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Vaishnavi

@vaishnavi.bsky.social
1.4K followers 169 following 96 posts

running www.vyanams.com to build safer online products for children and teens. occasionally use this account like 2008 emo twitter

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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Oh there’s been so much! I’m intrigued by this CSAM-auditing approach for large models without having to directly prompt them for CSAM news.mit.edu/2026/new-met...
news.mit.edu
New method aims to keep kids safe from illegal AI-generated content
Researchers developed an evaluation procedure that tests generative AI models for harmful capabilities without generating outputs. This could enable auditors to identify open-source models that have b...
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Just in time for this nor’easter: my early copy of @katieharbath.bsky.social’s new book is here! Katie’s view from the front lines of the biggest digital campaigns makes her my most important resource when thinking about how technology impacts politics and vice versa. Getting the tea (chai) ready ☕️
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
One positive about UNGA in town; you will always get your 10K steps without really thinking about it, purely from all the detours. This was at 10pm and the blockade was across multiple avenues and blocks so everyone got to know one another well!
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Twenty countries now restrict children's access to social media. This fortnight: the EU KIDS Act, Meta's 332 CSAM, hundreds of Russian teenagers charged over online-recruited sabotage, and Kenya is building its evidence base.
quire.substack.com
EU Publishes KIDS Act With Tiered Age Limits, Meta Ran Hundreds of AI-CSAM Ads, & Russia Charges Hundreds of Teenagers Over Online-Recruited Sabotage
Digital Childhood Briefing, by Vys - September 21, 2026
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
That part! I was sobbing.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I had the most emotional, raw reactions to @nhannahjones.bsky.social's reflections on education in New York City. I deeply respect the decision to live out her public values in private, yet have the courage to pivot when she realized her daughter was hurting from it.
nytimes.com
In Fighting for Every Black Child, Did I Betray My Own?
A decade ago, I made a decision about my daughter’s education that I hoped would challenge New York City’s separate and unequal school system. Now 16, she thinks I made the wrong choice.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
And the nice foldable helmets don't seem to have very good safety ratings, sigh.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Why must bike helmets be so ugly? Becoming familiar with NYC’s bike lanes but consistently constrained by the bulky black foreboding helmet I’ll have to carry around for the rest of the day in my travels. / rant
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Kate Klonick @klonick.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Made a few small changes to the AI Crisis Flowchart
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
AI-generated CSAM has been top of mind for companies since the Anderegg ruling a few weeks ago, so here's a short writeup on what's actually changed (and what hasn't) for child safety product roadmaps. quire.substack.com/p/ai-generat...
quire.substack.com
AI-Generated CSAM after Anderegg: What Changes (And Doesn’t) on Product Roadmaps
A narrow ruling, a lot of loud misreadings, and a short list of things worth re-checking on your child safety product roadmaps
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Fwiw, writing this to check my own instinctive biases as well.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
The problem with side eyes is that they can be based on zero facts and still be intuitively appealing because of the deep (and understandable) mistrust we have in powerful people right now. But that doesn’t automatically make them “the real reason”.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Also might reflect the real and concerning capabilities of models that are not available to us yet to independently evaluate. Only a handful of people in the world can verify if these models have the capabilities that Sam, Dario, and Elon say they have.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
I love a good side eye at powerful people’s essays as much as anyone, but perhaps the answer is - *all* of the theories are true? Yes, Dario’s essay builds more of a moat against open source and lets the frontier labs frame diminishing advancements to investors as a responsible choice, and…
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
All this is important to note because unfortunately, midterms news coverage frenzy clashes directly with H1 product roadmapping season, so take a minute to digest what exactly is changing before rushing to overhaul your roadmaps.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
(3) More importantly, this is catch-up regulation, racing to match what litigation outcomes have already set for many companies. In fact, the remedies out of litigation have gone much further, which means this doesn't really change much for companies already tracking and updating their roadmaps.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
(2) This also means that any personalization of a feed is now at risk, which is not necessarily a good thing. For example, it's personalization that lets you surface age-appropriate content, or make sure that the product is actually relevant to your interests.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
(1) "Addictive features" in this @nytimes.com headline only refers to (a) a feed ranked using data about you, (b) autoplay, (c) anything the AG later decides is "addictive". None of the earlier language in the bill around engagement-optimizing features made it in.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
As we near the US midterms, you will see many news headlines describing "sweeping", "first in the nation", "groundbreaking" etc. from politicians. Happy to bust some of these myths so that you can go about your actual child safety work.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
And then of course, bemoan more legal and deeply necessary immigration in 15-20 years because you weren't willing to actually tackle K-12 education standards today.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Ah, the cycle continues. There is a real danger in the all-or-nothing way we talk about AI adoption, without considering what thoughtful technical procurement standards could do to make sure AI works for our children and they don't fall behind in the global race for talent.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Yet another AI policy that nobody with product knowledge seems to have drafted. Who exactly is introducing purely companion chatbots into schools? The problem is educational AI tools that students inevitably turn to for emotional support, which of course this bill doesn't know how to address.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
This was such a special podcast to be a part of with @yoyoel.com and @benwhitelaw.bsky.social. I hope that our stories can be valuable for other T&S professionals thinking about how to share their hard-won knowledge and expertise more widely.
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Forbes @forbes.com · 07/08/2026
In the ruling, the judge notes that Meta created a “public nuisance” by being a significant contributor to the state’s teen mental health crisis.
forbes.com
New Mexico Court Orders Meta To Pay Nearly $1 Billion Over Child Safety Issues
In the ruling, the judge notes that Meta created a “public nuisance” by being a significant contributor to the state’s teen mental health crisis.
