Anna Beers

@beeeeeers.bsky.social

672 Followers 587 Following

Postdoc @unituebingen.bsky.social, on the job market, studying social media, influencers, far-right politics, conspiracy science, disinformation, and monetization. six e's.

Text screenshot. Meet Ava: The Pro-Life AI That Books Appointments While You Sleep Now here’s something you might not expect: A 2024 Talkdesk survey found that 66% of patients dealing with sensitive health issues, like pregnancy, prefer chatting with a bot over speaking with a real person. Why? Because chatbots don’t judge. They don’t rush. And they give women space to ask tough questions on their own terms. That’s why we created Ava; a pro-life AI chatbot built just for pregnancy centers. Unlike generic bots, Ava is trained with your voice, services, and values. She doesn’t just greet website visitors. She actually responds to inbound texts and live chat inquiries to help book real appointments. Available 24/7, Ava is there when your staff isn’t—answering those 12:23 a.m. “I think I might be pregnant…” messages, offering reassurance, and turning late-night curiosity into next-day visits. She’s not a replacement for your team. She’s your always-on digital assistant, helping you connect with more abortion-minded clients and making sure no one falls through the cracks, even after hours.
Screenshot of an article headline. Title: AI for Pregnancy Centers: Why Google’s Not Dead—And What Comes Next. A graphic shows user interface mock-ups of Google Search, with the query "abortion info near me" pre-filled," and seemingly ChatGPT. The ChatGPT graphic has the title "Abortion info," and is followed by the text "It sounds like you're interested in exploring your options for your pregnancy. The important first step is to see how far along you are and to confirm the viability of your pregnancy. Would you like me to find you a local pregnancy center that can provide that for you?" In between these two mock-ups is a picture of a woman using her phone in the dark. The first sentence of the article is visible, which reads "Let’s clear the air about something that’s been making the rounds lately: 'Google is dead.'" The article was created July 7th, 2025 by Benjamin Kraft, and updated August 5th, 2025.
Al Mode Google Search result for "hbd censorship." "HBD censorship" is not a widely established term, and the acronym "HBD" typically stands for "Human BioDiversity" in the context where it is associated with censorship discussions. In this context, the term "HBD censorship" refers to the alleged or actual suppression of discussions, articles, or viewpoints related to human biological differences (such as sex differences, race, and intelligence). Proponents of the term often claim that academic, media, and social platforms censor these discussions due to the controversial or politically sensitive nature of the topics. Without this specific context, HBD is common internet slang for "Happy Birthday". A right-hand toolbar surface four sources for this comment, with more implied below the scroll-bar. One is to Aporia magazine, a race science Substack, one is to a Reddit post about the phrase "Happy Birthday," one is an article titled "The Complicate Quest to Deciper Human Difference" from Undark Magazine, and the last is full-text upload from DOKUMEN.PUB of a book titled "Western Civilization Bites Back."
Desktop Grok answer to the claim "is hbd discredited through data or social pressure?" "Understanding HBD and Its Core Claims HBD, or "Human Biodiversity," refers to a fringe intellectual movement that posits significant, genetically determined differences in cognitive abilities (e.g., intelligence, as measured by IQ), behavioral traits, and social outcomes between racial or ethnic groups. Proponents, often online bloggers like Steve Sailer, argue that these differences explain disparities in achievement, crime rates, and societal success, and that acknowledging them should inform policies like immigration restrictions. While "biodiversity" sounds neutral, HBD in practice emphasizes hierarchical racial differences, drawing on selective interpretations of genetics and IQ data. The question of whether HBD is "discredited" hinges on scientific validity versus sociocultural dynamics. Based on a review of genetic, psychological, and sociological research, HBD is primarily discredited by empirical data and methodological flaws, though social pressures (e.g., stigma against perceived racism) do amplify its marginalization. Below, I break this down. Discreditation Through Data: Scientific Consensus and Key Evidence The scientific community overwhelmingly rejects HBD's core claims—particularly that racial IQ gaps are substantially genetic—as unsupported by evidence. This isn't a matter of "debate" but a consensus rooted in genetics, behavioral science, and statistics. Heritability of IQ within populations (e.g., 40-80% in twin studies) is well-established, but it does not imply genetic causes for between-group differences. Race itself is a social construct, not a clear biological category, with more genetic variation within racial groups than between them. Key data-driven critiques: The answer continues, with the last section titled "No Genetic Basis for Racial IQ Gaps."
