technology Archives

View from behind of two people with long hair, one brunette and one with red hair, sitting outside. They book look at the TikTok apps on their phones.

‘Just straight-up shock’: State-mandated university bans on TikTok are fraying students’ connections to the world

'Things are just going to continue to get worse.'

On May 12, 2023 by Tricia Crimmins

IRL

‘It never arrives but Amazon will not refund you’: Tech worker warns against ordering from Amazon

'I probably won't order expensive electronics on Amazon after this.'

On Mar 9, 2023 by Braden Bjella

IRL

woman putting white napkin under automatic sink making water run with caption 'Black women against Tech' (l) woman putting hand automatic sink which isn't making the making water run with caption 'Black women against Tech' (c) woman putting white napkin under automatic sink making water run with caption 'Black women against Tech' (r)

‘Not me thinking automatic sinks are just constantly defective’: Black woman says automatic faucet doesn’t work for her—it works for white paper towel

'I thought I was losing my mind.'

On Mar 3, 2023 by Luna Danielle

IRL

Walmart screen with security camera footage with caption 'Y'all better watch out Walmart isn't playin anymore' (l) Walmart store with sign (c) person speaking with caption 'I don't get it, what does that do exactly so essentially what those cameras do is track you around the store' (r)

‘You’re being watched at Walmart literally 24/7’: Walmart customer says cameras track shoppers and items they pick up

'They spending more money on surveillance than the workers.'

On Feb 17, 2023 by Braden Bjella

IRL

store refrigerator with image over glass of drinks with caption 'now even stores are using filters to catfish us with products' (l) hand opening store refrigerator with image over glass of drinks with caption 'now even stores are using filters to catfish us with products' (c) store refrigerator with image over glass of drinks open to reveal not the same drinks inside amount of with caption 'now even stores are using filters to catfish us with products' (r)

‘The way I’d walk right back out if I saw this’: Walgreens customer confused at digital screens on fridge doors showing products

'If only there was some type of material you could just see through and keep the cold inside.'

On Feb 11, 2023 by Braden Bjella

IRL

Netflix on wall mounted tv with screen displaying text 'A Netflix account is for people who live in the same location' (l) man speaking with hand out (c) person on iPad canceling Netflix account with typed reason for cancelation displaying as 'Y'all trippin' with finger pushing 'done' (r)

‘I hope they go out of business for this’: Canadian TikTokers cancel Netflix subscriptions as password-sharing rule kicks in

'To be fair to Netflix, canceling was super easy.'

On Feb 10, 2023 by Audra Schroeder

Internet Culture IRL

Carl's JR drive thru speaker with sign 'Hi, I'm Tori A New Drive-Thru Experience' (l) Carl's Jr building with sign (c) Carl's JR drive thru menu (r)

‘They asked for $20 an hour and Carl’s Jr said bet’: Carl’s Jr. customer orders meal via A.I. assistant in drive-thru

'Can’t wait to see how Karens handle AI customer service.'

On Feb 7, 2023 by Jack Alban

IRL

Thousands of people have been watching an AI-generated infinite ‘Seinfeld’ episode on Twitch

'But do we want to watch infinite seasons of a show'?

On Feb 4, 2023 by Audra Schroeder

Tech

Denny's restaurant with robot server giving customers food with caption 'My mom sent me this video of her robotic waiter at Dennys...wait fot it' 'do you just take it?'please take your food'' (l) Denny's building with sign (c) Denny's robot server driving away with food with caption 'oh whoa whoa whoa you left he left with my food' (r)

‘Gotta be quicker than that buddy’: Robot server at Denny’s scurries away with customers’ food

'Still better service than I've ever received at Denny's.'

On Jan 31, 2023 by Braden Bjella

IRL

Target customer says someone switched out Apple Airpods Pro with fake one

‘I got ripped off’: Target customer says someone switched out Apple Airpods Pro and replaced them with fake pair

'Someone isn’t checking the returns.'

On Jan 8, 2023 by Jack Alban

IRL

Panera Bread drive thru speaker with caption 'New Computer Drive-Thru Experience at Panera Bread' (l) Panera Bread restaurant and sign (r)

‘Damn i am a drive thru cashier at Panera, she is snatching my job’: Robot drive-thru attendant takes customer’s order at Panera

'The thing companies will do to not have to pay employees more.'

On Jan 5, 2023 by Cecilia Lenzen

IRL Tech

McDonald's automatic drink dispenser filling cup caption 'I've never seen this before, I'm shook!' (l) McDonald's signs on McDonald's building (c) McDonald's counter with orange sign 'WE APOLOGIZE THAT CASHIERS ARE CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE' caption 'I've never seen this before, I'm shook!' (r)

‘I have to order through the kiosk. No humans work here, just machines’: McDonald’s customer films store operating without any workers, automatic drink dispenser

'They don't even have anybody here.'

On Dec 27, 2022 by Rebekah Harding

IRL Tech

Elon Musk speaking into microphone with headphones on in front of black fabric background

Elon Musk accused of going back to his ‘apartheid roots’ after losing Twitter CEO vote, proposing poll tax

Poll taxes by governments have long and racist histories.

On Dec 20, 2022 by David Covucci

Tech

store's fridge lock system with screen 'Scan ID Here' (l) store alcohol fridges locked (c) store's fridge lock system with 'PLEASE SELECT DOOR(S) TO OPEN' on screen (r)

‘This is the beginning of a social credit system’: Bud Light door at gas station requires ID to open and get beer

'If we don’t stop heading towards a blade runner world I’m going to go live in the middle of nowhere.'

On Dec 4, 2022 by Braden Bjella

IRL

‘I think someone’s getting fired’: Customer finds Walmart employee’s handheld Zebra device in their bag

'Is this important?'

On Dec 1, 2022 by Melody Heald

IRL