Jonathan Stray
@jonathanstray.bsky.social
Knowing things is a solved problem. Getting along is not. Working on AI, media, and inter-group conflict @CHAI_Berkeley. Got here from computational journalism.
Pinned
Introducing GreenEarth
We're building advanced open source algorithms for social media
greenearthsocial.substack.com
GreenEarth is creating open source AI-driven recommender infrastructure for BlueSky. Type a prompt, see your feed change. We are here for the users, the builders, the dreamers. Join us.
greenearthsocial.substack.com/p/introducin...
greenearthsocial.substack.com/p/introducin...
ATProto is just a 21st century NNTP, amirite?
November 9, 2025 at 1:12 AM
ATProto is just a 21st century NNTP, amirite?
@lawfaremedia.org where are you on this? I need expert Sandwich Guy legal analysis. The fate of our nation depends upon it.
Agent Lairmore is done with his testimony. Prosecution asked further about the condiments and he said there was mustard on his uniform and an onion hanging on his radio antenna. Don’t think defense was going for a pun when she called him a “seasoned officer,” but you never know…
November 5, 2025 at 8:57 PM
@lawfaremedia.org where are you on this? I need expert Sandwich Guy legal analysis. The fate of our nation depends upon it.
I've been saying that putting AI in charge of business will immediately result in fraud from the optimization pressure to make money, and lo! the experimenters have found the effect.
www.lesswrong.com/posts/LMwkQL...
www.lesswrong.com/posts/LMwkQL...
November 5, 2025 at 7:04 AM
I've been saying that putting AI in charge of business will immediately result in fraud from the optimization pressure to make money, and lo! the experimenters have found the effect.
www.lesswrong.com/posts/LMwkQL...
www.lesswrong.com/posts/LMwkQL...
I've said that newsrooms should engage in internal "adversarial collaboration" to figure out how to report on contentious political issues. Here's @tanglenews.bsky.social actually doing that, with a conservative staffer grappling with the editor's opinions.
www.readtangle.com/things-are-s...
www.readtangle.com/things-are-s...
The conservative view: Things are still bad.
The context of Trumpism his critics keep missing.
www.readtangle.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:23 PM
I've said that newsrooms should engage in internal "adversarial collaboration" to figure out how to report on contentious political issues. Here's @tanglenews.bsky.social actually doing that, with a conservative staffer grappling with the editor's opinions.
www.readtangle.com/things-are-s...
www.readtangle.com/things-are-s...
I'm really trying to figure out why I dislike TRON Legacy so much. I am a big TRON fan and I just blotted it from my memory. I thought Ares was actually much better as a TRON film. Legacy's design language just feels too much like an iMac commercial. It's not the inside of a computer anymore.
October 25, 2025 at 6:18 AM
I'm really trying to figure out why I dislike TRON Legacy so much. I am a big TRON fan and I just blotted it from my memory. I thought Ares was actually much better as a TRON film. Legacy's design language just feels too much like an iMac commercial. It's not the inside of a computer anymore.
I grew up in Toronto. I could be a Jays fan again, sure.
October 25, 2025 at 4:46 AM
I grew up in Toronto. I could be a Jays fan again, sure.
Writing R code like it's 2014.
October 23, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Writing R code like it's 2014.
Reposted by Jonathan Stray
Great quote:
Most people who like BJJ really like BJJ, but most people who enjoy running only “kind of” like it. So if you are optimizing for “engagement,” videos about BJJ is a stronger signal...than videos about running! This has nothing to do with content; it is all about co-viewership patterns
Most people who like BJJ really like BJJ, but most people who enjoy running only “kind of” like it. So if you are optimizing for “engagement,” videos about BJJ is a stronger signal...than videos about running! This has nothing to do with content; it is all about co-viewership patterns
New analysis finds TikTok "systematically boosts" Mamdami over Cuomo
medium.com/@dodeles/bey...
Last time someone looked at this, TikTok was found to "boost" Republican content. But what does it mean for an algorithm to "boost" content anyway?
doomscrollingbabel.manoel.xyz/p/does-tikto...
medium.com/@dodeles/bey...
Last time someone looked at this, TikTok was found to "boost" Republican content. But what does it mean for an algorithm to "boost" content anyway?
doomscrollingbabel.manoel.xyz/p/does-tikto...
Does TikTok Amplify Certain Types of Content?
"There and back again"
doomscrollingbabel.manoel.xyz
October 22, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Great quote:
Most people who like BJJ really like BJJ, but most people who enjoy running only “kind of” like it. So if you are optimizing for “engagement,” videos about BJJ is a stronger signal...than videos about running! This has nothing to do with content; it is all about co-viewership patterns
Most people who like BJJ really like BJJ, but most people who enjoy running only “kind of” like it. So if you are optimizing for “engagement,” videos about BJJ is a stronger signal...than videos about running! This has nothing to do with content; it is all about co-viewership patterns
GreenEarth is creating open source AI-driven recommender infrastructure for BlueSky. Type a prompt, see your feed change. We are here for the users, the builders, the dreamers. Join us.
greenearthsocial.substack.com/p/introducin...
greenearthsocial.substack.com/p/introducin...
