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Technically Wrong: Sexist Apps, Biased Algorithms, and Other Threats of Toxic Tech
Technically Wrong: Sexist Apps, Biased Algorithms, and Other Threats of Toxic Tech | Sara Wachter-Boettcher
7 posts | 9 read | 23 to read
Buying groceries, tracking our health, finding a date: whatever we want to do, odds are that we can now do it online. But few of us ask why all these digital products are designed the way they are. It's time we change that. Many of the services we rely on are full of oversights, biases, and downright ethical nightmares: Chatbots that harass women. Signup forms that fail anyone who's not straight. Social media sites that send peppy messages about dead relatives. Algorithms that put more black people behind bars.Sara Wachter-Boettcher takes an unflinching look at the values, processes, and assumptions that lead to these and other problems. Technically Wrong demystifies the tech industry, leaving those of us on the other side of the screen better prepared to make informed choices about the services we use--and demand more from the companies behind them.
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TheDaysGoBy
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Overall I thought this was an interesting read that did make me think more about some of the apps. Also made me appreciate even more what an amazing community we have here on Litsy. It‘s so refreshing the vibe on here compared to things like Facebook and Twitter.

Some parts of this read a little dry but overall I learned a lot and it made me think.

#nonfiction #catsoflitsy

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SW-T
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Excellent read. Wachter-Boettcher explains why it matters when your hyphenated name doesn‘t fit in a form field. Why it matters when you have to click a gender box to create an account. Why the default option isn‘t “normal” and the harm it can cause. Why the algorithms behind Reddit, Twitter, and Facebook lend themselves to online trolling. Very engaging, eye-opening, and thought provoking read. Learned a lot. Very glad I read this one.

25 likes1 stack add
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Kelly
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Been on my to-read list a long time so now is the time.

keithmalek You might also like "Weapons of Math Destruction" by Cathy O'Neil. 5y
ephemeralwaltz Sounds interesting! Please share your thoughts. 5y
14 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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daniwithtea
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Overall this was really good - but maybe not as an audiobook. There were a couple of words that the narrator kept pronouncing incorrectly (or at least differently than what I‘m used to) and it bothered me a bit.

24 likes3 stack adds
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daniwithtea
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The first chapter of this was sort of tedious, but it really got going in chapter 2. Recommended if you work with any sort of UX/UI design, for sure.

21 likes2 stack adds
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Librarybelle
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This book - wow! Scary and informative and shocking all at one time. Wachter-Boettcher discusses biases in all forms in app and website programming, the meritocracy of Silicon Valley, and how big tech and social media companies respond to criticisms. This is extremely timely, especially with FB‘s recent news. It‘s a fast read, and she‘s got a lot of stories to back up her thoughts (she also works in the digital field, so knows her stuff). Read it!

82 likes6 stack adds
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Librarybelle
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The conference ended in a low note: I left my hotel room with my iPad in my bag, went to a conference session, then returned to my hotel room to discover my iPad missing. I never took it out of my bag, so it‘s been a nightmare convincing police and security it is missing.

So, I‘m reading this on the train ride home. I‘ve heard really good things about it!

RadicalReader @Librarybelle missing electronics are such a scary event!! Especially when the missing item is an Apple Product 6y
Samplergal Find my IPad/iPhone got mine back a few yrs ago. Hope you find your. 6y
TheLibrarian That sucks. I hope you get yours back. 6y
See All 26 Comments
Librarybelle @RadicalReader It is! And, I had just bought it and paid it off with my tax refund! 6y
Librarybelle @Samplergal I hope it does turn up, and I‘ve been happy with the Find iPhone/iPad feature 6y
LeahBergen Oh no! 😫 6y
MicheleinPhilly Ugh! I‘m sorry your visit ended on such a sour note! 6y
AmandaL 😟 6y
Swe_Eva That sucks. If only people could keep their grubby hands to themselves. 😡 6y
LisaJo ☹️😡😤 6y
Librarybelle I agree, @LT_eva ! 6y
mrp27 Oh no! 6y
megt Ugh, I‘m so sorry to hear this! I hope you‘re able to get it back. 6y
Librarybelle Thanks, @megt ! 6y
ferskner Oh that is awful! I'm so sorry! 6y
DivineDiana Oh my! So sorry. It is so unsettling to lose anything, particularly something of such value. ☹️ 6y
DivineDiana I had hoped to make it into the city to meet up with you, but the snow got in the way! 😟 6y
Librarybelle @DivineDiana The snow was not kind to many people! Lots of stories at the conference about missed flights and missed sessions. We‘ll meet up again this summer when Cindy has her time in Philly planned! 6y
DivineDiana 👏🏻📚👏🏻 6y
MarriedtoMrT Oh no! That‘s awful. I‘m sorry that was your conference end. 😞 6y
erista Ugh, how frustrating! 6y
79 likes4 stack adds26 comments