Tech on its own terms: From vibe-coded chaos to Nintendo’s safe spaces and bold claims about screens and mental health
Vibe Coded AI App Generates Recipes for Cyanide Ice Cream and Cum Soup
What's happening:
An AI app built using “vibe coding” — a casual, minimal-effort approach to coding — is generating disturbing recipe ideas like cyanide-laced ice cream and “cum soup.”
Who is involved
The developer used AI tools like GPT-4 and Replit Ghostwriter to auto-generate code.
404 Media tested the app and confirmed it served up dangerous or bizarre recipes.
End users on platforms like Replit could unknowingly replicate or share harmful code.
Zoom in: The project’s creator intentionally leaned on AI without understanding the backend logic, calling it “a vibe-coded app,” exposing how AI can create fully functional — but potentially dangerous — tools when misused.
Why it caught my attention: AI is an incredible tool that opens the door to programming for many people — but without a solid understanding of how coding works, "vibe coding" can lead to apps that are careless or even dangerous.
Source: 404 Media
Do smartphones and social media really harm teens’ mental health?
What’s happening: A controversial new study claims smartphone and social media use may have caused a global rise in youth mental health issues — including depression and anxiety — since 2010.
Who is involved
Jean Twenge, a psychologist at San Diego State University, led the study.
The findings are based on global data from over 2 million adolescents.
Critics say the conclusions are too definitive and don’t prove causation.
Zoom in: Twenge argues the rise of smartphones aligns too closely with the downturn in teen mental health to be ignored. But other experts caution against jumping to conclusions without stronger causal evidence.
Why it caught my attention: Science takes time to untangle cause and effect, so it's bold for a researcher to state findings so definitively. That said, the impact of smartphones and social media on our mental health is real — and we should be cautious about how these now-ubiquitous tools shape our well-being.
Source: Nature
Nintendo’s new doomscrolling-alternative app has one great feature
What’s happening: Nintendo launched Nintendo Today, a new mobile news app designed to bypass toxic social media and deliver updates, trailers, and event calendars directly to fans — including teases for the upcoming Switch 2.
Who is involved
Nintendo, looking to own its communication pipeline.
Fans hungry for Switch 2 news and in-game event tracking.
Social platforms like X, Facebook, and YouTube, which Nintendo is quietly sidestepping.
Zoom in: While still early and a bit buggy, the app's standout feature is a calendar that tracks both real-world events (like store openings) and in-game happenings for 11 popular titles — from Animal Crossing to Splatoon 3.
Why it caught my attention: I'm hyped for all things Nintendo Switch 2, so this app feels like a direct line to what I care about. With social media platforms getting messier, it’s interesting to see Nintendo make this strategic move to control its own messaging — whether it works or not, we’ll have to wait and see.
Source: Polygon