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.
305 posts
Pornhub Wants Proof of Consent From Every Single Performer on Its Platform
platforms

Pornhub Wants Proof of Consent From Every Single Performer on Its Platform

Starting January 23, performers will need to upload proof of consent for videos that feature other people.
Behind the Blog: Open Source Platforms and Impactful Journalism
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: Open Source Platforms and Impactful Journalism

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 tenacity in blogging, seeing results from journalism, and open-source platforms.
Man Sues 27 Women After Facebook Users Call Him ‘Clingy’ and ‘Psycho’
dating

Man Sues 27 Women After Facebook Users Call Him ‘Clingy’ and ‘Psycho’

Nikko D’Ambrosio filed a complaint against a long list of individuals and platforms, seeking damages he alleges he incurred because of a ‘Are We Dating the Same Guy’ Facebook group.
Texas Health Department Claims It Has Nothing to Do With Warnings on Porn From Texas Health Department
age verification

Texas Health Department Claims It Has Nothing to Do With Warnings on Porn From Texas Health Department

An age verification law in Texas demands that porn sites put up a warning from Health and Human Services about the dangers of porn. But the department claims it has nothing to do with it, and no records to show.
Behind the Blog: Face-Scanning Kids, Epstein Documents, and Internet Bike Fandoms
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: Face-Scanning Kids, Epstein Documents, and Internet Bike Fandoms

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 Google face-scanning children, accessing the Epstein documents, and a viral Peloton moment.
Watch Peloton Instructor Dunk on ‘Tenet’ to Christopher Nolan’s Face
cinema

Watch Peloton Instructor Dunk on ‘Tenet’ to Christopher Nolan’s Face

Director Christopher Nolan apparently sweated through Peloton instructor Jenn Sherman calling his 2020 film impossible to understand during a workout class.
North Carolina and Montana Just Lost Access to Pornhub
age verification

North Carolina and Montana Just Lost Access to Pornhub

As North Carolina and Montana enact new age verification laws effective January 1, residents can’t view sites in Pornhub’s parent company network.
Behind the Blog: A Gift Guide, Goals, and Some End of Year Nostalgia
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: A Gift Guide, Goals, and Some End of Year Nostalgia

This week, we discuss the year we've had, technology journalism as a complicated feeling, and some gift ideas for your last minute shopping.
‘No Laughing Matter:’ Clowns Sue Clowns.com for Wage Theft
Labor

‘No Laughing Matter:’ Clowns Sue Clowns.com for Wage Theft

Former employees of the party entertainer company say they are victims of stolen wages and misclassification. The federal lawsuit details claims of QAnon conspiracy theorist bosses and retaliation for discussing allegedly illegal practices with colleagues.
Largest Dataset Powering AI Images Removed After Discovery of Child Sexual Abuse Material
AI

Largest Dataset Powering AI Images Removed After Discovery of Child Sexual Abuse Material

The model is a massive part of the AI-ecosystem, used by Stable Diffusion and other major generative AI products. The removal follows discoveries made by Stanford researchers, who found thousands instances of suspected child sexual abuse material in the dataset.
Behind the Blog: Marketing Company Claims It's Listening To Your Convos
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: Marketing Company Claims It's Listening To Your Convos

This week, we discuss the media giant that claimed to have technology that can actively listen to consumers through their devices.
Freezing My Eggs Felt Like Spinning a Slot Machine With My Ovaries
medicine

Freezing My Eggs Felt Like Spinning a Slot Machine With My Ovaries

The cost of medications, testing, retrieval, and storage involved in egg freezing is just one series of numbers in a process and procedure that feels like a combination of math, alchemy, and luck.