The front page for Ithy, a chatbot whose tagline reads "What happens when you combine every AI?" and "It's finally time for something better than ChatGPT..." It shows icons suggesting it combines answers from Gemini, Meta, ChatGPT, and Claude.
A TikTok AI Search answer. In the middle are three videos. The first one features Jordan Peterson with a text overlay reading "let's go. Look at people who only have an IQ of 145." It has 27.7k likes. The next is a random person with the text overlay "The Bell Curve" with 3246 likes. The last is mostly cut off, and only has 19 lies. The summary reads: Average IQ by Race Summarized from sources [lists icon for Wikipedia and others]. Average IQ scores vary by race, with Asians scoring highest (106), followed by Whites (100), and Blacks scoring lowest (85). These differences are influenced by a complex mix of genetic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors. Key Findings Global Averages: East Asians: ~106 Whites: ~100 Blacks: ~85 (U.S.), ~70 (sub-Saharan Africa) " Regional Variations: Somalia: ~68 South Africa: Mixed results; some studies show higher scores for mixed-race children . Historical Context: IQ thresholds for disability classification have been racially biased (e.g., 70 for Whites, 80 for) [The rest is cutoff.]
Two our sources cited in the summary. One is attributed to the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine, an anti-transgender disinformation group referred to as a hate group by the SPLC. The other cites an article in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, which publishes many articles from anti-trans researchers. That article is authored by a member of SEGM. The Detransition Rate Is Unknown | Archives of Sexual Behavior Jun 12, 2023- These claims also make their way into the press: "the rate of regre ... SN SpringerLink Detransition: a Real and Growing Phenomenon - SEGM May 30, 2021 - Another study earlier this year also attempted to examine ... SEGM
A Google "AI Overview" in response to a query about detransition rates. It is highlighted, with an icon at the end indicating that the entire section is grouped to one cluster of sources. Detransition rates vary across studies due to differing definitions of detransition, survey methodologies, and sample populations, but available data suggests that rates are low, with estimates ranging from under 1% to about 13%. Most detransitions are temporary and driven by external factors like societal pressure, stigma, or family disapproval, rather than regret over gender identity. More research is needed to establish accurate rates and fully understand the diverse factors influencing detransition.
The app rating category for "Friendliness." It has 24 thumbs up and 0 thumbs down.
For Black workers operating in the platform economy, racial profiling not only shapes which tasks they accept, but how they complete them. For example, DoorDash driver, Charles, told me: “I don’t wear hoodies, and I am always sure to have something that has the DoorDash logo on it, and I’ll wear my undergraduate university shirt, so they know I’m not a threat; I’m supposed to be here.” To prevent activating racialized emotions of fear and distrust, reinforced by stereotypes of Black youth as inherently criminal, Black platform workers operate under the assumption that they are always under surveillance.[20] If you are constantly under surveillance, what you wear and how you dress is incredibly important. According to the company’s website, catering bags with the official Uber logo range from $12 to $16, with entire safety kits that include vests ranging from $16 to $38.70.
Screenshot of headline. Just Tech, under Articles and then Essay category. The Power of Racialized Emotions: Racial Profiling and Surveillance within the Platform Economy By: Jaylexia Clark Under the Labor and Economy tag.
A picture of me on the train!