Introducing GreenEarth
We're building advanced open source algorithms for social media
greenearthsocial.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:08 AM
GreenEarth is creating open source AI-driven recommender infrastructure for BlueSky. Type a prompt, see your feed change. We are here for the users, the builders, the dreamers. Join us.
greenearthsocial.substack.com/p/introducin...
greenearthsocial.substack.com/p/introducin...
tl;dr we live among intersectional bigotry, so any electorally winning political alliance has to include some bigots.
I'm sure many folks here will disagree 😛 Feel free to argue on principle, but can you dispute the numbers?
www.theargumentmag.com/p/bigots-in-...
I'm sure many folks here will disagree 😛 Feel free to argue on principle, but can you dispute the numbers?
www.theargumentmag.com/p/bigots-in-...
Bigots in the tent
What did you think winning meant? vibes? papers? essays? losers.
www.theargumentmag.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:08 PM
tl;dr we live among intersectional bigotry, so any electorally winning political alliance has to include some bigots.
I'm sure many folks here will disagree 😛 Feel free to argue on principle, but can you dispute the numbers?
www.theargumentmag.com/p/bigots-in-...
I'm sure many folks here will disagree 😛 Feel free to argue on principle, but can you dispute the numbers?
www.theargumentmag.com/p/bigots-in-...
The Portland Naked Bicycle Ride succeeded in shifting the media narrative from "violence" to "naked" for a week, even (especially) in right-leaning sources.
www.betterconflictbulletin.org/p/the-strate...
www.betterconflictbulletin.org/p/the-strate...
October 22, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The Portland Naked Bicycle Ride succeeded in shifting the media narrative from "violence" to "naked" for a week, even (especially) in right-leaning sources.
www.betterconflictbulletin.org/p/the-strate...
www.betterconflictbulletin.org/p/the-strate...
New analysis finds TikTok "systematically boosts" Mamdami over Cuomo
medium.com/@dodeles/bey...
Last time someone looked at this, TikTok was found to "boost" Republican content. But what does it mean for an algorithm to "boost" content anyway?
doomscrollingbabel.manoel.xyz/p/does-tikto...
medium.com/@dodeles/bey...
Last time someone looked at this, TikTok was found to "boost" Republican content. But what does it mean for an algorithm to "boost" content anyway?
doomscrollingbabel.manoel.xyz/p/does-tikto...
Does TikTok Amplify Certain Types of Content?
"There and back again"
doomscrollingbabel.manoel.xyz
October 22, 2025 at 1:14 AM
New analysis finds TikTok "systematically boosts" Mamdami over Cuomo
medium.com/@dodeles/bey...
Last time someone looked at this, TikTok was found to "boost" Republican content. But what does it mean for an algorithm to "boost" content anyway?
doomscrollingbabel.manoel.xyz/p/does-tikto...
medium.com/@dodeles/bey...
Last time someone looked at this, TikTok was found to "boost" Republican content. But what does it mean for an algorithm to "boost" content anyway?
doomscrollingbabel.manoel.xyz/p/does-tikto...
Why did links get downranked on Twitter? My best guess (with slight inside info) is:
a) Link posts do less well naturally because of UI, which Twitter now confirms
b) so link posts were formerly *boosted*
c) ranking greatly simplified after Elon, including removing link boost
x.com/nikitabier/s...
a) Link posts do less well naturally because of UI, which Twitter now confirms
b) so link posts were formerly *boosted*
c) ranking greatly simplified after Elon, including removing link boost
x.com/nikitabier/s...
Nikita Bier on X: "We're testing a new link experience, starting on iOS -- to make it easier for your followers to engage with your post while browsing links. For creators, a common complaint is that posts with links tend to get lower reach. This is because the web browser covers the post and https://t.co/oWraLpPwji" / X
We're testing a new link experience, starting on iOS -- to make it easier for your followers to engage with your post while browsing links. For creators, a common complaint is that posts with links tend to get lower reach. This is because the web browser covers the post and https://t.co/oWraLpPwji
x.com
October 21, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Why did links get downranked on Twitter? My best guess (with slight inside info) is:
a) Link posts do less well naturally because of UI, which Twitter now confirms
b) so link posts were formerly *boosted*
c) ranking greatly simplified after Elon, including removing link boost
x.com/nikitabier/s...
a) Link posts do less well naturally because of UI, which Twitter now confirms
b) so link posts were formerly *boosted*
c) ranking greatly simplified after Elon, including removing link boost
x.com/nikitabier/s...
Seeing lots of "did those protests matter?" chatter.
