Jessica Vitak
@vitak.bsky.social
She/her. Professor at University of Maryland's iSchool. Director of the HCIL. General Chair for CSCW 2025. Research: privacy, surveillance, data ethics. https://jessicavitak.com
Come for the academic expertise. Stay for the cookie content.
Come for the academic expertise. Stay for the cookie content.
Reposted by Jessica Vitak
NEW: 17 different models of Bluetooth headphones and speakers can be hijacked to play audio, eavesdrop thru mics, and in some cases even track your location—unless you install a patch, which many people don't. @agreenberg.bsky.social & @lhn.bsky.social w/ the scoop: www.wired.com/story/google...
Hundreds of Millions of Audio Devices Need a Patch to Prevent Wireless Hacking and Tracking
Flaws in how 17 models of headphones and speakers use Google’s one-tap Fast Pair Bluetooth protocol have left devices open to eavesdroppers and stalkers.
www.wired.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:35 PM
NEW: 17 different models of Bluetooth headphones and speakers can be hijacked to play audio, eavesdrop thru mics, and in some cases even track your location—unless you install a patch, which many people don't. @agreenberg.bsky.social & @lhn.bsky.social w/ the scoop: www.wired.com/story/google...
I do a lot of jigsaw puzzles and was mildly disturbed when I saw this one. [To be clear, I did *not* purchase it.]
January 15, 2026 at 3:22 PM
I do a lot of jigsaw puzzles and was mildly disturbed when I saw this one. [To be clear, I did *not* purchase it.]
👏 Fully agree 👏
We Reject the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence for Reflexive Qualitative Research: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
We Reject the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence for Reflexive Qualitative Research: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
We Reject the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence for Reflexive Qualitative Research - Tanisha Jowsey, Virginia Braun, Victoria Clarke, Deborah Lupton, Michelle Fine, 2025
Four hundred and nineteen experienced qualitative researchers from 32 countries invite readers of Qualitative Inquiry to consider their position on use of gener...
journals.sagepub.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:16 PM
👏 Fully agree 👏
We Reject the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence for Reflexive Qualitative Research: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
We Reject the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence for Reflexive Qualitative Research: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Jessica Vitak
Attention graduate students! The 15th annual Communication & Technology / Mobile Doctoral Consortium is now accepting student proposals to participate at #ICA26 in Cape Town. Proposals are due 2 Feb. Please read the requirements closely. sites.google.com/view/2026ica...
January 14, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Attention graduate students! The 15th annual Communication & Technology / Mobile Doctoral Consortium is now accepting student proposals to participate at #ICA26 in Cape Town. Proposals are due 2 Feb. Please read the requirements closely. sites.google.com/view/2026ica...
If you were following along, here's the updated set of debate scenarios I plan to use in my surveillance studies class. There's five new ones for 13 total, spanning three main categories: government, law enforcement, and work/school.
drive.google.com/file/d/1db7y...
drive.google.com/file/d/1db7y...
January 14, 2026 at 6:51 PM
If you were following along, here's the updated set of debate scenarios I plan to use in my surveillance studies class. There's five new ones for 13 total, spanning three main categories: government, law enforcement, and work/school.
drive.google.com/file/d/1db7y...
drive.google.com/file/d/1db7y...
And if you want to read more about Tablo's "scandal" (which blew up after false claims he didn't get two degrees from Stanford), you can read about it in the uni's magazine: stanfordmag.org/contents/the...
The Persecution of Daniel Lee
An Internet smear campaign nearly destroyed the South Korean star, but he fought back with the only weapon he had: the truth.
stanfordmag.org
January 14, 2026 at 5:34 PM
And if you want to read more about Tablo's "scandal" (which blew up after false claims he didn't get two degrees from Stanford), you can read about it in the uni's magazine: stanfordmag.org/contents/the...
Even if you've never heard of Tablo, you should listen to his podcast episode on resilience. Tablo has dealt with some real shit in his life and uses everyday stories from his life to describe how he developed resilience, as well as the importance of gratitude.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylrA...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylrA...
Do this and you'll be MENTALLY BULLETPROOF | Hey Tablo Ep. 2
YouTube video by TABLO
www.youtube.com
January 14, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Even if you've never heard of Tablo, you should listen to his podcast episode on resilience. Tablo has dealt with some real shit in his life and uses everyday stories from his life to describe how he developed resilience, as well as the importance of gratitude.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylrA...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylrA...
