Anna E. Cook
@annaecook.com
Award winning bog hag, product designer, accessibility advocate 💙
Website: https://annaecook.com/
Focus State newsletter: https://annaecook.com/newsletter
She/They
Website: https://annaecook.com/
Focus State newsletter: https://annaecook.com/newsletter
She/They
Please bear with me for this joke:
"I'm gonna give them the old one-two" – Binary code
"I'm gonna give them the old one-two" – Binary code
January 7, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Please bear with me for this joke:
"I'm gonna give them the old one-two" – Binary code
"I'm gonna give them the old one-two" – Binary code
Reposted by Anna E. Cook
“Meta shut down internal research into the mental health effects of Facebook after finding causal evidence that its products harmed users’ mental health”
It's worth keeping in mind with both of these approaches that content-mediated harm may not be picked up by broad patterns of use. This is what Meta seems to have sorted out internally as the key mechanism, and then promptly buried.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Meta buried 'causal' evidence of social media harm, US court filings allege
Rather than publishing the findings or pursuing additional research, Meta called off further work.
www.reuters.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:11 PM
“Meta shut down internal research into the mental health effects of Facebook after finding causal evidence that its products harmed users’ mental health”
Every day I see some horrifying thing (today it's ICE killing someone in Minneapolis) and then I have to look at my work computer like "okay let's review this cute little design here" like nothing is happening.
Sometimes the routine comforts me. Other times, it feels absurd and painful.
Sometimes the routine comforts me. Other times, it feels absurd and painful.
January 7, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Every day I see some horrifying thing (today it's ICE killing someone in Minneapolis) and then I have to look at my work computer like "okay let's review this cute little design here" like nothing is happening.
Sometimes the routine comforts me. Other times, it feels absurd and painful.
Sometimes the routine comforts me. Other times, it feels absurd and painful.
Reposted by Anna E. Cook
Elon Musk’s company puts the responsibility for Grok ‘undressing’ images on users who prompt the system. But that denies the many ways that engineers and executives shape generative AI outputs, writes Eryk Salvaggio.
Why Musk is Culpable in Grok's Undressing Fiasco | TechPolicy.Press
Grok’s functionality is not a black box, but the result of specific design decisions made by executives and engineers at xAI, writes Eryk Salvaggio.
www.techpolicy.press
January 7, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Elon Musk’s company puts the responsibility for Grok ‘undressing’ images on users who prompt the system. But that denies the many ways that engineers and executives shape generative AI outputs, writes Eryk Salvaggio.
Reposted by Anna E. Cook
To put this in perspective, here's the number of tech sector hires per year (JOLTS data).
2025 900,000
2024 972,000
2023 864,000
2022 1,260,000
2021 1,404,000
2020 1,080,000
2019 1,250,000
2018 1,220,000
2017 1,180,000
2016 1,150,000
www.anildash.com/2026/01/06/5...
2025 900,000
2024 972,000
2023 864,000
2022 1,260,000
2021 1,404,000
2020 1,080,000
2019 1,250,000
2018 1,220,000
2017 1,180,000
2016 1,150,000
www.anildash.com/2026/01/06/5...
500,000 tech workers have been laid off since ChatGPT was released - Anil Dash
A blog about making culture. Since 1999.
www.anildash.com
January 6, 2026 at 10:19 PM
To put this in perspective, here's the number of tech sector hires per year (JOLTS data).
2025 900,000
2024 972,000
2023 864,000
2022 1,260,000
2021 1,404,000
2020 1,080,000
2019 1,250,000
2018 1,220,000
2017 1,180,000
2016 1,150,000
www.anildash.com/2026/01/06/5...
2025 900,000
2024 972,000
2023 864,000
2022 1,260,000
2021 1,404,000
2020 1,080,000
2019 1,250,000
2018 1,220,000
2017 1,180,000
2016 1,150,000
www.anildash.com/2026/01/06/5...
Reposted by Anna E. Cook
What do these companies have in common?
-Cigna
-Comcast
-General Mills
-Allstate
-Marriott
-Hilton
-Walmart
-Amazon
-Microsoft
-Meta
All promised after January 6, 2021 to stop funding lawmakers who tried to overturn the 2020 election.
