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"The sexts are currency," explains Hanna Rosin. Teenage girls told Rosin boys collect the photos like "baseball cards or Pokemon cards."

"The sexts are currency," explains Hanna Rosin. Teenage girls told Rosin boys collect the photos like "baseball cards or Pokemon cards." iStockphoto hide caption

itoggle caption iStockphoto

'Why Kids Sext' Describes Nude Photos As 'Social Currency' Among Teens

Teenage girls explained to writer Hanna Rosin that boys collect sexts like baseball cards or Pokemon cards. "There's so much free porn out there that these pictures serve a different role," she says.

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Microsoft says it's patching a Windows security flaw cited in a report on alleged spying by Russian hackers.

Microsoft says it's patching a Windows security flaw cited in a report on alleged spying by Russian hackers. Ted S. Warren/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Ted S. Warren/AP

Microsoft Windows Flaw Let Russian Hackers Spy On NATO, Report Says

A weakness in Microsoft Windows has been exploited by Russian hackers to spy on Western governments, NATO, European energy companies and an academic organization in the U.S., according to a report.

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Twitter is suing the federal government over First Amendment rights. The tech company says the government stopped it from releasing extra detail about government requests for user information.

Twitter is suing the federal government over First Amendment rights. The tech company says the government stopped it from releasing extra detail about government requests for user information. iStockphoto hide caption

itoggle caption iStockphoto

Privacy & Security

Twitter Is Suing The U.S. Over Free Speech (Its Own)

Twitter sued the federal government because it stopped the tech company from disclosing government requests for user information. Twitter says the current disclosure rules aren't transparent enough.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella addresses the media during an event in New Delhi in September. This week, he was criticized for comments he made about women asking for raises.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella addresses the media during an event in New Delhi in September. This week, he was criticized for comments he made about women asking for raises. Adnan Abidi/Reuters/Landov hide caption

itoggle caption Adnan Abidi/Reuters/Landov

Microsoft CEO Nadella's Remarks Add To Tech's Sexism Problem

by Samantha Raphelson

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is facing public criticism after his comments suggesting that women should not ask for raises. But they also underscore questions about tech's male-dominated culture.

The AeriCam Anura pocket-sized drone has foldable propellers so you can take it on the go. The company plans to put the drone on Kickstarter by mid-October.

The AeriCam Anura pocket-sized drone has foldable propellers so you can take it on the go. The company plans to put the drone on Kickstarter by mid-October. aericam.com hide caption

itoggle caption aericam.com

Innovation

Weekly Innovation: This Drone Fits In Your Pocket

by Samantha Raphelson

The AeriCam Anura pocket-sized quadcopter has a built-in camera and is one of the newest drones designed for personal use. But even as drones get smaller, safety and privacy concerns aren't shrinking.

FBI Director James Comey says new encryption features allow people "to place themselves beyond the law."

FBI Director James Comey says new encryption features allow people "to place themselves beyond the law." Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

itoggle caption Alex Wong/Getty Images

Apple Says iOS Encryption Protects Privacy; FBI Raises Crime Fears

Apple says its new operating system for the iPhone features encryption so secure that not even Apple has the key to it. But the FBI warns that the software could limit its ability to fight crime.

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A recent UCLA study found that screen time could negatively affect children's ability to read emotion. But scientists are still unsure how much screen time is too much for a child.

A recent UCLA study found that screen time could negatively affect children's ability to read emotion. But scientists are still unsure how much screen time is too much for a child. Anatoliy Babiy/iStockphoto hide caption

itoggle caption Anatoliy Babiy/iStockphoto

Behavior

Even Techies Limit Their Children's Screen Time

by NPR Staff

Steve Jobs was said to be a low-tech parent, and so are others in the tech industry. That means they're often putting strict limits on family use of the very gadgets and software they're developing.

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In the early days, Walter Isaacson says, computers were "big ol' things with vacuum tubes" that took up entire rooms. For example, the electric analog computer named ANACOM (shown here in 1950 at Caltech) weighed 6,000 pounds and filled 13 cabinets.

In the early days, Walter Isaacson says, computers were "big ol' things with vacuum tubes" that took up entire rooms. For example, the electric analog computer named ANACOM (shown here in 1950 at Caltech) weighed 6,000 pounds and filled 13 cabinets. AP hide caption

itoggle caption AP

Innovation

How The Cold War And George Orwell Helped Make The Internet What It Is

In The Innovators, Walter Isaacson explains that Pentagon officials wanted a system the Russians couldn't attack, and 1984 made the public wary of new technology's Big Brother potential.

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Jean Jennings (left) and Frances Bilas set up the ENIAC in 1946. Bilas is arranging the program settings on the Master Programmer.

Jean Jennings (left) and Frances Bilas set up the ENIAC in 1946. Bilas is arranging the program settings on the Master Programmer. Courtesy of University of Pennsylvania hide caption

itoggle caption Courtesy of University of Pennsylvania

Society

The Forgotten Female Programmers Who Created Modern Tech

The Innovators, Walter Isaacson's new book, tells the stories of the people who created modern computers. Women, who are now a minority in computer science, played an outsize role in that history.

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A venture capital firm is using the power of big data to target entrepreneurs before they even create startups.

A venture capital firm is using the power of big data to target entrepreneurs before they even create startups. iStockphoto hide caption

itoggle caption iStockphoto

Fortune-Tellers, Step Aside: Big Data Looks For Future Entrepreneurs

A venture capital firm is trying to target entrepreneurs before they create startups, or even have a business idea. There's no crystal ball involved — just public data and predictive analytics.

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Chip maker Intel recently pulled an advertising campaign from a gaming site amid pressures from supporters of the online #Gamergate movement.

Chip maker Intel recently pulled an advertising campaign from a gaming site amid pressures from supporters of the online #Gamergate movement. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

itoggle caption Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Gaming

After Pulling Ads, Intel Tries To Stay Out Of #Gamergate Debate

This week, Intel pulled an ad campaign from a gaming site after an email campaign by #Gamergate supporters. Now it's facing new backlash from critics who say the ad pull backed a sexist movement.