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.
227 posts
Behind the Blog: iPhone Mysteries and Sex Strikes
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: iPhone Mysteries and Sex Strikes

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 talk about the question "are people nutting to that?", doomscrolling on election night, and calls for Lysistrata 2024.
Why the Work Still Matters
Donald Trump

Why the Work Still Matters

When Donald Trump won in 2016, we weren't sure if good journalism mattered anymore. Now, we're more sure than ever it does.
'Scared the Life Out of Me': Here Are the FCC Complaints After Texas 'Blue Alert' Blast
News

'Scared the Life Out of Me': Here Are the FCC Complaints After Texas 'Blue Alert' Blast

After getting hit with a 4 a.m. emergency alert about a shooting hundreds of miles away from where they were sleeping, a lot of Texans were very pissed.
404 Media Is Partnering With Wired
Announcements

404 Media Is Partnering With Wired

Wired is going to co-publish two of our articles a month.
Leaked Training Shows How Doctors in New York’s Biggest Hospital System Are Using AI
AI

Leaked Training Shows How Doctors in New York’s Biggest Hospital System Are Using AI

At Northwell Health, executives are encouraging clinicians and all 85,000 employees to use a tool called AI Hub, according to a presentation obtained by 404 Media.
Podcast: How Politician Turned Advocate Susanna Gibson Battles Non-Consensual Imagery
Podcast

Podcast: How Politician Turned Advocate Susanna Gibson Battles Non-Consensual Imagery

The former candidate for Virginia House of Delegates Susanna Gibson on how she went from full-time nurse, to running for office, to being targeted by non-consensual intimate imagery and harassment—and how her new model legislation and nonprofit are focused on helping other victims of NCII.
Behind the Blog: Perverse Virality
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: Perverse Virality

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 talk about going viral, what we're watching lately, and a trip to Best Buy.
Behind the Blog: Breach Rumors and Fun With Maps
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: Breach Rumors and Fun With Maps

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 a tech near-catastrophe, data journalism, and breach rumors.
Employees Describe an Environment of Paranoia and Fear Inside Automattic Over WordPress Chaos
wordpress

Employees Describe an Environment of Paranoia and Fear Inside Automattic Over WordPress Chaos

Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg made another buyout offer this week, and threatened employees who speak to the press with termination.
Behind the Blog: Sensitive Sourcing and Job Application Hell
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: Sensitive Sourcing and Job Application Hell

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 a sensitive data breach, the terrible process of sorting and sending job applications, and how Wikipedia is battling AI slop.
‘The Community Is In Chaos:’ WordPress.org Now Requires You Denounce Affiliation With WP Engine To Log In
wordpress

‘The Community Is In Chaos:’ WordPress.org Now Requires You Denounce Affiliation With WP Engine To Log In

WordPress.org users are forced to confirm they are not "affiliated with WP Engine in any way, financially or otherwise" before registering a new account or logging in.
Behind the Blog: Newsworthy FOIA Files and the Art and Science of Paywalling
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: Newsworthy FOIA Files and the Art and Science of Paywalling

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 FOIAing after those racist pet-eating claims, the art and science of paywalling, and gambling with journalism.