Samantha Cole

Samantha Cole

Sam Cole is writing from the far reaches of the internet, about sexuality, the adult industry, online culture, and AI. She's the author of How Sex Changed the Internet and the Internet Changed Sex.
263 posts
Amazon Tells Warehouse Workers to Close Their Eyes and Think Happy Thoughts
Amazon

Amazon Tells Warehouse Workers to Close Their Eyes and Think Happy Thoughts

"Close your eyes and think about something that makes you happy," the screen, titled "Savoring," instructs Amazon fulfillment center workers.
'Sydney Sweeney Leak' Malware is All Over Twitter
malware

'Sydney Sweeney Leak' Malware is All Over Twitter

The platform is full of links to celebrity "leaks" that likely lead to malware.
Behind the Blog: Nextdoor Madness and Pharmacy Hackers
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: Nextdoor Madness and Pharmacy Hackers

This is Behind the Blog, where we share our behind-the-scenes thoughts about how a few of our top stories of the week came together. This week, we discuss Nextdoor lunacy, pharmaceutical hacking, cops, and very good keyboards.
‘Boob Shirt’ Speaks (Through an AI Model of Themselves)
AI

‘Boob Shirt’ Speaks (Through an AI Model of Themselves)

Things get weirder as the viral boob-print shirt audience member at AGI House speaks out about their fashion choices.
Governor Says National Guard, More Surveillance Coming to NYC Subways
nyc

Governor Says National Guard, More Surveillance Coming to NYC Subways

Governor Kathy Hochul announced "a new program bill that will allow judges to ban people convicted of an assault within the system from using MTA services as part of sentencing."
That Cosplay Steampunk Gun Blade the NYPD Confiscated Could Be Yours
nypd

That Cosplay Steampunk Gun Blade the NYPD Confiscated Could Be Yours

The gun blade is for sale on Amazon and other retailers, but maybe don't go swinging it around in Queens.
Behind the Blog: Corporate PR Stonewalling and The Sandwich Simulacrum
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: Corporate PR Stonewalling and The Sandwich Simulacrum

This is Behind the Blog, where we share our behind-the-scenes thoughts about how a few of our top stories of the week came together. This week, we discuss the corporate PR strategy of stonewalling the press, digital comradery, and the AI sandwich simulacrum.
A WordPress ‘Firehose’ Allows AI Companies to Buy Access to a Million Posts a Day
automattic

A WordPress ‘Firehose’ Allows AI Companies to Buy Access to a Million Posts a Day

There is a complex chain of companies buying access to WordPress and Tumblr posts through a company called SocialGist.
Watch This Guy Play ‘Doom’ on a Toothbrush
doom

Watch This Guy Play ‘Doom’ on a Toothbrush

The three million toothbrush botnet wasn’t real, but this toothbrush hacked for blasting demons between brushes is.
Fanfiction Community Rocked By Etsy Sellers Turning Their Work Into Bound Books
etsy

Fanfiction Community Rocked By Etsy Sellers Turning Their Work Into Bound Books

Several popular shops, which clearly violated Etsy's terms of use and IP laws, were deleted after 404 Media reached out for comment.
Tumblr and WordPress to Sell Users’ Data to Train AI Tools
tumblr

Tumblr and WordPress to Sell Users’ Data to Train AI Tools

Internal documents obtained by 404 Media show that Tumblr staff compiled users' data as part of a deal with Midjourney and OpenAI.
Texas Sues Pornhub, Claiming It’s Ignoring Age Verification Law
pornhub

Texas Sues Pornhub, Claiming It’s Ignoring Age Verification Law

Attorney General Ken Paxton said he "looks forward" to preventing minors from seeing "harmful, obscene material" on the internet.