Never Post Assigned Male At Login
Aug 13, 2025
Toby Martin, a contributing producer who investigates social algorithms and gender, joins Justin Jackson, co-founder of Transistor.fm, to dissect how algorithms shape perceptions of identity. They explore the peculiar nuances of hyper-masculine ads experienced by trans men and discuss the challenges of algorithmic targeting. The conversation also dives into the evolution of RSS, highlighting its significance in content distribution and the push for open standards in the digital landscape, making it clear that RSS still has a vital role in media consumption today.
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Top Surgery Triggered Different Ads
- Toby Martin describes getting hyper-masculine ads after top surgery that felt jarringly wrong for him.
- He began investigating targeted ads and asked other trans people if they'd noticed similar shifts.
Community Reports Rapid Ad Changes
- Toby polled other trans folks and collected responses about changing targeted ads during transition.
- Contributors described rapid ad shifts after visiting transition-related sites and product purchases.
Algorithms Build Profiles From Many Signals
- Adam Aleksic explains algorithms build profiles from likes, posts, and cross-app signals like Wi-Fi co-location.
- These aggregated signals shape what content and ads platforms serve to you.
