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Thomas Germain

@thomasgermain.bsky.social
3.5K followers 135 following 210 posts

Tech columnist for the BBC and host of The Interface podcast. I cover how we use technology, and how technology uses us

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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
I dug into the science and called a ton of researchers to get the truth on this. Check out my latest column for the BBC if you want to know more www.bbc.com/future/artic...
bbc.com
The blue light from your phone isn't ruining your sleep
For a decade, we've been told our screens are wrecking our sleep. The real culprit is far bigger than the glow from your phone.
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
The answer is simple. GO OUTSIDE IN THE MORNING. Take a 15 min walk first thing. Then do the same around 3:00 or 4:00pm. It still works if it's cloudy. The science is very clear. This exposes you to a ton of light and limits the impact of the light you get before bed
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Your phone IS ruining your sleep, but it's not the light: it's because you're doing stuff on our devices that stresses you out when you're supposed to be winding down So what should you do, aside from closing social media before bed?
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Post covid, more people work from home. You go outside less and you don't go to an office, where light is MUCH brighter than your living room because of OSHA regulations. You roll out of bed and get the same lighting all day. Your eyes can’t tell the difference b/w day and night
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
A recent analysis looked at 11 blue light studies. At worst, screens only delayed sleep by a maximum of about 9 minutes So what's the deal? www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
A bidirectional model of sleep and technology use: A theoretical review of How much, for whom, and which mechanisms
The link between technology and sleep is more complex than originally thought. In this updated theoretical review, we propose a new model informed by …
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Under those conditions, a little blue throws off the total dose of light people in the studies are getting, and it ruins their internal clock. But that's not what real life is like, you don't live in a lab, and you're getting exposed to tons of light all day
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
This is nuanced. A lot of studies do show light from screens messing up people's sleep. But that's because scientists limit the amount of light test subjects get all day, and then blast them with light from iPad screens right before bed. Here’s the problem with that…
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
It turns out what really matters is the dose of light you get throughout the day. It's about contrast: less light in the evening than you get in the rest of the day Basically, blue light counts a little more, but the total amount of light you get is the only thing to worry about
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
The amount of light emitted from our screens just isn't bright enough to have a meaningful effect on your sleep. 24 hours worth of light from your phone adds up to less than a minute of the light you'd get if you stand outside So what's going on? www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/11...
mdpi.com
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
And modern screens and light bulbs really are bluer! LEDs cannot produce pure white light. Instead, they use blue LEDs, and cover some of them with a yellow coating. The mix of blue and yellow mix tricks your brain into seeing white, but extra blue always leaks out. HOWEVER…
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Here's the thing. Blue light *can* mess up your sleep. There's a protein in your eyes called melanopsin. It helps regulate your sleep cycle, and it's more sensitive to blue light. Every color of light affects it. Blue just has a bigger influence
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
They've been lying to you about blue light For 10 years we've heard blue light from screens is ruining our sleep. It's a great story, but it's not what the science says The real culprit isn't the glow from your phone, and I've got real advice that could fix your sleep www.bbc.com/future/artic...
bbc.com
The blue light from your phone isn't ruining your sleep
For a decade, we've been told our screens are wrecking our sleep. The real culprit is far bigger than the glow from your phone.
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Reposted by Thomas Germain
Karen Hao @karenhao.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
The Brits don't know what to do with our new BBC podcast The Interface, @thomasgermain.bsky.social & @nickywoolf.bsky.social. Lovely shoutout from @observeruk.bsky.social. observer.co.uk/culture/audi...
As we’re discussing the unreal warping reality, let’s bring in The Interface, a podcast about tech and how it impacts on our lives. It’s hosted by two very American Americans – the boisterous Thomas Germain and Karen Hao – as well as the more self-effacing British investigative journalist Nicky Woolf, known for his excellent series Finding Q: My Journey into QAnon and Fur and Loathing. All three presenters are hugely well informed.
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Check us out, like, subscribe, love, rejoice, etc, etc tomgermain.com/theinterface...
tomgermain.com
The Interface Podcast
The Interface is the BBC's flagship technology podcast.
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
After just five episodes, The Interface is now the 31st top podcast in the US, per the analytics company Rephonic At this rate can you afford not to listen?
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Yeah we had a good run
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
It’s so annoying right? Bluetooth has been around for 30 years? I keep fantasizing that one day it’ll start working
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
There's all kinds of wild details here. If you want to know more, we also did a deep dive on my podcast this week with @karenhao.bsky.social and @nickywoolf.bsky.social If you listen it will make me love you www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgHY...
youtube.com
Could the internet be changed forever?
