Many years ago, at the dawn of the digital revolution, I was invited to take part in one of the first public debates about the impact of mobile phones on everyday life. The panel was unanimous in deploring the use of these new means of communication. I particularly remember a distinguished philosopher, one of the European fathers of research into the ethical and social impact of new tech – nologies, who was vehement in his condemnation. At the end of his talk, I wanted to join the emi – nent professor to thank him for his inspiring words. I could not, however, because when I got there, I found him already engaged in an intense and, from the tone of his voice, amusing mobile phone conversation on his colourful Motorola StarTac. I left the old sage to his witty conversation, pep – pered with accounts of academic shenanigans, and walked away, reflecting on the fickleness of the human mind. This episode always comes back to me as a cautionary tale when I am about to speak or write about the human impact of digital technologies. Indeed, one of the virtues of Anthony Elliott’s thought-provoking book, Algorithmic Intimacy , is its unconventional take on the world of digital communication, and its careful avoidance of moralism and hypocrisy.