And all have broken that promise.
-Cigna
-Comcast
-General Mills
-Allstate
-Marriott
-Hilton
-Walmart
-Amazon
-Microsoft
-Meta
All promised after January 6, 2021 to stop funding lawmakers who tried to overturn the 2020 election.
And all have broken that promise.
January 6, 2026 at 5:15 PM
What do these companies have in common?
-Cigna
-Comcast
-General Mills
-Allstate
-Marriott
-Hilton
-Walmart
-Amazon
-Microsoft
-Meta
All promised after January 6, 2021 to stop funding lawmakers who tried to overturn the 2020 election.
And all have broken that promise.
-Cigna
-Comcast
-General Mills
-Allstate
-Marriott
-Hilton
-Walmart
-Amazon
-Microsoft
-Meta
All promised after January 6, 2021 to stop funding lawmakers who tried to overturn the 2020 election.
And all have broken that promise.
The White House marked the 5th anniversary of the Capitol attack by releasing a webpage that claims the event was a Democratic fabrication and criticizes former Vice President Mike Pence
Make no mistake, they are using AI to generate propaganda campaigns fueled by lies.
We are not safe in America.
Make no mistake, they are using AI to generate propaganda campaigns fueled by lies.
We are not safe in America.
January 7, 2026 at 2:32 AM
The White House marked the 5th anniversary of the Capitol attack by releasing a webpage that claims the event was a Democratic fabrication and criticizes former Vice President Mike Pence
Make no mistake, they are using AI to generate propaganda campaigns fueled by lies.
We are not safe in America.
Make no mistake, they are using AI to generate propaganda campaigns fueled by lies.
We are not safe in America.
Reposted by Anna E. Cook
I just found out that our stuff is being sold on Amazon - WITHOUT our consent or any ability to opt out bc Amazon is just scraping artist’s websites and putting our shit in their search results. Again, without our permission.
December 30, 2025 at 10:13 AM
I just found out that our stuff is being sold on Amazon - WITHOUT our consent or any ability to opt out bc Amazon is just scraping artist’s websites and putting our shit in their search results. Again, without our permission.
Thank you for wanting to share it 🥺
Focus State editions will be posted on the feed on my site, you can see the first edition there and share! annaecook.com/focus-state
Focus State editions will be posted on the feed on my site, you can see the first edition there and share! annaecook.com/focus-state
January 6, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Thank you for wanting to share it 🥺
Focus State editions will be posted on the feed on my site, you can see the first edition there and share! annaecook.com/focus-state
Focus State editions will be posted on the feed on my site, you can see the first edition there and share! annaecook.com/focus-state
Kicking off the new year thinking about metrics, inspired by @spavel.bsky.social
This piece explores why accessibility and design fail when we measure scores instead of real use and what works better.
Longer read, but hopefully helpful:
annaecook.com/writing/2026...
This piece explores why accessibility and design fail when we measure scores instead of real use and what works better.
Longer read, but hopefully helpful:
annaecook.com/writing/2026...
Designing accessibility for real use, not dashboards — Anna E. Cook
This piece explores why accessibility and design so often break down when success is measured before it’s clearly defined. It looks at how score-driven metrics can distort decision-making, and why gro...
annaecook.com
January 6, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Kicking off the new year thinking about metrics, inspired by @spavel.bsky.social
This piece explores why accessibility and design fail when we measure scores instead of real use and what works better.
Longer read, but hopefully helpful:
annaecook.com/writing/2026...
This piece explores why accessibility and design fail when we measure scores instead of real use and what works better.
Longer read, but hopefully helpful:
annaecook.com/writing/2026...