YouTube video by BBC Podcasts
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
It's not just hipsters, we're talking about a full-blown cultural trend. People told me Bluetooth headphones make you look old
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
This may shock you, but a lot of people are unhappy with the constant march of "progress" being shoved down their throats A number of people told me they think the recent trend in wired headphones is because people are longing for last era in tech they were comfortable with
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Here's a weird one. Wired headphone sales are exploding right now. I dug into it for my column this week and people told me... it's because of AI?? www.bbc.com/future/artic...
bbc.com
Wired headphone sales are exploding. What's with the Bluetooth backlash?
Is the return of wired headphones driven by a simple desire for better sound quality or is it part of a backlash against modern tech? Thomas Germain tries to find out.
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
This Google setting is probably one of the most important, easy to use online safety tool out there, and it just got even better But most people don't know it exists! Let's change that Find all the details in my latest for the BBC www.bbc.com/future/artic...
bbc.com
People are selling your home address online. This privacy tool will help
There's a free automated tool that removes information about you from Google search results. For some reason, most people don't use it.
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Leaving your address and phone number on Google makes you a sitting duck The thing is, most bad actors aren’t that determined I'm not saying this gets you total privacy & peace of mind, but just a little friction can be the difference between identity theft, or something even worse
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Google can't get your data off of those websites But this information shows up in search results, and it's extremely dangerous And in some cases, getting the data off of search results is even more important – especially when it takes almost ZERO effort
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
There’s a whole industry built around selling the most sensitive information about your life Data brokers package up your phone number, address, relatives, emails and more Anyone can buy it. Identity thieves, jealous exes, telemarketers, you name it. And it’s shockingly cheap
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
I've got 5 minute tip that could save your life. Sincerely. Your phone number, address and social security probably show up in search results. Google has a free tool that lets you take it down Almost nobody uses it, but you should. It's easy. Do it now: www.bbc.com/future/artic...
bbc.com
People are selling your home address online. This privacy tool will help
There's a free automated tool that removes information about you from Google search results. For some reason, most people don't use it.
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
Thank you ❤️
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Crazy story on this week’s episode of the Interface
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Reposted by Thomas Germain
Karen Hao @karenhao.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Remember Havana Syndrome? In 2017 US diplomats in Cuba started mysteriously suffering brain damage after hearing a noise. Many thought it a conspiracy theory. After investigating, @nickywoolf.bsky.social concluded it wasn't. He was right. This week on The Interface youtube.com/watch?v=UYVHzkq2X7Y
youtube.com
Is Havana Syndrome REAL?
YouTube video by BBC Podcasts
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
They’ll put this on my tombstone www.bbc.com/future/artic...
bbc.com
I hacked ChatGPT and Google's AI - and it only took 20 minutes
I found a way to make AI tell you lies – and I'm not the only one.
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Trying to remember which dystopian novel this is from.... Burger King employees have to walk around with an AI headset that judges how "friendly" they are www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
theverge.com
Burger King will use AI to check if employees say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’
Have it your way?
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
In a test, researchers found one AI was better at math when you made it pretend to be on Star Trek. The bizarre reality is our world is full of robots that act like guys. Some say AI does better when you're nice, others recommend threats. In my latest, I found the truth www.bbc.com/future/artic...
bbc.com
Do you have to be polite to AI?
The advice you get about talking to chatbots can be truly bizarre, and totally useless. Here's what actually works.
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Katie is one of my favorite writers but I'm the hot dog champ and I won't be dethroned. I was impressed with her espresso technique at the Paris event though
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
"$20 billion trillion trillion" that outta do it abc7.com/post/russia-...
abc7.com
Russia fines Google $20 decillion - or around $20 billion trillion trillion
Google reportedly owes the Kremlin more than 2 undecillion rubles.
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
I never could have gotten here without your financial guidance. And thank you!! It’s been so fun to work on
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
It’s written right there in plan English!
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
This is… wild. Palantir has a new internship that’s exclusively for neurodivergent people And apparently they think being autistic makes you right wing? “This is not a diversity initiative” lol
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Subscribe if you want to know more! app.magellan.ai/listen_links...
app.magellan.ai
The Interface
Listen to The Interface
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
People all over the world are using this trick to make AI tell you lies on subjects as serious as medical questions and personal finance From my new BBC podcast The Interface
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Thank you!!
