Chris Stokel-Walker

Discord is asking for your ID. The backlash is about more than privacy Critics say mandatory age verification reflects a deeper shift toward routine identity checks and digital surveillance.

From next month, Discord is treating all users as if they're underage - unless they hand over their ID or a face scan. The demand is provoking a backlash that highlights bigger concerns about age assurance. My latest for @fastcompany.com www.fastcompany.com/91490356/dis...

How The New York Times uses a custom AI tool to track the “manosphere” The daily podcast round-up is just one way the Times is adopting in-house AI transcription and summarization tools.

On the one hand, this is amazing and doing it a year ago showed amazing foresight. On the other hand, this is like the third project I had Claude Code spin up three weeks ago without knowing the NYT did it and I now, as a single freelancer, have the same thing www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/how-...

「無限スクロール」に終止符か　EUがTikTokに是正要求 - 日経デジタルガバナンス いまや多くのスマホユーザーにとって生活の一部となっている中国発の動画投稿アプリ「TikTok（ティックトック）」。原動力となったのは終わりのない動画フィード（無限スクロール）だと言われているが、欧州連合（EU）規制によってその勢いを大きくそがれる可能性が出てきた。NIKKEI Digital Governanceは海外在住のジャーナリストによるリポートをお届けしています。今回は英国を拠点に米ワイア...

What does Europe's intervention into TikTok's allegedly addictive design features mean for the future of social media and how regulators treat it? I dug in for @nikkei.com Digital Governance www.nikkei.com/prime/digita...

Elon Musk's ugly behaviour has destroyed his legacy The billionaire's fans argue that his genius excuses everything. But it’s not true, and history will prove it

The folks at @theipaper.com asked a series of writers to look at Elon Musk - and I examined how his personal behaviour has damaged his busienss legacy inews.co.uk/opinion/elon...

‘Infinite agent code’ is coming to break your monorepos The rise of agentic AI coding tools is causing a rethink of approaches to massive monorepos.

Social media has been aflame with rumours that big tech companies are refiguring their monorepos to try and tackle the imminent swarm of agentic AI coding - my latest for @leaddev.com looks at what's happening leaddev.com/technical-di...

Governments Are Using AI To Draft Legislation. What Could Possibly Go Wrong? The power of AI to parse public responses or draft legislation is recognized worldwide. But how should lawmakers and leaders use the tech?

How are governments integrating AI into their decision-making and legislative processes? I spoke to those on the front line, including the Estonian prime minister, for my latest for @techpolicypress.bsky.social techpolicy.press/governments-...

Governments Are Using AI To Draft Legislation. What Could Possibly Go Wrong? The power of AI to parse public responses or draft legislation is recognized worldwide. But how should lawmakers and leaders use the tech?

How are governments integrating AI into their decision-making and legislative processes? I spoke to those on the front line, including the Estonian prime minister, for my latest for @techpolicypress.bsky.social techpolicy.press/governments-...

‘Infinite agent code’ is coming to break your monorepos The rise of agentic AI coding tools is causing a rethink of approaches to massive monorepos.

Social media has been aflame with rumours that big tech companies are refiguring their monorepos to try and tackle the imminent swarm of agentic AI coding - my latest for @leaddev.com looks at what's happening leaddev.com/technical-di...

Elon Musk's ugly behaviour has destroyed his legacy The billionaire's fans argue that his genius excuses everything. But it’s not true, and history will prove it

The folks at @theipaper.com asked a series of writers to look at Elon Musk - and I examined how his personal behaviour has damaged his busienss legacy inews.co.uk/opinion/elon...

TikTok’s endless scroll is under threat in Europe EU regulators argue the app’s design encourages addiction, a finding that could force TikTok to change its feed and put other platforms on notice.

TikTok’s endless scroll is under threat in Europe.

“EU regulators argue the app’s design encourages addiction, a finding that could force TikTok to change its feed and put other platforms on notice”

By @stokel.bsky.social

www.fastcompany.com/91488579/tik...

TikTok’s endless scroll is under threat in Europe EU regulators argue the app’s design encourages addiction, a finding that could force TikTok to change its feed and put other platforms on notice.

The infinite scroll could soon disappear thanks to a blockbuster decision by the European Commission. For @fastcompany.com I looked at what's next www.fastcompany.com/91488579/tik...

The dark side of green technology: what do electric vehicles really cost? A powerful book reveals the corrupt deals and human exploitation behind the global scramble for strategic metals.

For @nature.com I reviewed a really good book about the unexpected impact our tech obsession has - on the people who extract critical minerals that make them work www.nature.com/articles/d41...

TikTok’s endless scroll is under threat in Europe EU regulators argue the app’s design encourages addiction, a finding that could force TikTok to change its feed and put other platforms on notice.

