Michal Luria
@mluria.bsky.social
Human-centered researcher of emerging tech. Designer of alternative interactions. Research Fellow at @CenDemTech. Ph.D. in HCI from @CarnegieMellon
Reposted by Michal Luria
Guests @zevesanderson.com, CDT Research Fellow @mluria.bsky.social, and guest host
@aliyabhatia.bsky.social unpack what users really think about age checks, how they shape online behavior, and what’s at stake for balancing child safety with digital rights.
@aliyabhatia.bsky.social unpack what users really think about age checks, how they shape online behavior, and what’s at stake for balancing child safety with digital rights.
Tech Talks: Age Verification
In this episode of Tech Talks, we dive into the growing debate over online age verification. While often framed as a way to protect children, these policies carry major implications for how everyone, adults and children alike, accesses the internet. Unlike showing an ID at a bar, online age checks can require the collection and […]
cdt.org
September 24, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Guests @zevesanderson.com, CDT Research Fellow @mluria.bsky.social, and guest host
@aliyabhatia.bsky.social unpack what users really think about age checks, how they shape online behavior, and what’s at stake for balancing child safety with digital rights.
@aliyabhatia.bsky.social unpack what users really think about age checks, how they shape online behavior, and what’s at stake for balancing child safety with digital rights.
9/9 As Savage mentioned in her testimony, UX researchers generally advocate for users — especially vulnerable users like children. To get there, it is crucial to ensure that they have freedom to ask hard questions, pursue answers with the appropriate methodology, and communicate findings clearly.
September 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
9/9 As Savage mentioned in her testimony, UX researchers generally advocate for users — especially vulnerable users like children. To get there, it is crucial to ensure that they have freedom to ask hard questions, pursue answers with the appropriate methodology, and communicate findings clearly.
8/ In parallel, we need clear auditing and accountability processes within companies, as well as access to data to vetted independent researchers.
September 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
8/ In parallel, we need clear auditing and accountability processes within companies, as well as access to data to vetted independent researchers.
7/ That’s why it’s not enough to have research teams — it’s also about making sure research is conducted and reported at the highest standards. In this case, the researchers themselves seem to have held the highest standards; but everyone, all the way to top leadership, must be onboard too.
September 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
7/ That’s why it’s not enough to have research teams — it’s also about making sure research is conducted and reported at the highest standards. In this case, the researchers themselves seem to have held the highest standards; but everyone, all the way to top leadership, must be onboard too.
6/ Doing research inside a big tech company is already extremely difficult. Researchers face significant pressure from internal and external stakeholders, and the potential for conflicts of interest are an everyday reality. Still, this work is deeply necessary, and understaffed.
September 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
6/ Doing research inside a big tech company is already extremely difficult. Researchers face significant pressure from internal and external stakeholders, and the potential for conflicts of interest are an everyday reality. Still, this work is deeply necessary, and understaffed.
5/ This testimony matters, and these whistleblowers are courageous for coming forth. At the same time, such allegations shouldn’t undermine trust in UX research, which would be a devastating outcome — company researchers are among those working hardest to surface safety risks and push for change.
September 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
5/ This testimony matters, and these whistleblowers are courageous for coming forth. At the same time, such allegations shouldn’t undermine trust in UX research, which would be a devastating outcome — company researchers are among those working hardest to surface safety risks and push for change.
4/ The only thing worse than having no research on a critical safety-related research question, is having misleading research; A gap in knowledge can be acknowledged and addressed. But if the research is riddled with malpractice, the harm is harder to detect — and far more damaging.
September 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
4/ The only thing worse than having no research on a critical safety-related research question, is having misleading research; A gap in knowledge can be acknowledged and addressed. But if the research is riddled with malpractice, the harm is harder to detect — and far more damaging.
3/ If true, this profoundly undermines research integrity. Excluding findings, deleting data that sheds light on people’s safety, misrepresenting findings — these would all directly violate the most fundamental research ethics code.
September 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
3/ If true, this profoundly undermines research integrity. Excluding findings, deleting data that sheds light on people’s safety, misrepresenting findings — these would all directly violate the most fundamental research ethics code.
2/ The testimony focused on alarming internal interactions between research teams, leadership, and legal, that allegedly suppressed, altered, and misrepresented research and research findings to protect the company from liability and damage to reputation.
September 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
2/ The testimony focused on alarming internal interactions between research teams, leadership, and legal, that allegedly suppressed, altered, and misrepresented research and research findings to protect the company from liability and damage to reputation.
Reposted by Michal Luria
CDT’s @mluria.bsky.social + @aliyabhatia.bsky.social's interviews with families reveal concerns about privacy, efficacy, & the need for transparent, user-centered approaches that support both agency & parental discretion. Read more:
Teen and Parent Perspectives on Approaches to Age Verification
Age verification (AV) is being rolled out by online services to comply with new laws in Europe and across states in the United States. Proposed legislation at the federal level in the U.S., such as the Kids Off Social Media Act and the Kids Online Safety Act, may also result in increased adoption of AV […]
cdt.org
August 28, 2025 at 5:30 PM
CDT’s @mluria.bsky.social + @aliyabhatia.bsky.social's interviews with families reveal concerns about privacy, efficacy, & the need for transparent, user-centered approaches that support both agency & parental discretion. Read more: