tech

Facebook is Even Tracking Your “Off-Facebook Activity”. Here’s How to Change That.
Our Tech Column was made possible by the fine folks at Mozilla Firefox. The nonprofit Mozilla Foundation believes the Internet must always remain a global public resource that is open and accessible to all. And that’s why we love Firefox as our browser, and you should too. GUEST POST BY DAVID

Teaching Your Kids About Sex? There’s an App For That!
by Laurie Riihimaki Ok, so it’s official, parenting just got lazier. Now there are actually apps that help you teach your kid about sex! All the awkward questions you used to have to answer are now handed off to an age-appropriate Siri-equivalent. And I get it, parents, it’s not always

The New York Times Is Trolling SF and California Again and it’s Garbage
The New York Times positively lives to troll San Francisco. Sometimes, it’s a prurient examination of the lives of people who rummage through trash for a living, as if that yields valuable insights about us. Other times, it’s about how dirty streets are apparently unique to this city. Still other times,

Are New Smart Devices Really Better Than Old Dumb Ones?
As our country’s permanent festival of capitalism and conspicuous consumption marches forward, prepare for some holiday-infused reminders of what you, your family, and friends must absolutely buy to stay happy. And this year, what you absolutely need to buy is the Internet, but on devices.

How the Spotify Algorithm is Ruining My Work Life
Algorithms increasingly seem to be running our lives. They’re used in courts, hospitals, and banks. The use of the algorithms bring up a lot of concerns about bias, privacy, and the kind of content they share. I have a much more basic problem with them: they’re stupid.

Why DNA Tests Might be a Terrible Idea
DNA tests—like those offered by companies 23andMe, Ancestry.com, and FamilyTreeDNA—come with a simple promise. In exchange for cash and some spit in a tube, you can learn your deepest, most ancestral secrets.

Millennials Experience “Load Rage” Over Slow Download Speeds
“Roughly 5,342 years remaining. Please do not turn off your computer.” Gen Xers who came of age during the AOL era look back on warnings like this with nostalgia. Load rage wasn’t a thing then. For millennials, however, nothing causes more indignation than a download lasting more than five seconds.

What the Hell is Blockchain, and Why Won’t Men Stop Telling Me About it?
You’ve heard about it on dates. You’ve read about it on Tinder profiles. You’ve seen it emblazoned on startup t-shirts worn at 21st Amendment.
“Blockchain.”