Young Russians have flooded TikTok with videos in support of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and protests across the country. And the Russian government is starting to crack down on the platform. But of course, social media isn’t just for planning protests these days. ASMR influencers on Youtube are getting creative about how they reduce the fear that comes with navigating the world amid Covid-19.

Cameras used to track down people who aren’t wearing masks. Contact tracing apps that alert people if they’ve come into contact with someone who has Covid-19. Remote learning platforms that track students’ eye movements while they take exams. We’re turning to tech to help us get through the pandemic and curb the spread of Covid-19. But some of these tools are raising a lot of questions about privacy during a public health crisis.

For people who were paying close attention to QAnon and far-right extremist groups, the siege of the Capitol didn’t come out of nowhere. And it’s not just election disinformation that has disastrous effects. Even this far into the pandemic, there’s still a lot of pseudoscience. We take a look at one type: fake coronavirus cures.

Coda Currents is coming soon.