Reposted by Anna E. Cook
"What is the ROI of UX?" is shaped like a question, but it is actually two hostile premises:
1) that UX is sufficiently marginal for its value to be openly questioned
2) that the asker has the authority to judge this question, and practitioners are merely consulted on it, as a matter of courtesy
1) that UX is sufficiently marginal for its value to be openly questioned
2) that the asker has the authority to judge this question, and practitioners are merely consulted on it, as a matter of courtesy
January 6, 2026 at 1:27 PM
"What is the ROI of UX?" is shaped like a question, but it is actually two hostile premises:
1) that UX is sufficiently marginal for its value to be openly questioned
2) that the asker has the authority to judge this question, and practitioners are merely consulted on it, as a matter of courtesy
1) that UX is sufficiently marginal for its value to be openly questioned
2) that the asker has the authority to judge this question, and practitioners are merely consulted on it, as a matter of courtesy
Stephen Miller reminds me of the far right boys in my history and debate classes in school.
They too seemed incapable of reasoned debate or factual arguments.
I am certain that Miller similarly pouts and whines anytime he loses, which I am sure is often.
He’d be pitiable if he were not so vile.
They too seemed incapable of reasoned debate or factual arguments.
I am certain that Miller similarly pouts and whines anytime he loses, which I am sure is often.
He’d be pitiable if he were not so vile.
January 6, 2026 at 5:43 AM
Stephen Miller reminds me of the far right boys in my history and debate classes in school.
They too seemed incapable of reasoned debate or factual arguments.
I am certain that Miller similarly pouts and whines anytime he loses, which I am sure is often.
He’d be pitiable if he were not so vile.
They too seemed incapable of reasoned debate or factual arguments.
I am certain that Miller similarly pouts and whines anytime he loses, which I am sure is often.
He’d be pitiable if he were not so vile.
Reposted by Anna E. Cook
my 75yo mother told me last night that she’s planning to delete Instagram and Facebook because she’s sick of not being able to tell what’s AI and what’s not, and I genuinely don’t think tech companies have reckoned with this kind of move as an actual possibility
January 6, 2026 at 3:12 AM
my 75yo mother told me last night that she’s planning to delete Instagram and Facebook because she’s sick of not being able to tell what’s AI and what’s not, and I genuinely don’t think tech companies have reckoned with this kind of move as an actual possibility
Reposted by Anna E. Cook
We don't have the disability education infrastructure to support a growing number of kids who are going to be disabled because their parents didn't get them vaccines against illnesses that can lead to the development of disabilities.
January 6, 2026 at 1:20 AM
We don't have the disability education infrastructure to support a growing number of kids who are going to be disabled because their parents didn't get them vaccines against illnesses that can lead to the development of disabilities.
Reposted by Anna E. Cook
The number one thing I've been hearing from people in tech lately is, basically, "How the hell am I supposed to work in this industry anymore?" Though most folks are kind of afraid to say it out loud. So I wrote about how to think about it: www.anildash.com/2026/01/05/a...
How the hell are you supposed to have a career in tech in 2026? - Anil Dash
A blog about making culture. Since 1999.
www.anildash.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:37 PM
The number one thing I've been hearing from people in tech lately is, basically, "How the hell am I supposed to work in this industry anymore?" Though most folks are kind of afraid to say it out loud. So I wrote about how to think about it: www.anildash.com/2026/01/05/a...
Anytime I start writing an accessibility article I end up with like 2,000 words and start going "no one is going to want to finish this it's too much" and I quit.
It's why I have about 10 unpublished pieces from the past few years where I am annoyingly thorough. Ugh
It's why I have about 10 unpublished pieces from the past few years where I am annoyingly thorough. Ugh
January 5, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Anytime I start writing an accessibility article I end up with like 2,000 words and start going "no one is going to want to finish this it's too much" and I quit.
It's why I have about 10 unpublished pieces from the past few years where I am annoyingly thorough. Ugh
It's why I have about 10 unpublished pieces from the past few years where I am annoyingly thorough. Ugh
Reposted by Anna E. Cook
VCs fund companies who get on the latest hype train. But when the product doesn't solve any real problems, showing "progress" is impossible!
So a lot of people are going to come back to the office this week and set goals based on what activity is easiest to measure, rather than what is important.
So a lot of people are going to come back to the office this week and set goals based on what activity is easiest to measure, rather than what is important.
