Latest Posts (20 found)
Heather Burns 1 weeks ago

Born Crotchety

I spoke with The National about the proposed UK social media ban for teenagers.  That’s an archive link due to their unfortunate adwall. There’s nothing I offered in my delightfully crotchety comments that I wasn’t already saying four, five, six, and seven years ago, but if anyone had listened to me four, five, six, and […]

programming Programming
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Heather Burns 1 months ago

The language is leaving me

I love this short open-access paper from danah boyd where she suggests shifting the term we use to describe social media.

writing Writing culture Culture media Media
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Heather Burns 3 months ago

I, Sisyphus

I spoke with New Scientist about a handful of clauses in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is currently reaching the finish line of the Parliamentary process.

Science journalism Journalism writing Writing
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Heather Burns 3 months ago

The Prince, The Paedo, The Palace, and the “Safety Tech” app

Shame must change sides. And this week, that means certain corners of the "children's online safety" crusade.

culture Culture security Security
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Heather Burns 4 months ago

the other Turing test

Everything which was behind us is in front of us. It's up to you how you respond.

ai AI
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Heather Burns 4 months ago

At last, a wonderful day in Parliament.

This is why end-to-end encryption matters.

security Security
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Heather Burns 4 months ago

Ukraine, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, America

Now would be a good time to familiarise yourself with the international protocols used for the collection and categorisation of digital evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

security Security
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Heather Burns 4 months ago

The Darnella test of social media and smartphone regulation

Young people, using smartphones, film journalistic content in the public interest. Anti-social media and anti-smartphone regulations threaten that.

business Business media Media journalism Journalism
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Heather Burns 4 months ago

Resistance honeypots

Journos: if you are advising your readers on counter-surveillance measures but not dropping the adtech, you are not helping your readers. You are building a honeypot to trap them.

journalism Journalism security Security
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Heather Burns 5 months ago

My top achievement for 2025

For 2025, only one dramatic achievement stands out. Yes, you all know what I'm talking about.

career Career
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Heather Burns 6 months ago

Throwing the Flying Spaghetti Monster at the Wall

God has entered the UK chat.

culture Culture
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Heather Burns 7 months ago

Footnote privacy? Footnote privacy!

If you use a citations manager for academic writing, add it to your opsec to-do list.

security Security
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