Cyberlyra
@cyberlyra.bsky.social
Princeton Sociology Prof; ethnographer of NASA; tech policy; digitalSTS; ethics and critical technical practice; mobile Linux. Conscientious objector to personal data economy.
https://janet.vertesi.com
https://www.optoutproject.net
@cyberlyra@hachyderm.io
https://janet.vertesi.com
https://www.optoutproject.net
@cyberlyra@hachyderm.io
Reposted by Cyberlyra
I'm co-chairing the Society for Social Studies of Science @4sweb.bsky.social Conference in Toronto, Oct 2026. #STS #scipol #innovation
Theme: "TechnoPower • Technoscientific Futures".
Open panel submissions portal is open! ls!
Deadline: 2nd February 2026
www.4sonline.org/about_the_co...
Theme: "TechnoPower • Technoscientific Futures".
Open panel submissions portal is open! ls!
Deadline: 2nd February 2026
www.4sonline.org/about_the_co...
About the Conference
www.4sonline.org
January 14, 2026 at 4:12 PM
I'm co-chairing the Society for Social Studies of Science @4sweb.bsky.social Conference in Toronto, Oct 2026. #STS #scipol #innovation
Theme: "TechnoPower • Technoscientific Futures".
Open panel submissions portal is open! ls!
Deadline: 2nd February 2026
www.4sonline.org/about_the_co...
Theme: "TechnoPower • Technoscientific Futures".
Open panel submissions portal is open! ls!
Deadline: 2nd February 2026
www.4sonline.org/about_the_co...
Reposted by Cyberlyra
Act: I am being shown a specific political meme.
Scene: In an app designed to keep me scrolling.
Agent: An algorithm optimized for engagement, not truth.
Agency: By using my past data to trigger a specific emotion.
Purpose:To keep me on the platform.
#AcademicSky #CriticalAI #MediaEcology 🧵
Scene: In an app designed to keep me scrolling.
Agent: An algorithm optimized for engagement, not truth.
Agency: By using my past data to trigger a specific emotion.
Purpose:To keep me on the platform.
#AcademicSky #CriticalAI #MediaEcology 🧵
January 10, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Act: I am being shown a specific political meme.
Scene: In an app designed to keep me scrolling.
Agent: An algorithm optimized for engagement, not truth.
Agency: By using my past data to trigger a specific emotion.
Purpose:To keep me on the platform.
#AcademicSky #CriticalAI #MediaEcology 🧵
Scene: In an app designed to keep me scrolling.
Agent: An algorithm optimized for engagement, not truth.
Agency: By using my past data to trigger a specific emotion.
Purpose:To keep me on the platform.
#AcademicSky #CriticalAI #MediaEcology 🧵
My first editorial in @science.org was published today: what to do (and, importantly, what NOT to do) when your grants are suddenly cut or research funding is uncertain. Please read and share!
#AcademicSky #Science #Astronomy
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#AcademicSky #Science #Astronomy
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Weathering budget cuts: Lessons from NASA
The current uncertainty and cuts to science funding affect universities, research facilities, and laboratories across the United States, but this situation is not unprecedented. Under pressure to fund...
www.science.org
January 8, 2026 at 11:28 PM
My first editorial in @science.org was published today: what to do (and, importantly, what NOT to do) when your grants are suddenly cut or research funding is uncertain. Please read and share!
#AcademicSky #Science #Astronomy
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#AcademicSky #Science #Astronomy
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Step up to #savescience! This week's minibus bill includes Congressional requests that undo the President's Office massive cuts to #science -- 1-4% reduction, not 50-55%, stops to reorgs, shuttered institutes and agencies. Call your representative and voice your support! #academicsky #NASA #NSF #EPA
January 7, 2026 at 5:11 AM
Step up to #savescience! This week's minibus bill includes Congressional requests that undo the President's Office massive cuts to #science -- 1-4% reduction, not 50-55%, stops to reorgs, shuttered institutes and agencies. Call your representative and voice your support! #academicsky #NASA #NSF #EPA
also geez louise I forgot how much I absolutely detest social networking systems. truly, with the fire of a thousand suns. my life is so, so much richer and better without. yours could be too.
#academicsky #optout
#academicsky #optout
January 2, 2026 at 6:13 AM
also geez louise I forgot how much I absolutely detest social networking systems. truly, with the fire of a thousand suns. my life is so, so much richer and better without. yours could be too.
#academicsky #optout
#academicsky #optout
I can't help y'all get off these toxic systems if I stay away entirely. So, I signed up for LinkedIn*. If you got an invitation from me then yes, it is actually me. If you haven't yet, that's cos I can only handle a few minutes of MSM at a time.
