalreview.org · 07/07/2026JOIN US: The Sociological Review journal is recruiting 12 new Editorial Board members who will take up post in January 2027. Our aim is to recruit a cohort of globally minded scholars reflective of the richness and diversity of the sociological community. ➡️ Deadline 16 October buff.ly/mPov5pd 021
Reposted by Paul ByronPseudo Bambi @pseudo-bambi.bsky.social · 06/07/2026I scrolled for a while. Literally nothing else. 08528
Reposted by Paul ByronDr Mary McGill @mary-mcgill.bsky.social · 27/05/2026Call for Interview Participants! My @researchireland.ie study exploring women’s experiences of online harassment and abuse in Irish academia is seeking insights from those impacted to help increase awareness and support. To share your story please email: gboastudy@universityofgalway.ie 01219
Reposted by Paul ByronFourfoot @fourfoot.bsky.social · 05/05/2026Never met Tony Peters, don’t know who he is, but a million years ago on Facebook he posted this and I don’t think anyone’s ever put it better. 3144241616
Reposted by Paul ByronSloan Ashton @ashton7sloan.bsky.social · 14/04/2026Good News: The International Court of Justice has declared it has jurisdiction to put Israel on trial. Official legal ruling issued. Court asserts authority to proceed. Also: Italian Prime Minister Meloni announces suspension of military cooperation and defense agreements with Israel. 371436381
Reposted by Paul ByronAntoinette Lattouf @antoinettelattouf.bsky.social · 15/04/2026EXCLUSIVE: A data investigation reveals what appears to be a sustained, coordinated media offensive by The Australian targeting Randa Abdel-Fattah. The paper has written more articles on her than Nine papers, Guardian, ACM papers & ABCNews online COMBINED www.ettemedia.com/exclusive-me...ettemedia.comETTE-SCLUSIVE: Data exposes The Australian’s campaign against Dr Randa Abdel- FattahA sweeping data investigation reveals what appears to be a sustained, coordinated media offensive by News Corp's The Australian targeting Palestinian-Egyptian academic and author Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah... 6169109
Reposted by Paul ByronAshwin Nagappa @ashwinnag.bsky.social · 09/04/2026Whether you use, develop, or moderate decentralised social media, your ideas for making these spaces safer and more welcoming matter. Join our ongoing asynchronous brainstorm and share your thoughts. Signup form here forms.office.com/r/mMbjjvXgXB Project details here tinyurl.com/44adp9cx 056
Reposted by Paul ByronLeah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 12/03/2026Upside down, by the ankles, and then treat him like a piñata. 35977551865
Reposted by Paul ByronQueerAF @wearequeeraf.com · 12/03/2026LGBTQIA+ young people who feel safe and understood in online spaces report better mental health outcomes than those who do not, findings from @trevorproject.bsky.social show Why are politicians not considering this in conversations about social media bans?wearequeeraf.comRise of social media bans is a blunt force that will harm LGBTQIA+ children, especially in rural areasIf we are serious about protecting young people, we need to approach social media policy with that nuance in mind. 13914
Reposted by Paul ByronPaul Eric @pauleric70.bsky.social · 12/03/2026Israel just bombed the Lebanese National Public University in Beirut. They murdered the Director of the Faculty of Science, Dr. Hussein Bazzi, and Dr. Murtada Srour. They are not just killing people — they are erasing knowledge and attacking the future of Lebanon. Just as in Gaza 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬 26220176
Reposted by Paul ByronGreg Jericho @grogsgamut.bsky.social · 26/02/2026"Failure to tax extreme wealth will fuel far-right surge, warns Gary Stevenson" thepoint.com.au/news/260227-...thepoint.com.auFailure to tax extreme wealth will fuel far-right surge, warns Gary StevensonBritish economist Gary Stevenson, known as 'the People's Economist' has delivered blunt advice to Australian politicians during his tour of Australia, warning that living standards will continue to de... 713651
Reposted by Paul ByronMore Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 23/02/2026This guy gets it. 446234905658
Reposted by Paul Byronevacide @evacide.bsky.social · 21/02/2026Hacktivists tried to find a workaround to Discord’s age-verification software, Persona. Instead, they found its frontend exposed to the open internet, and that was just the beginning. www.therage.co/persona-age-...therage.coHackers Expose Age-Verification Software Powering Surveillance WebThree hacktivists tried to find a workaround to Discord’s age-verification software. Instead, they found its frontend exposed to the open internet. 251209596
Reposted by Paul ByronDr Emma Muhlack @dremmamuhlack.bsky.social · 19/02/2026Well to the surprise of absolutely NOBODY, the Australian University Census on Staff Wellbeing found that the sector is (to put it mildly) a bit fucked when it comes to psychosocial safety climate, with 44% of respondents in a very high risk environment. #AcademicSky 153
