The Hidden Power of Code by Amanda

Electric toothbrush

2025-04-10 03:13:24 UTC

My toothbrush automatically tracks my brushing, buzzing each 30 seconds to encourage me to brush different regions of my mouth. It does clean my teeth better, but my mouth is now a coded space.

oceanepayrard — 2025-04-10 03:14:14 UTC

Social media algorithms, like those on Instagram or TikTok, use hidden code to curate users' feeds based on engagement patterns. This code is invisible to users, making them unaware of how content is prioritised. This reduces their sense of agency, as they feel their feed is shaped by the algorithm rather than their own choices. It affects autonomy by limiting what users see, often pushing them toward content that maximises engagement rather than what they may freely choose.

Okta login confirmation

2025-04-10 03:14:29 UTC

Since all our uni work is digital, then it becomes digitally vulnerable, so we have to have the hassle of authenticating ourselves every time

self-driving car

2025-04-10 03:15:12 UTC

The code behind self-driving cars determines how they navigate the roads. Radars and cameras use codes to understand and judge the environment, thereby affecting the car's driving decisions.

Personalized recommendation system for online shopping platforms

zhaoh5759 — 2025-04-10 03:16:57 UTC

Users will be fed ‘tracking’ adverts after browsing a product once; even the price of a product may fluctuate depending on the user's profile.

We think we are shopping for what we need, but in fact many of our decisions are ‘designed’ by the platform, and this kind of inducement undermines consumers' judgement and freedom of choice.

Campus access system

2025-04-10 03:18:53 UTC

I have to scan my student card to enter buildings on campus. The system records the time and place of entry, and the code behind it controls where and when I’m allowed to go. This seemingly routine process quietly monitors my movements and restricts my access, changing how I experience and navigate campus spaces without me fully realizing it.