*airgapped, no contacts, no app, dedicated browser.
*airgapped, no contacts, no app, dedicated browser.
January 2, 2026 at 6:11 AM
I can't help y'all get off these toxic systems if I stay away entirely. So, I signed up for LinkedIn*. If you got an invitation from me then yes, it is actually me. If you haven't yet, that's cos I can only handle a few minutes of MSM at a time.
*airgapped, no contacts, no app, dedicated browser.
*airgapped, no contacts, no app, dedicated browser.
December 18, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Reposted by Cyberlyra
I was so taken with @cyberlyra.bsky.social 's talk that I had to write an entire blog post (about it, but also about what the talk tells us about imagination and the AI moment).
In a totally old-school unfashionable way, I'm not going to soundbite it here. RTWT: cntr.brown.edu/news/2025-12...
In a totally old-school unfashionable way, I'm not going to soundbite it here. RTWT: cntr.brown.edu/news/2025-12...
December 11, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I was so taken with @cyberlyra.bsky.social 's talk that I had to write an entire blog post (about it, but also about what the talk tells us about imagination and the AI moment).
In a totally old-school unfashionable way, I'm not going to soundbite it here. RTWT: cntr.brown.edu/news/2025-12...
In a totally old-school unfashionable way, I'm not going to soundbite it here. RTWT: cntr.brown.edu/news/2025-12...
Hey we have some kinda fantasy about space, we're just gonna talk out of our asses like we know anything about it, tell you we will do something impossible that VIOLATES PHYSICS but don't correct us when we're telling a good story to our investors! cos that's what this is all about.
It is intensely funny to me that tech bro CEOs on an annual salary of 15 petabillion dollars think data centres can go in space because it's very cold but actually they would get obscenely hot because heat won't radiate into the vacuum of space
taranis.ie/datacenters-...
taranis.ie/datacenters-...
December 11, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Hey we have some kinda fantasy about space, we're just gonna talk out of our asses like we know anything about it, tell you we will do something impossible that VIOLATES PHYSICS but don't correct us when we're telling a good story to our investors! cos that's what this is all about.
Reposted by Cyberlyra
Bullshit.
“In a decade, Pichai said that it'll be normal to build extraterrestrial data centers”.
And he’s definitely not the only one speaking about the *necessity* of data centers in space. Apparently the planet is not big enough for their scaling “laws”.
www.businessinsider.com/google-proje...
And he’s definitely not the only one speaking about the *necessity* of data centers in space. Apparently the planet is not big enough for their scaling “laws”.
www.businessinsider.com/google-proje...
Sundar Pichai says Google will start building data centers in space, powered by the sun, in 2027
Google announced Project Suncatcher earlier this month. CEO Sundar Pichai now says it could begin building data centers in space as soon as 2027.
www.businessinsider.com
December 11, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Bullshit.
Reposted by Cyberlyra
New at @comicsjournal.bsky.social: A decade ago, Katie Pryde and her shop BOOKS WITH PICTURES began championing diversity in comics retail with the motto "Comics for Everyone." Now, she talks her near-miss with financial crisis, what she's learned, and what the future the holds.
Books With Pictures' Katie Pryde on her store and comics retail: 'I don’t think comics are going anywhere' - The Comics Journal
Zach Rabiroff talks with Katie Pryde of Portland’s Books With Pictures about surviving debt, navigating comics, and what it takes for a diverse retailer to survive.
www.tcj.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:21 PM
New at @comicsjournal.bsky.social: A decade ago, Katie Pryde and her shop BOOKS WITH PICTURES began championing diversity in comics retail with the motto "Comics for Everyone." Now, she talks her near-miss with financial crisis, what she's learned, and what the future the holds.
Had so much fun this weekend writing a paper with @zephoria.bsky.social ---and playing @mmasnick.bsky.social's One Billion Users card game about running a social media company. Kudos on "The Hellsite" being one of the options ...
December 9, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Had so much fun this weekend writing a paper with @zephoria.bsky.social ---and playing @mmasnick.bsky.social's One Billion Users card game about running a social media company. Kudos on "The Hellsite" being one of the options ...
hey #academicsky, I'm super excited about this talk I gave at #umd about how NASA helps us imagine #AI futures differently. Keen to hear what you think!
Here are my Ten Provocations for Studying and Crafting Reponsible Human-AI Teams (or, what 20 years of working with #NASA taught me about how we could be doing #AI completely differently, and much, much better):
youtu.be/28pkHL4IHE4?...
youtu.be/28pkHL4IHE4?...
