Steve Parks
@steveparks.me
Geeking out about writing, entrepreneurship, journalism, food, tech — or ideally a combination.
European, living/writing in France & running a business in UK.
https://www.steveparks.me
European, living/writing in France & running a business in UK.
https://www.steveparks.me
Pinned
Steve Parks
@steveparks.me
· May 7
I'm working on a Digital Detox.
It's a process of reviewing online services I use to prune out those with bad business practices, or who fund/support fascism and hate.
In this thread I'll collate my blog posts in which I document my findings.
Hopefully it can be useful to you too.
#DigitalDetox
It's a process of reviewing online services I use to prune out those with bad business practices, or who fund/support fascism and hate.
In this thread I'll collate my blog posts in which I document my findings.
Hopefully it can be useful to you too.
#DigitalDetox
Catching up on the latest Slow Horses.
Can’t think of many authors who could be as consistently delighted with their adaptations. Note perfect all the way through.
Can’t think of many authors who could be as consistently delighted with their adaptations. Note perfect all the way through.
November 10, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Catching up on the latest Slow Horses.
Can’t think of many authors who could be as consistently delighted with their adaptations. Note perfect all the way through.
Can’t think of many authors who could be as consistently delighted with their adaptations. Note perfect all the way through.
“Could”
Trump is positioning himself as the savior of TikTok—and in turn, looking to get more young Americans supporting the MAGA movement. However, his plans for the new domestically owned TikTok could turn the app into a new propaganda tool. From Thomas Riley:
trib.al/ajpOUwd
trib.al/ajpOUwd
Can Trump Turn TikTok MAGA? - The American Prospect
After making the case that TikTok was a national-security threat, Trump did a 180 in the weeks leading up to his re-election. The president has since admitted that he would like to see the platform become “100 percent MAGA.”
trib.al
November 10, 2025 at 7:34 PM
“Could”
Research that shows why people like Robbie Gibb and his backers were so desperate to grab the reins at the BBC and harness it to their interests... and why we must protect it and restore it to health
As the BBC faces fresh scrutiny, what does our research say about it?
Here's an updated version of a piece by @rasmuskleis.bsky.social @annisch.bsky.social @richardfletcher.bsky.social and Craig T. Robertson originally published in 2020
📱 Full piece here buff.ly/iLaMzHa
🧵 4 findings in thread
Here's an updated version of a piece by @rasmuskleis.bsky.social @annisch.bsky.social @richardfletcher.bsky.social and Craig T. Robertson originally published in 2020
📱 Full piece here buff.ly/iLaMzHa
🧵 4 findings in thread
November 10, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Research that shows why people like Robbie Gibb and his backers were so desperate to grab the reins at the BBC and harness it to their interests... and why we must protect it and restore it to health
Reposted by Steve Parks
Of course, the BBC didn’t even *need* to edit the video of Trump’s speech to make the point that he was inciting insurrection. His second impeachment was for doing exactly that.
November 10, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Of course, the BBC didn’t even *need* to edit the video of Trump’s speech to make the point that he was inciting insurrection. His second impeachment was for doing exactly that.
Reposted by Steve Parks
Unfortunately still true bsky.app/profile/adam...
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
November 10, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Unfortunately still true bsky.app/profile/adam...
Reposted by Steve Parks
In the interest of 'balance' at the BBC, can't we have a counter-coup to turf out Tory embed Robbie Gibb?
November 10, 2025 at 12:27 PM
In the interest of 'balance' at the BBC, can't we have a counter-coup to turf out Tory embed Robbie Gibb?
Reposted by Steve Parks
I don't often call for resignations. But Sir Robbie Gibb's role in the BBC boardroom coup makes his continued role there untenable. He must resign or be removed
‘Gibb’s supporters say he is trying to save the BBC from itself; he was also heard last year to say that if he didn’t get his way, he would “blow the place up”.’
“a group of politically-appointed directors has forced the hand of Samir Shah,the chair, and the departure of the two most senior people in the organisation. Their resignations should be called out for what they are: political interference..”1/
November 10, 2025 at 12:24 PM
I don't often call for resignations. But Sir Robbie Gibb's role in the BBC boardroom coup makes his continued role there untenable. He must resign or be removed
The entire BBC board is being booked as we speak…
BREAKING: BBC has officially announced the second series of The Celebrity Traitors. It will air in 2026.
November 10, 2025 at 12:00 PM
The entire BBC board is being booked as we speak…
Reposted by Steve Parks
This is actually… worse than the BBC edit?
I do like how, in the bit of Prescott's memo where he criticises the BBC for editing together different parts of Trump's speech, his own quote of "what Trump actually said" is... edited together from different parts of his speech.
November 10, 2025 at 11:39 AM
This is actually… worse than the BBC edit?
Reposted by Steve Parks
I suspect there's also a strong element here of far too many journalists and BBC managers spending too much time on X and getting a wholly misleading impression of how big a story the Trump edits were. They're excessively influenced by right-wing activist opinion, and particularly US opinion.