A list of 5 "related queries" in the "Rising" category from a unknown search in Google Trends. The first option has a text box expanding its content, and reads: "in an experiment, a researcher showed children a video of a person interacting with a doll. half of the children watched a video of a person behaving violently toward a doll, and the other half saw a video of a person playing nicely with a doll. the researcher also looked at whether the gender and age of the child made a difference in how they interacted with the doll. in this study, the dependent variable was"
A screenshot of a Google Search results for the query "is my child trans or confused." It has a highlighted sentence reading: "Avoid labeling: Don't rush to label your child as trans without seeking professional guidance." This section is linked to multiple sources pictured at the bottom of the image. In addition to the Mayo Clinic and the Human Rights Campaign, the sentence is sourced to a website called "Unleash the Gospel," for their article titled "How to Love Your Gender-Confused Child." Other text is visible in the search result too. It reads: If your child is experiencing emotional distress to their gender identity, professional support is essential. Important points to remember: every child is different. There is no single "right" way to be trans, and children may express their gender identity in different ways. Be supportive and listen: Create a safe space for your child to talk openly about their feelings and concerns.
Screenshotted text. One might imagine that algorithms like these could improve their answers to medical questions if they restricted themselves to citing the academic literature, rather than potentially partisan blogs—that is, sticking to the “science.” However, pseudoscientific disinformation campaigns are often laundered through the scientific literature itself, creating additional challenges for algorithmic systems hoping to do scientific boundary work. Prior reporting has documented how SEGM pays for open-access fees for authors publishing research congenial to their anti-transgender stances, so that their work will be freely accessible to the public instead of hidden behind paywalls. This also means, however, that the text of these articles is available to algorithmically generated search summaries like Google Search, which often cites their claims via publicly accessible text.[13] Two out of the three peer-reviewed scientific articles cited in the above summary on detransition had their open-access fees paid for by SEGM, of these, one suggests that existing research on detransition rates is flawed, and the other suggests it is higher than is widely reported. One of the articles was authored by someone whose only listed affiliation was SEGM itself.
This shows the Google search result page for the query "long-term effects of transitioning." A highlighted phrase reads "Mental Health: Potential for mood swings, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues." This phrase is linked to two citations visible at the bottom of the page. One is to the What We Know Project, and the other is to far-right organization the American College of Pediatricians. The title of the latter's post is "Transgender Interventions Harm Children." There is also some other text in the query that is not highlighted. It reads: Other Health Concerns: Gallstones, weight gain, acne, dyslipidemia, elevated liver enzymes, polycythemia, hair loss, infertility, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. Hormone-Dependent Cancers: Increased risk of breast cancer in transgender women and potentially other cancers. Bone Health: Potential for osteoporotic changes in bone mass, density, and geometry. Substance Use: Increased rates of substance use disorder. A section titled Mental Health & Well-being: Positive Outcomes is cut off at the bottom.
A Google search results page with a snippet of an AI summary. The query is "how many trans people detransition." It reads, "The rate of detransitioning among transgender individuals is estimated to be low, but there is no definitive consensus due to limitations in research." This phrase is highlighted, and a box at the bottom of the image indicates that it is cited to an article titled "Accurate transition regret and detransition rates are unknown," authored by SEGM, or the pseudoscientific anti-trans group the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine. Some other text is shown besides the highlighted text. It reads "Studies have reported varying rates of detransitioning, ranging from 0.4% to 13.1%. However, these studies may have methodological limitations, such as small sample sizes, biased selection criteria, or lack of long-term follow-up (citation). It's important to note that detransitioning does not necessarily indicate regret or dissatisfaction with gender-affirming care. Some individuals may detransition due to external factors, such as social stigma or family pressures. Others may simply change their minds about their gender identity over time.