Please see my FAQ.
www.betterconflictbulletin.org/p/does-prote...
Please see my FAQ.
www.betterconflictbulletin.org/p/does-prote...
Does Protest Even Work?
Yes. If it's big enough and non-violent — BCB #144
www.betterconflictbulletin.org
October 21, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Seeing lots of "did those protests matter?" chatter.
Please see my FAQ.
www.betterconflictbulletin.org/p/does-prote...
Please see my FAQ.
www.betterconflictbulletin.org/p/does-prote...
Our team is building open algorithmic feeds for ATProto. The big bet here is not that we can make something radically better than the platforms, but radically more collaborative. We're building tools for everyone to experiment with the problem. And choose what they like best from the results.
October 21, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Our team is building open algorithmic feeds for ATProto. The big bet here is not that we can make something radically better than the platforms, but radically more collaborative. We're building tools for everyone to experiment with the problem. And choose what they like best from the results.
TIL the Apollo 13 astronauts were on team "hotdogs are sandwiches" and I might never be the same.
October 16, 2025 at 10:20 PM
TIL the Apollo 13 astronauts were on team "hotdogs are sandwiches" and I might never be the same.
What people believe about immigration, what the relevant facts are about economics, demographics and crime, who's pushing what narratives, what policies poll well, and what the humane ways out of this disaster might be.
www.betterconflictbulletin.org/p/we-have-to...
www.betterconflictbulletin.org/p/we-have-to...
We Have to Talk About Immigration
Tips and facts for a sensible conversation - BCB #168
www.betterconflictbulletin.org
October 16, 2025 at 2:56 AM
What people believe about immigration, what the relevant facts are about economics, demographics and crime, who's pushing what narratives, what policies poll well, and what the humane ways out of this disaster might be.
www.betterconflictbulletin.org/p/we-have-to...
www.betterconflictbulletin.org/p/we-have-to...
80 degrees out so I’m still working on campus but outside, reading papers, drinking a boba tea, touching grass.
October 6, 2025 at 11:57 PM
80 degrees out so I’m still working on campus but outside, reading papers, drinking a boba tea, touching grass.
The Mormons seem to be actually following the biblical conflict advice about loving your enemies. They could be an important “third side” in American politics.
www.betterconflictbulletin.org/p/you-gotta-...
www.betterconflictbulletin.org/p/you-gotta-...
You Gotta Hand It To The Mormons
Not left but neither quite right, and recently morally courageous - BCB #167
www.betterconflictbulletin.org
October 3, 2025 at 3:15 PM
The Mormons seem to be actually following the biblical conflict advice about loving your enemies. They could be an important “third side” in American politics.
www.betterconflictbulletin.org/p/you-gotta-...
www.betterconflictbulletin.org/p/you-gotta-...
Honestly the thing I love about today's WAFFLES discourse is how utterly, hilariously, terminally online it is. If you know what I'm talking about you also spend way too much time on the internet. Also, I've been doing that longer than you and yes, it's always been this way.
October 2, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Honestly the thing I love about today's WAFFLES discourse is how utterly, hilariously, terminally online it is. If you know what I'm talking about you also spend way too much time on the internet. Also, I've been doing that longer than you and yes, it's always been this way.
Reposted by Jonathan Stray
‘War-ravaged’ cities don’t typically have artisanal kombucha on every corner.
October 1, 2025 at 8:33 PM
‘War-ravaged’ cities don’t typically have artisanal kombucha on every corner.
Reposted by Jonathan Stray
Ready to die on the hill of "social media doesn't have to suck"
Too real. We’re going to try to fix this. Social media doesn’t have to be this way.
(bluesky user bursts into Waffle House) OH SO YOU HATE PANCAKES??
October 1, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Ready to die on the hill of "social media doesn't have to suck"
Had an impromptu epic whiteboard sesh about deep theory with a student this afternoon and I’m like hell yeah, living the academic dream. So much of the rest of it is actually email.
October 2, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Had an impromptu epic whiteboard sesh about deep theory with a student this afternoon and I’m like hell yeah, living the academic dream. So much of the rest of it is actually email.
I was experimenting with images illustrating how social media distorts our perceptions, amplifying rage.
(actual post in replies)
(actual post in replies)
September 26, 2025 at 10:23 PM
I was experimenting with images illustrating how social media distorts our perceptions, amplifying rage.
(actual post in replies)
(actual post in replies)
Today's writing music: Sines and Singularities by Bluetech. This album got me through grad school (the second time around, when I studied journalism in Hong Kong). It still gets me focussed when I need to lock in.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW8S...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW8S...
Enter The Lovely (2020 Remastered)
YouTube video by Bluetech - Topic
www.youtube.com
September 26, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Today's writing music: Sines and Singularities by Bluetech. This album got me through grad school (the second time around, when I studied journalism in Hong Kong). It still gets me focussed when I need to lock in.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW8S...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW8S...