OTTRS Speaker Series: Janet Vertesi - November 21, 2025 | UMD INFO College
YouTube video by UMD INFO College
youtu.be
December 9, 2025 at 2:22 AM
hey #academicsky, I'm super excited about this talk I gave at #umd about how NASA helps us imagine #AI futures differently. Keen to hear what you think!
Here are my Ten Provocations for Studying and Crafting Reponsible Human-AI Teams (or, what 20 years of working with #NASA taught me about how we could be doing #AI completely differently, and much, much better):
youtu.be/28pkHL4IHE4?...
youtu.be/28pkHL4IHE4?...
OTTRS Speaker Series: Janet Vertesi - November 21, 2025 | UMD INFO College
YouTube video by UMD INFO College
youtu.be
December 8, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Here are my Ten Provocations for Studying and Crafting Reponsible Human-AI Teams (or, what 20 years of working with #NASA taught me about how we could be doing #AI completely differently, and much, much better):
youtu.be/28pkHL4IHE4?...
youtu.be/28pkHL4IHE4?...
Reposted by Cyberlyra
I would say this because I edited it but @mshannahmurphy.bsky.social's piece on tech bros founding their own for-profit cities really is unmissable reading www.ft.com/content/b127...
Tech elites are starting their own for-profit cities
They want to escape from regulation and ‘failing’ democracy — but are they more opportunistic than libertarian?
www.ft.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:30 AM
I would say this because I edited it but @mshannahmurphy.bsky.social's piece on tech bros founding their own for-profit cities really is unmissable reading www.ft.com/content/b127...
Reposted by Cyberlyra
“Cloud infrastructure from American companies, whether located in Europe or Canada, is incompatible with sovereignty…These companies fall under US jurisdiction &, therefore, are subject to the 2018 CLOUD Act, which enables US authorities to access data they hold, even if that data is stored abroad.”
Canada is waking up to the risks of relying on US tech giants for its digital infrastructure, writes Emily Osborne. As Canada pursues a sovereign cloud, clarity and control —not marketing—should guide the path to digital independence.
What Does a 'Sovereign Cloud' Really Mean? | TechPolicy.Press
Emily Osborne discusses approaches to building a "sovereign cloud" for Canada.
buff.ly
October 25, 2025 at 4:13 PM
“Cloud infrastructure from American companies, whether located in Europe or Canada, is incompatible with sovereignty…These companies fall under US jurisdiction &, therefore, are subject to the 2018 CLOUD Act, which enables US authorities to access data they hold, even if that data is stored abroad.”
Hey @denrsch.bsky.social we were right!
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/t...
We predicted this and named "pre-automation" as a business strategy in this paper: sociologica.unibo.it/article/view...
#preautomation #called-it #robots #ai #automation #strategy
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/t...
We predicted this and named "pre-automation" as a business strategy in this paper: sociologica.unibo.it/article/view...
#preautomation #called-it #robots #ai #automation #strategy
Amazon Plans to Replace More Than Half a Million Jobs With Robots
www.nytimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Hey @denrsch.bsky.social we were right!
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/t...
We predicted this and named "pre-automation" as a business strategy in this paper: sociologica.unibo.it/article/view...
#preautomation #called-it #robots #ai #automation #strategy
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/t...
We predicted this and named "pre-automation" as a business strategy in this paper: sociologica.unibo.it/article/view...
#preautomation #called-it #robots #ai #automation #strategy
If you're not familiar with @pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy's work here is a great primer. Who broke the internet and why. From capitalism to surveillance to AI and the broligarchy... it's a #TrueStory Time to fight back.
Join the resistance #optout #reclaimtech
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Join the resistance #optout #reclaimtech
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Way past its prime: how did Amazon get so rubbish?
Sick of scrolling through junk results, AI-generated ads and links to lookalike products? The author and activist behind the term ‘enshittification’ explains what’s gone wrong with the internet – and ...
www.theguardian.com
October 5, 2025 at 8:10 PM
If you're not familiar with @pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy's work here is a great primer. Who broke the internet and why. From capitalism to surveillance to AI and the broligarchy... it's a #TrueStory Time to fight back.
Join the resistance #optout #reclaimtech
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Join the resistance #optout #reclaimtech
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Sounds like it's a good time to remind BlueSky users that you can leave ,even migrate. We can help.
www.reclaimcontrol.tech -- Discord and Signal chats to help you break free
www.optoutproject.net -- Cybercleanse and reviews of alternatives
#optout #posterstrike
www.reclaimcontrol.tech -- Discord and Signal chats to help you break free
www.optoutproject.net -- Cybercleanse and reviews of alternatives
#optout #posterstrike
Reclaim Control | over your technology, your devices, your data, your digital life.
www.reclaimcontrol.tech
October 3, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Sounds like it's a good time to remind BlueSky users that you can leave ,even migrate. We can help.
www.reclaimcontrol.tech -- Discord and Signal chats to help you break free
www.optoutproject.net -- Cybercleanse and reviews of alternatives
#optout #posterstrike
www.reclaimcontrol.tech -- Discord and Signal chats to help you break free
www.optoutproject.net -- Cybercleanse and reviews of alternatives
#optout #posterstrike
Apparently not having a Google scholar page is the kiss of death for academic careers, so tonight was my first login to a Gsuite address in 8+ years to "claim" one.