More data isn't always better. Video data isn't irrefutable. The idea that video data 100% proves a crime was committed is ridiculous. But that is where we have arrived thanks to mass surveillance technologies.
I also really appreciate this reflection from the woman at the end of the article.
I also really appreciate this reflection from the woman at the end of the article.
January 14, 2026 at 4:15 PM
More data isn't always better. Video data isn't irrefutable. The idea that video data 100% proves a crime was committed is ridiculous. But that is where we have arrived thanks to mass surveillance technologies.
I also really appreciate this reflection from the woman at the end of the article.
I also really appreciate this reflection from the woman at the end of the article.
Read Hannah's article first, then read this article about the FBI raiding her home today in search of "classified material."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/u...
January 14, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Read Hannah's article first, then read this article about the FBI raiding her home today in search of "classified material."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/u...
Reposted by Jessica Vitak
Gift link to FBI-targeted Post reporter Hannah Natanson's sweeping look at how federal workers have been targeted by Trump. wapo.st/49BQBrh
I am The Post’s ‘federal government whisperer.’ It’s been brutal.
One reporter’s effort to show how Trump was transforming government brought her 1,168 new sources — and nearly broke her.
wapo.st
January 14, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Gift link to FBI-targeted Post reporter Hannah Natanson's sweeping look at how federal workers have been targeted by Trump. wapo.st/49BQBrh
Reposted by Jessica Vitak
If you're still with me, thanks for reading about my newest (and maybe weirdest) hobby, and hopefully I'll have more updates on it in a year.
To wrap up, here's my favorite new puzzle, 1008pc from Karen Puzzles. I got it for Christmas and it took me just over 4hr.
To wrap up, here's my favorite new puzzle, 1008pc from Karen Puzzles. I got it for Christmas and it took me just over 4hr.
January 13, 2026 at 2:30 PM
If you're still with me, thanks for reading about my newest (and maybe weirdest) hobby, and hopefully I'll have more updates on it in a year.
To wrap up, here's my favorite new puzzle, 1008pc from Karen Puzzles. I got it for Christmas and it took me just over 4hr.
To wrap up, here's my favorite new puzzle, 1008pc from Karen Puzzles. I got it for Christmas and it took me just over 4hr.
Hobbies are important, and this has been a great way to take my mind off the world for 1-2 hours at a time. And yes, I know puzzles are supposed to be relaxing, but I'm nothing if not competitive. I am driven to always improve myself, even at something as small as my PPM (piece per minute) rate.
January 13, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Hobbies are important, and this has been a great way to take my mind off the world for 1-2 hours at a time. And yes, I know puzzles are supposed to be relaxing, but I'm nothing if not competitive. I am driven to always improve myself, even at something as small as my PPM (piece per minute) rate.
A year into this new hobby, what am I thinking? I still enjoy speed puzzling but need to think about approaches to get past this current plateau. I'm not sure how I'll do that, but there are basic strategies to improve dexterity, color awareness, etc. But I'm not sure how deep I want to get.
January 13, 2026 at 2:30 PM
A year into this new hobby, what am I thinking? I still enjoy speed puzzling but need to think about approaches to get past this current plateau. I'm not sure how I'll do that, but there are basic strategies to improve dexterity, color awareness, etc. But I'm not sure how deep I want to get.
I'm a bit disappointed I only did one competition in 2025 and that was early on (February) and was over Zoom. I'd like to do some in-person competitions, although I really could use a partner or team as there are solo, pairs, and teams (4ppl) rounds at most events.
January 13, 2026 at 2:30 PM
I'm a bit disappointed I only did one competition in 2025 and that was early on (February) and was over Zoom. I'd like to do some in-person competitions, although I really could use a partner or team as there are solo, pairs, and teams (4ppl) rounds at most events.
Speed puzzling competitions have become much more popular since the pandemic. There's a nationals competition in April and world championships each September in Barcelona. There's limited need to qualify -- you can still sign up to participate regardless of skill level.
worldjigsawpuzzle.org
worldjigsawpuzzle.org
Home Welcome to the world of speedpuzzling
Days
worldjigsawpuzzle.org
January 13, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Speed puzzling competitions have become much more popular since the pandemic. There's a nationals competition in April and world championships each September in Barcelona. There's limited need to qualify -- you can still sign up to participate regardless of skill level.
worldjigsawpuzzle.org
worldjigsawpuzzle.org
What am I fastest at? Probably the same as many: collages with distinct borders. My fastest time yet is 52min on this one (Good Puzzle Company, Dogs and Flowers). It has nine distinct sections and mostly distinct colors.