Your metrics are an avoidance strategy
Being able to quantify outcomes doesn't make them meaningful. Moving past artificial metrics requires building shared intention with colleagues.
productpicnic.beehiiv.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:56 PM
VCs fund companies who get on the latest hype train. But when the product doesn't solve any real problems, showing "progress" is impossible!
So a lot of people are going to come back to the office this week and set goals based on what activity is easiest to measure, rather than what is important.
So a lot of people are going to come back to the office this week and set goals based on what activity is easiest to measure, rather than what is important.
Reposted by Anna E. Cook
Happy New Year! As I continue to work on longer-term articles, I am still very much open to scoops about disability happenings in the US government. My email is jmetraux@motherjones.com (don't use your work email) and my Signal is juliametraux.49.
January 5, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Happy New Year! As I continue to work on longer-term articles, I am still very much open to scoops about disability happenings in the US government. My email is jmetraux@motherjones.com (don't use your work email) and my Signal is juliametraux.49.
A bot that responds to every “are you surprised” comment with fozzie bear going waka waka so they too can get a pointless response
January 5, 2026 at 3:55 PM
A bot that responds to every “are you surprised” comment with fozzie bear going waka waka so they too can get a pointless response
I have a product idea that can save people money, give them their attention back, bring people closer together, divest in evil corporations, and help maintain healthy cognition/media literacy.
I call it “reading books and going to libraries”
I call it “reading books and going to libraries”
January 5, 2026 at 4:43 AM
I have a product idea that can save people money, give them their attention back, bring people closer together, divest in evil corporations, and help maintain healthy cognition/media literacy.
I call it “reading books and going to libraries”
I call it “reading books and going to libraries”
In Feb, I wrote a small note to myself for what I’d do the next day, and I kept it to remind myself of how I hold on in these dark moments.
Perhaps you may find it helpful today
“Tomorrow
Books in quiet
Little gardens
Farmers markets
Community, friends
Art, crafts, care
Little love
Carry on”
Perhaps you may find it helpful today
“Tomorrow
Books in quiet
Little gardens
Farmers markets
Community, friends
Art, crafts, care
Little love
Carry on”
Rough vibes on this website today, likely because people feel Hopeless and Helpless Because Can't Stop It and No One Who Is Supposed To Is Trying To So Now We're Fighting Each Other™. I recommend activities such as book, or potentially instrument if you like instrument, or even do talk on phone.
January 5, 2026 at 12:28 AM
In Feb, I wrote a small note to myself for what I’d do the next day, and I kept it to remind myself of how I hold on in these dark moments.
Perhaps you may find it helpful today
“Tomorrow
Books in quiet
Little gardens
Farmers markets
Community, friends
Art, crafts, care
Little love
Carry on”
Perhaps you may find it helpful today
“Tomorrow
Books in quiet
Little gardens
Farmers markets
Community, friends
Art, crafts, care
Little love
Carry on”
Reposted by Anna E. Cook
tech companies using society as a staging server
January 4, 2026 at 4:48 PM
tech companies using society as a staging server
Reposted by Anna E. Cook
this is my friend Steve Bailey. We met at one of the YoYo festivals, we were lodged at the same place, and we've been friends since. I am really stoked that he is sharing this stuff because "not all disabilities are visible" is something people say, 1/3
deadline.com/2026/01/grey...
deadline.com/2026/01/grey...
‘Grey’s Anatomy’s Steven W. Bailey Reveals Neuromuscular Disorder, Wheelchair Use: “Same Actor … Now With Wheels”
A familiar face to fans of 'Grey's Anatomy', Steven W. Bailey is opening up about a five-year struggle with his own health.
deadline.com
January 4, 2026 at 8:54 PM
this is my friend Steve Bailey. We met at one of the YoYo festivals, we were lodged at the same place, and we've been friends since. I am really stoked that he is sharing this stuff because "not all disabilities are visible" is something people say, 1/3
deadline.com/2026/01/grey...
deadline.com/2026/01/grey...
I’ve already been divesting in oil for a environmental reasons but now I just wanna keep doing it out of spite.
January 4, 2026 at 7:13 PM
I’ve already been divesting in oil for a environmental reasons but now I just wanna keep doing it out of spite.