I deeply resent that we have moved to this model for discoverability and relevance.
scholar.google.com/citations?hl...
I deeply resent that we have moved to this model for discoverability and relevance.
scholar.google.com/citations?hl...
scholar.google.com
October 2, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Apparently not having a Google scholar page is the kiss of death for academic careers, so tonight was my first login to a Gsuite address in 8+ years to "claim" one.
I deeply resent that we have moved to this model for discoverability and relevance.
scholar.google.com/citations?hl...
I deeply resent that we have moved to this model for discoverability and relevance.
scholar.google.com/citations?hl...
#stopthescroll is coming up on Wednesday, the first of the month. What will you to interrupt your Big Tech habits? Find inspiration here:
www.optoutproject.net/stop-the-scr...
#reclaimtech #optout
www.optoutproject.net/stop-the-scr...
#reclaimtech #optout
What to do on your (social media) vacation?
Stop the Scroll I teach a class at Princeton called the Sociology of the Internet. Famously, one of the first…
www.optoutproject.net
September 30, 2025 at 12:21 AM
#stopthescroll is coming up on Wednesday, the first of the month. What will you to interrupt your Big Tech habits? Find inspiration here:
www.optoutproject.net/stop-the-scr...
#reclaimtech #optout
www.optoutproject.net/stop-the-scr...
#reclaimtech #optout
Reposted by Cyberlyra
Look here, @cyberlyra.bsky.social is at it again!
September 4, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Look here, @cyberlyra.bsky.social is at it again!
Heads up, #4S2025 !
So excited for my Making and Doing workshop on "How to Get Off," teaching y'all how to evade Big Tech, on Thursday 1:30-3PM!
Then reflections on long-term fieldwork on Friday at 1:30PM
And my TECH/MONEY talk Friday at 3:40 on why NASA goes over budget ...
See you in Seattle!
So excited for my Making and Doing workshop on "How to Get Off," teaching y'all how to evade Big Tech, on Thursday 1:30-3PM!
Then reflections on long-term fieldwork on Friday at 1:30PM
And my TECH/MONEY talk Friday at 3:40 on why NASA goes over budget ...
See you in Seattle!
September 1, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Heads up, #4S2025 !
So excited for my Making and Doing workshop on "How to Get Off," teaching y'all how to evade Big Tech, on Thursday 1:30-3PM!
Then reflections on long-term fieldwork on Friday at 1:30PM
And my TECH/MONEY talk Friday at 3:40 on why NASA goes over budget ...
See you in Seattle!
So excited for my Making and Doing workshop on "How to Get Off," teaching y'all how to evade Big Tech, on Thursday 1:30-3PM!
Then reflections on long-term fieldwork on Friday at 1:30PM
And my TECH/MONEY talk Friday at 3:40 on why NASA goes over budget ...
See you in Seattle!
This month we #ChuckZuck from our devices and our lives! Choose a Zuckerverse product and delete it. Reclaim your data. Reclaim your life. Instructions and more here -- follow along! Let's do this TOGETHER!
It's time to #ChuckZuck! Join us this month by deleting one of your Zuckerverse accounts -- #Facebook, #Instagram, #WhatsApp, #Oculus or #Threads -- and spread the social movement to #reclaimcontrol from #toxictech !
Here's how to disentangle: www.optoutproject.net/social-media...
Here's how to disentangle: www.optoutproject.net/social-media...
Day Ten: Leave Social Media
A social, not just technical, toolkit There are a lot of posts out the on the internet that will teach…
www.optoutproject.net
August 3, 2025 at 6:26 AM
This month we #ChuckZuck from our devices and our lives! Choose a Zuckerverse product and delete it. Reclaim your data. Reclaim your life. Instructions and more here -- follow along! Let's do this TOGETHER!
Reposted by Cyberlyra
Your Data Will Be Used Against You. appleinsider.com/articles/25/...
Apple Watch sensors are so good, it could provide the first pregnancy indicators
Apple's latest research shows that using a combination of Apple Watch sensors and all Apple Health data, results in a remarkably accurate pregnancy detector.
appleinsider.com
July 25, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Your Data Will Be Used Against You. appleinsider.com/articles/25/...