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Samidh @samidh.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
That's why I'm excited today to see @vaishnavi.bsky.social & team use Zentropi to build and release the first set of open source age-appropriate content policies to detect teen self-harm & suicidal ideation. Get them here: zentropi.ai/u/vys [3/n]
zentropi.ai
Zentropi - Content Labelers by vys
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Dave Willner @dwillner.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Making impossible safety challenges tractable is a lot of why we built Zentropi. Today @vaishnavi.bsky.social shipped a great example of what that means in practice - a set of open-source self-harm and suicide policies for teens: quire.substack.com/p/what-it-takes-for-llms-to-make-age 🧵 1/6
quire.substack.com
[What it Takes] For LLMs to Make Age-Appropriate Content Policies Enforceable
An editorial developed in partnership with Zentropi
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Integrity Institute @integrity-inst.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
II members recently submitted input to NIST’s CAISI request for information on securing AI agent systems. Members highlight: ▶️ New risks from autonomous agents ▶️ Gaps in current cybersecurity ▶️ The need for stronger evaluation & safeguards Read the submission in full here: 🔗 bit.ly/4lUnMfy
bit.ly
Information About Securing AI Agent Systems — Integrity Institute
By Theodora Skeadas, Leah Ferentinos, Rohit Poduval, and Maggie Engler Integrity Institute members respond to the Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI), National Institute of Standards and ...
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
If there's a better feeling than getting to inbox zero after a month on the road, I would very much like to know what it is. This is better than any spa.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
Manhattan road closures for a half marathon are so maddening - so much traffic being diverted because a bunch of people needed a medal to get up and run this morning.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Have you seen this yourself? I can’t replicate this on my end; all search results turn up fine.
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Jameel Jaffer @jameeljaffer.bsky.social · 19/01/2025
Losers: The Democrats, whom Americans blame for banning their favorite app; the Court, which spent its capital on a case it didn’t need to decide; the First Amendment, which the Court weakened; Congress, which gave us this dumb law; the American people, whose actual interests have been ignored. /1
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 19/01/2025
Wait it’s coming back?! What will I troll about the rest of this long weekend?
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 29/12/2024
Watching the Loomer / Musk showdown on the other site is bringing back fond memories of writing long, excruciatingly detailed policy assessments of whether online behaviours merit suspension. I’m glad that X continues to uphold its position on doxxing, whatever else might be going on there.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
Deeply hoping I get to DC on time for FOSI, but a bridge strike in Baltimore may have other plans for me. PSA to rideshare drivers: get your 💰 by heading to an Amtrak station along the Northeast Corridor!
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
Outside of work, I’m a vocal advocate for more Asian representation in leadership, an expert at maximizing points / miles, and a newly-minted acolyte of the Real Housewives franchise. These topics will regularly feature in this feed. Excited to get to know everyone better!
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
My bias is that I think child safety and wellbeing is one of the most exciting product and policy challenges to address in tech today. So be prepared for a lot of musings about this! For more of these insights, check out our newsletter, quire.substack.com.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
Protecting and empowering young people has been my focus for 15+ years at platforms like Meta, Twitter, Google, and Disney, where I led teams building products, policies, and global partnerships to support kids and teens online.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
I run www.vyanams.com, partnering with companies to design tech that protects and empowers Gen Alpha and Gen Z. From red-teaming AI models to developing product risk thresholds to decoding regulatory expectations, we’re all about creating safer digital spaces for kids and teens. 🚸💻
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
Hello, new followers! 👋🏾 I’m Vaishnavi—a safety strategist on a mission to create wiser, safer, and smarter tech for kids and teens. If you’re into trust & safety, ethical AI, or youth-focused safety by design, we’ve got lots to chat about. 💬
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Cassie Coccaro @cassiecoccaro.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
#trustandsafety friends this is such a great listen re: #safetybydesign. I loved @vaishnavi.bsky.social’s insights on SBD and safer online experiences for children and teens. Safe design benefits all, not just kids. m.youtube.com/watch?v=avkr...
m.youtube.com
E61 | Safety by Design with Vaishnavi J | Pondering AI
YouTube video by SAS Software
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
A new issue of Quire in which we cover Australia's social media ban, the global push for age-based restrictions, and what fractured public trust in tech platforms means for them going forward quire.substack.com/p/social-med...
quire.substack.com
Social media bans, updates, and debates
The fractured trust between tech and the public - and how we can rebuild
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
I love that TikTok audio is a source material for this work! So curious about this critique.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
Great post for parents navigating their kids' use of social media by the always thoughtful @aagh.bsky.social
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 13/11/2024
media.tenor.com
a man in a suit and tie says i can 't tell you how much i love that ..
ALT: a man in a suit and tie says i can 't tell you how much i love that ..
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 11/11/2024
The one name I remember was "communities of interest" and the proposal was for users to be able to create starter packs of great accounts that their followers might like to follow in bulk. Definitely has its safety risks too but it's a cool concept.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 11/11/2024
Starter packs were part of multiple hackweeks but never won! Which is a pity because they would have been immensely helpful.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 23/10/2024
Love the transparency!
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 13/08/2024
Feeling like a local - just clomped through a film set swearing mildly because they’ve blocked my street off and are obstructing my taxi (yes, taxi). Also, the muscle memory that just posts to X first is hard to correct. Tips welcome!
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 19/06/2024
🧒🏽 More thoughtful guidance around responsible design: Frameworks coming out of the UK and EU have guided companies in the changes they've made to protect youth wellbeing over the last four years. Attempts at public shaming have been significantly less successful.
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Vaishnavi @vaishnavi.bsky.social · 19/06/2024
🛍️ Companies, not consumers: Warning labels only pressurise parents to surveil their children, which is both impractical and infringes on key children's rights like privacy and access to information. Labels would not necessarily lead to better-designed products.
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