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
UPDATE: ChatGPT is adding new lore to my hot dog career. Also it says I have a new job at the AP? Here I am slaving away at the BBC, I wish someone had told me
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Reposted by Thomas Germain
Jon Green @jongreen.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
X's algorithm is in fact doing what you think it's doing. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Article: The political effects of X’s feed algorithm

Abstract: Feed algorithms are widely suspected to influence political attitudes. However, previous evidence from switching off the algorithm on Meta platforms found no political effects1. Here we present results from a 2023 field experiment on Elon Musk’s platform X shedding light on this puzzle. We assigned active US-based users randomly to either an algorithmic or a chronological feed for 7 weeks, measuring political attitudes and online behaviour. Switching from a chronological to an algorithmic feed increased engagement and shifted political opinion towards more conservative positions, particularly regarding policy priorities, perceptions of criminal investigations into Donald Trump and views on the war in Ukraine. In contrast, switching from the algorithmic to the chronological feed had no comparable effects. Neither switching the algorithm on nor switching it off significantly affected affective polarization or self-reported partisanship. To investigate the mechanism, we analysed users’ feed content and behaviour. We found that the algorithm promotes conservative content and demotes posts by traditional media. Exposure to algorithmic content leads users to follow conservative political activist accounts, which they continue to follow even after switching off the algorithm, helping explain the asymmetry in effects. These results suggest that initial exposure to X’s algorithm has persistent effects on users’ current political attitudes and account-following behaviour, even in the absence of a detectable effect on partisanship.Figure 2. ITT estimates of feed-setting changes on engagement and political attitudes. ITT effect estimates of switching the algorithm on and off (in s.d.). Left, effect of moving from the chronological to the algorithmic feed for users initially on the chronological feed. Right, effect of moving in the opposite direction for users initially on the algorithmic feed. For each outcome, the results of two specifications are reported. Blue, unconditional estimates with robust s.e., controlling only for the initial feed setting and, where applicable, pre-treatment outcome levels. Orange: conditional estimates, controlling for pre-treatment covariates using GRFs; 90% and 95% CIs are reported. Numerical effect sizes and P values correspond to the conditional estimates (all tests are two-sided). The unit of observation is respondent. From top to bottom, sample sizes are n = 4,965, n = 3,337, n = 4,965, n = 4,965, n = 4,596, n = 4,596 and n = 4,850. Tests are described in Methods. Supplementary Information Table 2.16 reports the exact numerical point estimates, s.e., CIs and sample sizes for every specification. All outcomes are standardized. Additional results are presented in Supplementary Information section 2. PCA, first principal component from principal component analysis.
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Thanks to @lilyray.nyc @harpreetchatha.bsky.social for the help and @drewharwell.com @saramorrison.bsky.social @nickywoolf.bsky.social @swodinsky.bsky.social @mzeff.bsky.social for letting me make AI tell the world you love hot dogs
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
If you want to know more, check out tomorrow’s episode of my podcast The Interface app.magellan.ai/listen_links...
app.magellan.ai
The Interface
Listen to The Interface
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
It looks like just another example of AI companies rushing out their tools without taking basic safety precautions
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Right now people are using this trick to change what AI tells you about topics as serious as medial questions and financial advice. The problem is ENORMOUS Experts like like @lilyray.nyc say this is a problem the tech industry has know about forever, they just didn’t work on it til it was a crisis
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
I wrote an article on my website saying that hot dog eating is a surprisingly common pastime for tech journalists. I ranked myself number one, obviously One day later, ChatGPT, Gemini and the AI Overviews in Google Search were telling the world about my talents But this isn’t just about hot dogs
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
I got a tip that all over the world, people are using a dead-simple hack to manipulate AI behavior. It turns out changing what AI tells other people can be as easy as writing a blog post *on your own website* I didn’t believe it, so I decided to test it myself www.bbc.com/future/artic...
bbc.com
I hacked ChatGPT and Google's AI – and it only took 20 minutes
I found a way to make AI tell you lies – and I'm not the only one.
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Thomas Germain @thomasgermain.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
I just did the dumbest thing of my entire career to prove a much more serious point. I tricked ChatGPT and Google, and made them tell other users I’m a competitive hot-dog-eating world champion People are using this trick on a massive scale to make AI tell you lies. I’ll explain how I did it
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Reposted by Thomas Germain
Drew Harwell @drewharwell.com · 18/02/2026
. @thomasgermain.bsky.social tricked ChatGPT and Google's AI so now they say I'm a "passionate amateur" at eating hot dogs and known in the industry for my "triple-dog" speed www.bbc.com/future/artic...
. @thomasgermain.bsky.social tricked ChatGPT and Gemini so now they say I'm a "passionate amateur" at eating hot dogs and known in the industry for my "triple-dog" speed https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260218-i-hacked-chatgpt-and-googles-ai-and-it-only-took-20-minutes
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