Safety is Sexy

In this episode of Safety is Sexy, I dive into Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's 2025 policy shifts for Facebook and Instagram, shaped by political climates and regulatory pressures. I explore Meta's decisions influenced by U.S. political leadership and the addition of Dana White to its board. I discuss Meta's focus on freedom of expression under the UN Human Rights Framework, declining social media use and it's connection to ad revenue, and the pivot to a compliance-driven trust and safety model, including the removal of fact-checking. I also highlight the need for media literacy, the impact of policy changes on user experiences, and the growing debate around online regulation and speech. You can view Zuckerberg's full speech here.

In this episode of 'Safety is Sexy', I discusses my favorite tech and safety podcasts. My goal is to provide you with valuable resources to stay informed on trends in tech, policy, and online safety. Highlighted podcasts include 'Artificial Intelligence and Equality', 'Data and Society', 'Pivot', 'The Sunday Show', 'Technically Human', 'Trust in Tech', and more. It’s important to take in a range of diverse perspectives in understanding complex online issues to stay engaged and explore new content.

This episode of Safety is Sexy features Bethany Smith. From her beginnings at Twitter as a tech policy fellow to managing trust and safety issues at various platforms, Bethany discusses the challenges and nuances of the field, including content moderation, community management, and policy enforcement. She recounts navigating high-pressure situations, such as the Christchurch incident, which underscored the importance of thoughtful messaging and flexibility in enforcement. Bethany also emphasizes the collaborative nature of trust and safety, the need for transparency in user communication, and the mental health challenges faced by moderators. 

In this episode of Safety is Sexy, I'm joined by Agnes Everard to discuss how she transitioned from teaching to a career in Trust and Safety, We explore the intersection of tech, education, and policy development. Her career includes pivotal roles in crisis management at Airbnb, and shaping policies at Patreon. She delves into the complexities of policy development related to hate speech, misinformation, and the importance of diverse thinking. Agnes emphasizes the value of stakeholder collaboration, user education, and staying informed about regulation changes to create effective policies. We also discuss key challenges for newcomers in tech policy and strategies for building a supportive professional network. Agnes offers practical advice on blending passion with preparedness and underscores the impact collective effort has in the field of Trust and Safety.

In this episode of Safety is Sexy, I speak with youth safety expert Vaishnavi J to discuss the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act (KOSPA) and its implications. We discuss the duty of care, default privacy settings, and regulations on data collection, as well as the challenges companies face in implementing these regulations, the broader implications of youth online safety across various online platforms, the importance of involving youth voices in policy conversations, and the impact of school policies on device usage.

In this episode of Safety is Sexy I speak with Louis Victor, CEO and Co-Founder of Tremau, about the role of trusted flaggers as outlined by the Digital Services Act (DSA). We discuss the significance of transparency, regulatory implications on trust flaggers, and the balance between user safety and freedom of expression. We also cover the responsibilities of Digital Service Coordinators, the operational and financial hurdles for trusted flagger organizations, and the role of transparency for trusted flaggers under the DSA. 

If you work in trust and safety, you have heard phrases like "it's just a joke" or "I was trying to be funny" A LOT! However, as we look at the data, we can see that microaggressions, a statement, action, or incident regarded as an instance of indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group such as a racial or ethnic minority, happen A LOT! In this episode, I speak with Rachel Kowert as we discuss microaggressions, how they present, and what we can do as platforms to mitigate and reduce risk when it comes to this type of behavior before it escalates. 

This week we delve into the critical topic of risk assessments within the evolving landscape of online safety regulations. I’m joined by Agne Kaarlep from Tremau, exploring how various regulatory frameworks like the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the UK Online Safety Act (OSA) are implementing risk assessments to improve platform safety and governance. We discuss the necessity of continuous and cyclical risk evaluation, the differences in regulatory approaches between the EU and UK governments, and the broader impacts on trust and safety practices within companies. 

In this episode, I dive into my work with Anne Collier whom I worked with on the Social Media Helpline for schools. We go into the history of trusted flaggers and their relationship to industry. We also break down some of the helplines models we followed for starting our helpline in the US. We also dive into the challenges of identifying and reporting content that violates a platform’s community guidelines as a trusted flagger and what this insight could mean when it comes Article 22 of the Digital Services Act.