The BBC is hopeless at reporting on itself. The idea that a minor, if misleading, edit is the most serious crisis in its history is ludicrous self-absorption, even allowing for the context of a Faragite desire to break it. It's certainly not as serious as the Iraq-Gilligan crisis.
November 10, 2025 at 9:48 AM
I suspect there's also a strong element here of far too many journalists and BBC managers spending too much time on X and getting a wholly misleading impression of how big a story the Trump edits were. They're excessively influenced by right-wing activist opinion, and particularly US opinion.
Reposted by Steve Parks
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
November 10, 2025 at 10:52 AM
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
One of the best things the UK's government digital service did was establish the gov dot uk standard for public sector domains. It means you can work out if you can really trust a site much more easily.
France has not done the same, and keeps doing official domains that look dodgy.
France has not done the same, and keeps doing official domains that look dodgy.
November 10, 2025 at 10:43 AM
One of the best things the UK's government digital service did was establish the gov dot uk standard for public sector domains. It means you can work out if you can really trust a site much more easily.
France has not done the same, and keeps doing official domains that look dodgy.
France has not done the same, and keeps doing official domains that look dodgy.
Reposted by Steve Parks
"Brexit has reduced GDP by 6% to 8%"
So actually worse than 'project fear'. Great job everyone.
cc @mrjamesob.bsky.social
So actually worse than 'project fear'. Great job everyone.
cc @mrjamesob.bsky.social
Headline from a serious and long working paper on the economic impact of Brexit. Possible that this has been feeding into OBR and HMT discussions?
November 10, 2025 at 10:40 AM
"Brexit has reduced GDP by 6% to 8%"
So actually worse than 'project fear'. Great job everyone.
cc @mrjamesob.bsky.social
So actually worse than 'project fear'. Great job everyone.
cc @mrjamesob.bsky.social
And what an important piece too.
Incredibly bittersweet to be published in Teen Vogue this weekend after devastating layoffs, including my editor for this piece. It’s about how beauty influencers have fallen into and become part of the alt-right pipeline targeting girls and women
www.teenvogue.com/story/womano...
www.teenvogue.com/story/womano...
The 'Womanosphere' Is Coming for Teen Girls
How beauty and wellness influencers are part of a misinformation ecosystem pushing traditional values on girls.
www.teenvogue.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:41 AM
And what an important piece too.
I decided to spend this remembrance day educating myself about the sacrifices we're supposed to be remembering.
I now live on the atlantic coast of France, so decided to learn something about of the second world war here.
As a result, I've been down the most amazing rabbit hole of discovery...
I now live on the atlantic coast of France, so decided to learn something about of the second world war here.
As a result, I've been down the most amazing rabbit hole of discovery...
November 9, 2025 at 5:44 PM
I decided to spend this remembrance day educating myself about the sacrifices we're supposed to be remembering.
I now live on the atlantic coast of France, so decided to learn something about of the second world war here.
As a result, I've been down the most amazing rabbit hole of discovery...
I now live on the atlantic coast of France, so decided to learn something about of the second world war here.
As a result, I've been down the most amazing rabbit hole of discovery...
I used to subscribe to The Economist, but for such expensively-educated people I found they could be really really thick...
Friend sent me this from The Economist’s newsletter. The ‘related’ article makes it even better.
November 8, 2025 at 6:10 PM
I used to subscribe to The Economist, but for such expensively-educated people I found they could be really really thick...
Reposted by Steve Parks
Under new head of Paramount David Ellison, the studio has drawn up a list of actors who opposed the Gaza genocide and will not allow them to appear in its films and TV shows.
Does this sound familiar?
Also, "Ellison is reportedly aiming to take over Warner Bros. next."
Does this sound familiar?
Also, "Ellison is reportedly aiming to take over Warner Bros. next."
Paramount Has Blacklist for Stars Deemed “Overtly Antisemitic” — World of Reel
It sure looks like the likes of Javier Bardem, Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, and Mark Ruffalo won’t be making movies for Paramount in the foreseeable future.
www.worldofreel.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Under new head of Paramount David Ellison, the studio has drawn up a list of actors who opposed the Gaza genocide and will not allow them to appear in its films and TV shows.
Does this sound familiar?
Also, "Ellison is reportedly aiming to take over Warner Bros. next."
Does this sound familiar?
Also, "Ellison is reportedly aiming to take over Warner Bros. next."
Reposted by Steve Parks
I'd also like to see similar 'drop this shit' energy directed at Facebook.
It's become a default community organising platform, used (because it's 'free') as an information dissemination source even for public, state-funded things like primary schools, where opting out is practically v difficult.
It's become a default community organising platform, used (because it's 'free') as an information dissemination source even for public, state-funded things like primary schools, where opting out is practically v difficult.
Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:13 PM
I'd also like to see similar 'drop this shit' energy directed at Facebook.
It's become a default community organising platform, used (because it's 'free') as an information dissemination source even for public, state-funded things like primary schools, where opting out is practically v difficult.
It's become a default community organising platform, used (because it's 'free') as an information dissemination source even for public, state-funded things like primary schools, where opting out is practically v difficult.
Well, clothes are extremely expensive there
Danes are Europe’s keenest nudists in principle and practice, survey suggests
Danes are Europe’s keenest nudists in principle and practice, survey suggests
YouGov study of six countries finds those in Denmark most likely to approve of nudism and have been naked in public
Germans may have a hard-won reputation for being Europe’s most enthusiastic nudists, but a survey suggests Danes are not only more accepting of stripping off in public, but more likely to have actually done so.
The YouGov survey of six western European countries – the UK, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and Spain – found that Danes were the most likely to say it was perfectly OK to bare all in public places – and to have followed through. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Well, clothes are extremely expensive there
Reposted by Steve Parks
A fantastic piece of reporting, brilliantly illustrated data, thorough, neutral analysis, transparent data collection… and frightening conclusions. Well done @skynewsrss.bsky.social for putting in long miles on this one
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:54 AM
A fantastic piece of reporting, brilliantly illustrated data, thorough, neutral analysis, transparent data collection… and frightening conclusions. Well done @skynewsrss.bsky.social for putting in long miles on this one
Sitting patiently, waiting for all the news outlet analysis that says:
“Last night’s sweep of all major votes for the Democrats, even in Republican strongholds, was also a national condemnation of Trump.
Americans have spoken against ICE raids, law-breaking, tariffs, shutting down government…”
“Last night’s sweep of all major votes for the Democrats, even in Republican strongholds, was also a national condemnation of Trump.
Americans have spoken against ICE raids, law-breaking, tariffs, shutting down government…”
November 5, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Sitting patiently, waiting for all the news outlet analysis that says:
“Last night’s sweep of all major votes for the Democrats, even in Republican strongholds, was also a national condemnation of Trump.
Americans have spoken against ICE raids, law-breaking, tariffs, shutting down government…”
“Last night’s sweep of all major votes for the Democrats, even in Republican strongholds, was also a national condemnation of Trump.
Americans have spoken against ICE raids, law-breaking, tariffs, shutting down government…”
Reposted by Steve Parks
Tonight's even more proof the mainstream reporters who are still on Twitter are suffering from a brain problem akin Havana Syndrome that is preventing them from accurately doing their jobs. They are being cooked alive by a snuff-focused apartheid algorithm.
November 5, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Tonight's even more proof the mainstream reporters who are still on Twitter are suffering from a brain problem akin Havana Syndrome that is preventing them from accurately doing their jobs. They are being cooked alive by a snuff-focused apartheid algorithm.
Great news out of the US as it’s clear America has turned against Trump en masse, even in Republican strongholds.
FT has it top story, nails angle.
BBC has it 2nd to story about immigrants working illegally 🙄, makes it only about New York, doesn’t mention turn against Trump, says problems ahead 🙄
FT has it top story, nails angle.
BBC has it 2nd to story about immigrants working illegally 🙄, makes it only about New York, doesn’t mention turn against Trump, says problems ahead 🙄
November 5, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Great news out of the US as it’s clear America has turned against Trump en masse, even in Republican strongholds.
FT has it top story, nails angle.
BBC has it 2nd to story about immigrants working illegally 🙄, makes it only about New York, doesn’t mention turn against Trump, says problems ahead 🙄
FT has it top story, nails angle.
BBC has it 2nd to story about immigrants working illegally 🙄, makes it only about New York, doesn’t mention turn against Trump, says problems ahead 🙄
Musk’s pay un-afjordable
Elon Musk’s $1 trillion Tesla pay package to be rejected by Norway's sovereign wealth fund 🇳🇴
Elon Musk’s $1tn Tesla pay deal to be rejected by huge Norway wealth fund
Carmaker’s seventh biggest single investor will vote against package at annual shareholder meeting
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Musk’s pay un-afjordable
Thank goodness for ballistic vests for this kind of attack.
And what a relief there was only one sandwich.
Imagine if the attacker had a sub machine gun
And what a relief there was only one sandwich.
Imagine if the attacker had a sub machine gun
Border Patrol agent Lairmore testifies that he was not injured by the sandwich, but he felt the impact through his ballistic vest.
The sandwich came apart and "kind of exploded" on his chest upon impact, he says.
"I could smell the onions and mustard."
The sandwich came apart and "kind of exploded" on his chest upon impact, he says.
"I could smell the onions and mustard."
November 4, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Thank goodness for ballistic vests for this kind of attack.
And what a relief there was only one sandwich.
Imagine if the attacker had a sub machine gun
And what a relief there was only one sandwich.
Imagine if the attacker had a sub machine gun