January 13, 2026 at 2:30 PM
What am I fastest at? Probably the same as many: collages with distinct borders. My fastest time yet is 52min on this one (Good Puzzle Company, Dogs and Flowers). It has nine distinct sections and mostly distinct colors.
Most people gravitate toward certain puzzles. For example, some people love solid color blocks. Most hate animal fur. I like busy puzzles with lots of little elements, but they're not great for speed. Here's a favorite busy puzzle, Where's Prince? Prince in 1999. My fastest time: 1hr, 28min.
January 13, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Most people gravitate toward certain puzzles. For example, some people love solid color blocks. Most hate animal fur. I like busy puzzles with lots of little elements, but they're not great for speed. Here's a favorite busy puzzle, Where's Prince? Prince in 1999. My fastest time: 1hr, 28min.
I'm still not great a first-runs, which is what matters in competitions because the puzzles are usually brand new, so no one has seen them before. I mentioned London Postcard took 2hr, 18min first time. My most recent new puzzle, Jazzy, took 1hr, 35min. I've done ~10 puzzles under 90min first time.
January 13, 2026 at 2:30 PM
I'm still not great a first-runs, which is what matters in competitions because the puzzles are usually brand new, so no one has seen them before. I mentioned London Postcard took 2hr, 18min first time. My most recent new puzzle, Jazzy, took 1hr, 35min. I've done ~10 puzzles under 90min first time.
And I did improve. Here's a super basic chart showing my average time, which improved greatly early on and has been somewhere between 80-90min over the last nine months. This is complicated by how many puzzles & how many new puzzles I do in a given month, so I really need to look at 1st run data.
January 13, 2026 at 2:30 PM
And I did improve. Here's a super basic chart showing my average time, which improved greatly early on and has been somewhere between 80-90min over the last nine months. This is complicated by how many puzzles & how many new puzzles I do in a given month, so I really need to look at 1st run data.
But I kind of hoped I'd be different. And I did A LOT of puzzles over the last year. Just focusing on 500pc puzzles (which is 80-85% of what I do), I completed 242 puzzles, placing 121,000 pieces! Holy crap that's a lot. Accounting for all puzzles I did, that number is closer to 150,000 pieces.
January 13, 2026 at 2:30 PM
But I kind of hoped I'd be different. And I did A LOT of puzzles over the last year. Just focusing on 500pc puzzles (which is 80-85% of what I do), I completed 242 puzzles, placing 121,000 pieces! Holy crap that's a lot. Accounting for all puzzles I did, that number is closer to 150,000 pieces.
I got into speed puzzling thanks to Karen Puzzles (check her out! www.youtube.com/@KarenPuzzles). And watching those videos made me feel like I could be really good at this too! But like any competitive sport, you can't just do it for a few months and magically be elite.
Karen Puzzles
This channel is all about jigsaw puzzles - from time lapses to reviews and hacks! Subscribe for videos all about jigsaw puzzles every week!
www.youtube.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:30 PM
I got into speed puzzling thanks to Karen Puzzles (check her out! www.youtube.com/@KarenPuzzles). And watching those videos made me feel like I could be really good at this too! But like any competitive sport, you can't just do it for a few months and magically be elite.
This was the first puzzle I did for speed last January. It took me 2hr, 18min. As you can see, I have done it 12 times. Yesterday, I did it again and finished in 1hr, 4min. Good, but not great. I am frustrated I never got this under an hour and my times are not really improving.
January 13, 2026 at 2:30 PM
This was the first puzzle I did for speed last January. It took me 2hr, 18min. As you can see, I have done it 12 times. Yesterday, I did it again and finished in 1hr, 4min. Good, but not great. I am frustrated I never got this under an hour and my times are not really improving.
This is a very easy puzzle for speed puzzling. The fastest people in the world can do it in 30-40 minutes. Even after a year of speed puzzling, I'm not sure how they move that fast.
January 13, 2026 at 2:30 PM
This is a very easy puzzle for speed puzzling. The fastest people in the world can do it in 30-40 minutes. Even after a year of speed puzzling, I'm not sure how they move that fast.
Take a look at this puzzle. How fast do you think you could complete it if you were handed an unopened box and go from there? I'm assuming you've never done it before.
January 13, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Take a look at this puzzle. How fast do you think you could complete it if you were handed an unopened box and go from there? I'm assuming you've never done it before.