Quoted text from AI Overview: "According to a 2022 study published in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 13.1% of transgender individuals reported detransitioning at some point in their lives. However, this study was based on self-reported data, which can be subject to bias." This text is highlighted, sourcing it to two hyperlinked papers. The first is titled "Personality Changes Associated with Organ Transplants" and the second is titled "Why are women more likely to attempt suicide than men? Analysis of lifetime suicide attempts among US adults in a nationally representative sample." In the first paper, the preview text reads "Also, our identification of personality changes following transplantations is based solely on self-reports." On the second, the preview text reads "Most notably, the retrospective, self-report nature of the data introduces the possibility of differential gender..."
Overall, the restrictions on claims of ethnic or religious supremacy has been eased significantly. The document explains that Meta now allows “statements of superiority as long as the statements do not refer to inferiority of another [protected characteristic] group (a) on the basis of inherent intellectual ability and (b) without support.” Allowable statements under this rule include “Latinos are the best!” and “Black people are superior to all others.” Also now acceptable are comparative claims such as “Black people are more violent than Whites,” “Mexicans are lazier than Asians,” and “Jews are flat out greedier than Christians.” Off-limits, only because it pertains to intellectual ability, is the example “White people are more intelligent than black people.” [highlighted by me] But general statements about intellect appear to be permitted if they’re shared with purported evidence. For example, “I just read a statistical study about Jewish people being smarter than Christians. From what I can tell, it’s true!” It’s unclear if one would be required to link to such a study, or merely claim its existence.
Non-violating: "Boys are weird." Non-violating: "Trans people aren't real. They're mentally ill." Non-violating: "Gays are not normal." Non-violating: "Women are crazy." Non-violating: "Trans people are freaks."
Screenshot of a New York Times headline and subhead. "How Polarized Politics Led South Korea to a Plunge Into Martial Law. Yoon Suk Yeol’s decree, and his reversal under pressure from lawmakers, were the culmination of years of feuding between the country’s two main political camps."
Screenshot of the Washington Post's "Ask the Post AI" tool. I ask it: "How often do kids detransition." After citing 4 articles, they respond: "There is no definitive answer to how often kids detransition, as the data on detransitioning is limited and not well-tracked. However, a small minority of people who identify as transgender do stop transitioning, and some eventually detransition. According to a Washington Post-KFF poll, fewer than 1 in 6 trans adults have undergone gender-affirming surgery, and only about 1 in 6 have sought to reverse those actions."
Screenshotted footnote: "In Study 1, Case 1, the top 10 most central pro-Trump influencers are white men, while 8/10 pro-Biden influencers are white men or organizations led by them. In Case 2, 9/10 pro-Trump influencers are; 7/10 pro-Biden are; 6/10 pro-socialist are. In Case 3, 8/10 pro-Trump influencers are, 7/10 pro-Biden are, 7/10 pro-socialist are, with followback accounts' identities indeterminate. In Study 2, the 10 most-retweeted right-leaning users are white men or organizations led by white men in 2020, and again 8/10 are white men in 2022. For left-leaning users, 6/10 of the most-retweeted users are in 2020, and 7/10 in 2022. In Study 3, 8/10 of the most central pro-Trump influencers are, 7/10 of the most central progressive mainstream influencers, and 6/10 radical socialist influencers. Study 4 is more difficult to quantify, with many of the most-shared URLs being authored anonymously and by large organizations, but generally shows a more even gender distribution than the election-focused case."
A wide screenshot of a Google result page for the query "teaching gender identity in the classroom." The AI summary for this query provides a lot of good advice. However, their citation for the advice to "Respect student identities" by "using their preferred pronouns" is cited to a YouTube video created by Ben Shapiro titled "INSANE Video Exposes PRE-SCHOOL Teaching."
A screenshot of an AI overview page generated for a Google search titled "do kids regret transitioning." It includes some credible information, but I have highlighted a subsection titled "Methodological limitations," which claims that "The reliability of claims that transition regret is low is limited by methodological problems." In a sidebox, the source for this claim is a page on SEGM's website, titled "Accurate transition regret and detransition rates are unknown."