The infinite scroll could soon disappear thanks to a blockbuster decision by the European Commission. For @fastcompany.com I looked at what's next www.fastcompany.com/91488579/tik...

Has the EU killed doomscrolling? Grabbing the popcorn about this latest EU commission decision labelling TikTok's design as addictive & asking it to change it. As I told @techpolicypress.bsky.social this sets a precedent & I wonder if it will trigger copycat decisions.

The EU Wants to Label 'Addictive Design' a Systemic Risk Under the DSA The EU's preliminary findings represent a massive test for the Digital Services Act, with implications for all platforms, writes Chris Stokel-Walker.

What happens next now that the European Commission has found TikTok in breach of the Digital Services Act? My latest for @techpolicypress.bsky.social press unpicks the process - and what's likely to happen www.techpolicy.press/the-eu-wants...

Why so many meme coins fail almost immediately A cross-chain study of nearly 35,000 meme coins reveals extreme churn.

Thinking of investing in a memecoin? Think twice. One in 20 don't last a single day according to a massive new analysis I wrote up for @fastcompany.com
www.fastcompany.com/91487909/why...

U.S. political polarization started a lot earlier than you might expect Contrary to popular belief, the country began to split along political lines while Donald Trump was still a reality TV star, a new study suggests.

Try to pinpoint when political polarisation started in the US and I reckon you'd settle around 2016. But a new study suggests you can wind the clock back eight hours. by me for @fastcompany.com www.fastcompany.com/91487819/pol...

Inside the lab where scientists want to rewrite our DNA from scratch Artificial biological intelligence could change humanity forever. Chris Stokel-Walker reports

For @standard.co.uk.web.brid.gy I interviewed Adrian Woolfson about his lab that has grand visions of overhauling DNA from the ground up - and why bioengineering isn't something to be feared, but does need to be talked about www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/la...

The EU Wants to Label 'Addictive Design' a Systemic Risk Under the DSA The EU's preliminary findings represent a massive test for the Digital Services Act, with implications for all platforms, writes Chris Stokel-Walker.

What happens next now that the European Commission has found TikTok in breach of the Digital Services Act? My latest for @techpolicypress.bsky.social press unpicks the process - and what's likely to happen www.techpolicy.press/the-eu-wants...

U.S. political polarization started a lot earlier than you might expect Contrary to popular belief, the country began to split along political lines while Donald Trump was still a reality TV star, a new study suggests.

Try to pinpoint when political polarisation started in the US and I reckon you'd settle around 2016. But a new study suggests you can wind the clock back eight hours. by me for @fastcompany.com www.fastcompany.com/91487819/pol...

@tamaleaver.bsky.social Hey - got your DM but for some reason they're not working to load atm - yes, would love to, want to email me (stokel AT google's email thingy) to arrange?

quite - check your whatsapp!

@tamaleaver.bsky.social Hello - are you awake?

I mean they will undoubtedly appeal, because why on earth would you not, but still

I have just pitched Ramsha something on this fyi

TikTok hit with charges of breaching EU online content rules, app may have to change Social media app TikTok was charged by EU tech regulators on Friday with breaching EU online content rules through its addictive features and was told that it may have to change the design of its app ...

I think the European Union just killed off the concept of the infinite scroll (and with it, most apps that you use on a daily basis) www.reuters.com/business/med...

Inside the lab where scientists want to rewrite our DNA from scratch Artificial biological intelligence could change humanity forever. Chris Stokel-Walker reports

For @standard.co.uk.web.brid.gy I interviewed Adrian Woolfson about his lab that has grand visions of overhauling DNA from the ground up - and why bioengineering isn't something to be feared, but does need to be talked about www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/la...

Royal Colleges of Physicians and General Practitioners join the X exodus—why medical leaders are refusing to tweet A series of medical royal colleges are stepping back from Elon Musk’s social media platform X after issues of abuse and hatred. Three have left, and two more are reviewing their activity. Chris Stokel...

A lot of you resonated with this post about my choice to leave Twitter (thanks!). Now, I've spoken with @stokel.bsky.social for a British Medical Journal article about Royal Colleges and institutions leaving X. My thoughts here: www.bmj.com/content/392/...

Elon Musk wants to put 1 million satellites in orbit. Can Earth handle it? SpaceX has asked the FCC to approve a constellation of space-based data centers for AI training, a move that could overwhelm orbit and redefine what 'infrastructure' means in space.

The most eye-popping stat of the week? Elon Musk's petition to put a million satellites into orbit with his newly merged mega company. But is he going to do it, and what impact would it have if he did? My latest for @fastcompany.com www.fastcompany.com/91486343/elo...

A series of medical royal colleges are stepping back from Elon Musk’s social media platform X after issues of abuse and hatred.

Three have left, and two more are reviewing their activity. @stokel.bsky.social reports
www.bmj.com/content/392/...