Design and technology discourses are often accompanied with implicit and explicit appeals to values. But what exactly do we mean by these values and how do they shape design practice and design artifacts?

This theoretical exploration revisits the term “unintended consequences,” drawing upon an illustrative vignette to show how it is used to dismiss vital ethical and political concerns.

Can utilitarian framings of a problem constrain our thinking about it?

Do the dominant framings of free speech work to undermine it for marginalized communities? Do moderation policies on online platforms limit participation?