I Think Every Computer User Needs To Read This Because Holy Fucking Shit This Is Fucking Horrible.

I have no idea how to begin this post. I’m shocked no one else on Tumblr has made it before me, since this news came out February.

But…

Starting “later this year” (no explicit date), Google will begin using AI to detect “minors lying about their age” (accounts that claim to be 18+ but aren’t.)

CNBC

Google to test using AI to determine users’ ages

It comes as the company leans more heavily into AI and as it faces pressure from lawmakers.

This is based on what you search, and the videos you watch on YouTube.

If you are an adult who watches things aimed at teenagers on YouTube- your account will be incorrectly flagged as “lying” and you will be, immediately and automatically, locked down. Restricted Mode on YouTube with no way to deactivate it, SafeSearch always on full force, privileges suspended.

It gets worse. If Google thinks you are under 13- the minimum age to have an account- it will, after a brief delay, DELETE YOUR ACCOUNT.

If you are a fan of a children’s show- say Thomas the Tank Engine, Super Wings, or Handy Manny- or even one aimed at “older” kids like Big City Greens- YOU ARE IN DANGER.

So… what can you do?

As far as anyone knows, the tracking is account-based, so if you browse or watch children’s content while signed out you should be safe.

WRITE TO GOOGLE. Tell them how displeased you are. Do not use “nice” words- they do not deserve them.

Search for alternatives to Google Chrome, Google Search, and every function an account can provide. Type these queries into the search engine a few more times than usual, to give them a little heart attack. They deserve it.

SPREAD THIS NEWS. Not just on Tumblr- spread it on every platform you have. And real life is a platform, too.

If you speak more languages than just English, translate this warning- this is coming to the US first, but that doesn’t mean it won’t eventually spread to the rest of the world.

And finally, WARN YOUR FRIENDS WHO MIGHT BE VULNERABLE TO THIS. To that extent, I’ll be tagging:

@ll-the-biohazards-ll @kylievershion @smashedatoms @roxyteal @hexamoron @nintendonut1 @agathazinha2009 @octoariadneeeeexoxo @dischiantoaster @rocket-powered-socket @tiffanyelectricity @castorfell @kittyundercover1 @joezworld @mean-scarlet-deceiver @funky-boat-zone @bogleech @great-green-hunslet @choc-ice-on-wheels @thosesillytrains @just-another-miserable-prick @bruhstation @6lovelytenders @kidlit-queen-competition @projectanimations @ladymiraclewings @stormvanari @object-obsession @vroomizing @missd476 @masterj @spaceboid @number1spongebobfan @ohmystarrynight @rouxipanda @thomasthetankengine-1 @ask-the-tool-gang @colorfullaudino @darkcrafter @solarbeingash

In case anyone finds it helpful because mobility aids are horrifically expensive and inaccessible…

And for those people who have access to mobility devices but might benefit from a second chair they can abuse without risking expensive damage…

Erik Kondo has made a website, Open Source Innovations, that details plans for DIY wheelchairs. These wheelchairs can be made from common materials like wood, plastic, and pvc. They are lightweight and can be custom fit to the user allowing from the same degree of movement you would get from a custom chair. And they are durable and easily repairable. (he has been stress testing his latest design by dropping it down stairs, dropping it out of a car, launching it across a driveway, and throwing it off a deck). Its 12lbs and I think he said its was in the $200 ish range for parts.

He also is working on cheap, open source, accessible designs for beach chairs, off road chairs, motorized attachments (think smart drive), and so on. Plus he skateboards in his wheelchair. Cool dude, helpful info, pass it on.

Are you an English speaker willing to volunteer a few minutes of your time to answer a few questions about Palestine?

Mahmoud @ma7moudgaza2 is a web developer based in Gaza. He is currently still studying, and you may have seen his fundraiser or his spotlighting for fellow Gazan fundraisers.

Mahmoud has taken up a project to publish a website aimed at foreigners who want to learn more about Palestine. He is currently in the information-gathering phase, where he is hoping to ask you all a few questions about how much information the average foreigner knows about Palestine, and what they would be personally interested in learning about. I've seen the first couple of pages, and the project looks lovely!

If you're interested in lending a few minutes of your time to Mahmoud, please do get in contact with him!

sigh

i think so myself “hey Betina deserves a gf” by god she’s getting one

this is Lulia, my newest Shovel Knight oc. she appeared in the Village one day, with no memory of who she is or was. her only clues to her identity are jumbled nightmares that don't seem to make any sense... Could there perhaps be something sinister hidden in them?

I'm getting increasingly frustrated at the fact that I have not seen anybody on here. talk about the state of transgender rights in the state of Iowa. Our governor, Kim Reynolds, has signed a law that removes transgender and non-binary people's civil rights that protect them from being discriminated against when it comes to housing, education, and employment.

Iowa has become the first state to approve this legislation that prevents transgender and non-binary people from being protected under the state's civil rights code. This law, effective July 1st, is all under the guise of protecting people assigned female at birth; keeping transgender people out of bathrooms and locker rooms.

It's aim? To create explicit legal definitions of what it means to be male and female solely based on reproductive organs, which in turn denies that an individual can transition to another gender.

Where is everybody's outrage? Where is the support for trans and non-binary people's lives and rights in a Red state? Where is your fucking compassion for us? I've had it with people living comfortably and cozy in their own worlds, not seeing outside their fucking bubbles and not supporting the rest of their community as our rights crumble right before our eyes.

This is heartbreaking.

This harsh weather is expected to last for the next 30 to 40 days as part of the rainy season in Gaza.

The Sameer Project is fundraising to provide families in the south of Gaza with tents and tarps but most importantly, since tents can't really protect against the cold, the team is looking to buy hats, baby clothes, gloves and blankets to distribute in the area. I encourage you all to donate and/or share their donation link or their social posts.

Northern Gaza has been starving for 2 months now

If you're a Youtube creator with monetization privileges, click on the "Earn" tab right now and deal with this if you feel like its necessary. Youtube is going to start running more ads on your videos automatically without your permission, and the ability to opt out will go away in two months.

Youtube is not advertising this anywhere. Checking my "Earn" tab on my own is the first time I'm hearing about it. To me, that suggests they don't want people to know they're doing this, because they want to crank up ad frequency and make more money.

If you've ever seen what happens when you let Youtube automatically pick ad slots like this, they basically try to run an ad every 2-3 minutes. It's a nightmare.

They are going to flood their platform with ads and drive away 70% of their viewership. On the other hand, if you opt out and choose to continue showing fewer ads, you may earn the trust and respect of your viewers.

You have a strategic operative to turn this off before May 12th. If you don't do it before then, it sounds like Youtube will take away your ability to reduce your ad frequency.