The hottest Tech Critique Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Things Worth Remembering: Don’t Feed Them After Midnight

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1275 implied HN points • 07 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Tech Critique
  1. A small, well-intentioned invention can spiral into chaos when basic rules and safeguards are ignored.
  2. The story critiques modern life by showing how commercialism and unchecked technology produce dangerous, unexpected consequences.
  3. Responsibility and clear limits matter — mishandling powerful things or breaking simple rules leads to real harm.

Stop Faecism?!

The Lifeboat • 321 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
⚔ Fiction Tech Critique
  1. An AI-linked discovery triggered a coprophagy pandemic and governments responded by mandating digital rectal plugs (ColonLock/SAURON) that log, geolocate, and even tax bowel movements via digital IDs.
  2. Mass voluntary coprophagy became a form of radical self-sufficiency that undermined the economy, forcing states to adopt authoritarian surveillance and punitive measures to recoup taxes and restore order.
  3. The crackdown provoked mass protests, conspiracies, black markets, and brutal forced plugging, leaving people torn between helping suffering friends, asserting bodily autonomy, or joining the resistance.

To Hell With Good Intentions, Silicon Valley Edition

The Convivial Society • 2805 implied HN points • 11 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Tech Critique
  1. Good intentions in technology can sometimes lead to unintended harm. It's important for developers to consider how their innovations affect people's lives.
  2. We should listen to the needs of the communities we want to help, instead of imposing our own ideas of what's best for them. Understanding their perspectives is key to making a real difference.
  3. Technologies should empower people and enhance their abilities rather than create new forms of dependency. We need to focus on how tech can genuinely improve lives.

Thoughts on Indie Data Conferences

Joe Reis • 255 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Tech Critique
  1. Indie data conferences offer a vendor-free, peer-focused experience.
  2. Indie conferences are organized by individuals taking risks for the data community's benefit.
  3. Attending indie meetups supports real-world practitioners in sharing knowledge without commercial influence.

Techno-Feudalist Time Theft

The Carousel • 89 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Tech Critique
  1. Many tech products force us to do extra work, making us feel like we're troubleshooting issues that should be the company's responsibility. This is done to cut costs for the companies and shift the burden onto consumers.
  2. Digital products can end up costing more and being more complicated than simpler, traditional options. For example, digital car keys can be expensive to replace and often need frequent reprogramming.
  3. The design of modern tech is often intentional to make us do more work for them, not less. Instead of providing convenience, tech can sometimes complicate our lives and steal our time.
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