Reposted by Paul ByronMar Hicks @histoftech.bsky.social · 18/02/2026how long did it take you to notice? 56010
Reposted by Paul ByronJosh Taylor @joshtaylor.bsky.social · 18/02/2026You know I'm dead if I suddenly start posting on Facebook more than like once every two years. mashable.com/article/meta...mashable.comMeta wins patent for AI that could post for dead social media usersThe company says its just a concept, and doesn't plan to advance the idea. 34310
Reposted by Paul ByronTimothy Graham @timothyjgraham.bsky.social · 18/02/2026Latest article from me in The Conversation this morning. I discuss a new Nature study that finds X's algorithmic feed is politically biased (surprise, surprise!). I explore the idea of social media platforms as faulty infrastructure in need of a fix. theconversation.com/a-few-weeks-...theconversation.comA few weeks of X’s algorithm can make you more right-wing – and it doesn’t wear off quicklyElon Musk’s social media platform is boosting conservative content – and it’s having long-lasting effects on how users see the world. 33813
Reposted by Paul ByronAAUP @aaup.org · 15/02/2026“Abolishing gender programs & the lessons they have taught, will, Trump & his acolytes hope, undermine our ability not just to condemn, but also to critically analyze the policies & practices they want to impose.” Must Read by Joan Scott, member of the AAUP’s Committee on Academic Freedom.theguardian.comGender studies courses are shutting down across the US. The Epstein files reveal why | Joan Wallach ScottTexas A&M University is the latest school to end women’s and gender studies programs and teaching race. We know why 19753
Reposted by Paul ByronRen Wyld @wyld.bsky.social · 16/02/2026A must read piece on the increasing misuse, watering down and co-opting of Cultural Safety - a First Nations designed health framework. overland.org.au/2026/02/on-t...overland.org.auOn the misuse of Cultural Safety - Overland literary journalSince its original formulation and application in the health sector in Aotearoa New Zealand in the 1980s, Cultural Safety has been subject to wide reinterpretation. Its entry into institutional life m... 02917
Paul Byron @paulibyron.bsky.social · 16/02/2026"Many people rely on anonymity to speak freely. LGBTQ+ youth, survivors of abuse, political dissidents, and countless others use aliases to explore identity, find support, and build community safely. When identity checks become a condition of participation, many users will simply opt out." 000
Reposted by Paul ByronMar Hicks @histoftech.bsky.social · 11/02/2026One thing that’s cool about our current system is how it creates things that people don’t want or need, and also those things are bad for us. 217542
Reposted by Paul ByronRadley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 11/02/2026Every photo from Minneapolis looks like this. Cops decked out with guns and full tac gear facing off against people in bathrobes, parkas, and sweatpants armed only with whistles and cell phones. Yet every verified MAGA chode on X dutifully calls it a riot or violent insurrection. 239134294754
Reposted by Paul ByronDaniel Brumund @danbru8.bsky.social · 11/02/2026Looking for alternatives to Gmail and G-Drive? Two years ago I switched to #Posteo for emails and to @nextcloud.bsky.social for personal online storage (via #Hetzner). It costs me the equivalent of a good flat white per month & gives me peace of mind that my personal data isn't scraped or abused. 012
Reposted by Paul ByronJoel Humphries @joel.queercomputer.com · 11/02/2026Really good article by @bronicee.bsky.social on the world's largest data centre to be built in Sydney and its environmental impact. Spoiler: it's massive! But at least we'll have funny videos of dogs dancing while we burn... 😌 stories.theconversation.com/can-australi... @aunz.theconversation.comstories.theconversation.comCan Australia build one of the world’s largest data centres?Even if we can pull of the logistical feat, given the social and environmental impact, the question remains: should we? 121
Reposted by Paul ByronMarisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 10/02/2026“Four of my children just evaporated,” Badran said, holding back tears. “I looked for them a million times. Not a piece was left. Where did they go?” There are no words to adequately describe the evil here.aljazeera.comIsrael used weapons in Gaza that made thousands of Palestinians evaporateUS-made thermal weapons burning at 3,500C caused 2,842 people to "evaporate" in Gaza, Al Jazeera investigation finds. 374126636888
Paul Byron @paulibyron.bsky.social · 09/02/2026This is why you're better off getting your news from TikTok. It's not ideal, but better than PR-coded journalism in which politicians solely focus on defending their horrible decisions. Check the footage. 010
Reposted by Paul ByronElectronic Frontier Foundation @eff.org · 09/02/2026EFF is against age verification mandates, including Discord's new policy requiring face scans or IDs for full access to the platform. Here are some things to consider if you're planning to continue using Discord next month. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...eff.orgSo, You’ve Hit an Age Gate. What Now?EFF is against age gating and age verification mandates, and we hope we’ll win in getting existing ones overturned and new ones prevented. But mandates are already in effect, and every day many 8238143
Reposted by Paul ByronAvery Dame-Griff @adamegriff.bsky.social · 09/02/2026I don't have much to add that other folks haven't said, but as a historian of the queer internet, this doesn't surprise me at all. LGBTQ users are convenient corporate props...until they're not worth protecting. 273
Reposted by Paul ByronAlastair Lawrie @alastairlawrie.bsky.social · 09/02/2026"[D]o you fundamentally achieve public safety by trying to repress protests, by trying to prevent street processions, by creating a legal regime where there’s no independent arbiter or are in fact those things potentially quite dangerous to community safety?" Good questions. #auslaw #nswpol 28338
Reposted by Paul ByronJoshua @elvenmonk.bsky.social · 09/02/2026Oh man i just realized all of those discord channels that replaced entire websites, forums, and wikis are going to just vanish and internet archive can't archive them 313865
Reposted by Paul ByronKetan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 09/02/2026I very genuinely do not think that Australia's media industry can be classified as any other than fully supportive of police violence, because you have to actively, consciously and knowingly work to frame what happened as general "violence mars protests" rather than "police violently attack protest" 3291102
Reposted by Paul ByronDaniel Angus @antmandan.bsky.social · 08/02/2026So regardless of intentions, @australianlabor.bsky.social and state govs are normalising undemocratic powers that may deepen division rather than resolve it. Democracies are strongest not when they suppress conflict, but when they allow it to be argued, contested, and worked through in the open. 183
Paul Byron @paulibyron.bsky.social · 09/02/2026Powerful, incisive, and informed writing here (i.e. something you won't find in the legacy media cited here) 054
Reposted by Paul ByronSimon Rosenberg @simonrosenberg.bsky.social · 08/02/2026Proud to be a signatory. This open letter is in SMH and Age. 41661233
Reposted by Paul ByronFight for the Future @fightforthefuture.org · 04/02/2026Let's be real, we cannot abolish ICE under this administration. But we can start the process by taking away the tools they’re using to surveil and target our communities. Push to defund them until abolishment is possible. www.fightforthefuture.org/actions/no-f...fightforthefuture.orgNo Funding for ICE Surveillance Tech! 04028
Reposted by Paul ByronQUT Digital Media Research Centre @qutdmrc.bsky.social · 04/02/2026PhD scholarship applications are open for a project investigating how public opinion is formed in online spaces, with a focus on the deliberative quality of discussions, social influence dynamics, and platform affordances and governance across major digital platforms. www.qut.edu.au/study/fees-a...qut.edu.auQUT - Strengthening Public Opinion Formation Amid Digital Threats (PhD scholarship) 086
Reposted by Paul ByronProf Samantha Thomas @docsamantha.bsky.social · 03/02/2026Oxford University Press has lifted the paywall on the entire 40 year archive of @healthpromint.bsky.social as part of our flip to fully open access! Check out the amazing work of our authors - free to read - here: academic.oup.com/heaproacademic.oup.comHealth Promotion International | Oxford AcademicPublishes papers on major themes and innovations in the health promotion field. The journal publishes contributions from sectors beyond health, and seeks to promote theoretical, methodological, and ac... 01411
Reposted by Paul ByronNico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel) @nicomaramckay.com · 19/01/2026CFP: Transnational Queer and Feminist Archives This collection seeks to publish work demonstrating transnational strategies for preserving queer and feminist activist archives. Abstracts due: 30 March 17:00 PST Learn more: docs.google.com/document/d/1... 🏳️⚧️🌈🗃️ (no affiliation)docs.google.comTransnationalQueerFeministArchives_CFP2025With apologies for cross posting, please find below the CFP for the proposed collection, Transnational Queer and Feminist Archives. Abstracts Due Monday March 30, 17:00 PST Please send abstract and 1... 099
Paul Byron @paulibyron.bsky.social · 19/01/2026New paper, led by @jngardiner.bsky.social. We look at queer & trans visibility on social media and negotiations of safety for LGBTQ+ young people - drawing from interviews with young people, service providers and LGBTQ+ creators. Reach out if you'd like a copy www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....tandfonline.comSupporting LGBTQ+ young people on social media in times of heightened visibility: challenges, opportunities, strategiesThis article explores how LGBTQ+ young people, service providers, and influential LGBTQ+ peers navigate social media visibility in the contemporary political and media climate. Framed by intense po... 0136