Tech gurus have gone viral on social media this week after finding a hidden message on The White House website following Biden's inauguration.
According to The Independent, the first feature was shared on social media by a Twitter user named Tom Warren, the Senior Editor of The Verge, who took to the platform to share a screenshot of The White House website which showcased its new dark mode.
Take a look at President Biden's inaugural address in the video below:As you can see below, this dark mode helpfully mutes the white background seen in the daylight hours to prevent eye strain among anyone who chooses to browse it at night time.
However, more interesting than that was a second revelation, which was shared by a second social media user and Microsoft employee named Isaac Hepworth, who retweeted Warren's post and shared a screenshot of his own.
Per The Independent, Hepworth's screenshot shows him using the developer tools in his web browser to view a message in the site's text edit feature. Buried in the code is a hidden easter egg - a message which says:
"If you're reading this, we need your help building back better."
The message then includes a link to the United States Digital Service (USDS) job application page. The USDS aims to provide consultation services to federal agencies on internet communications and IT and designs new interactive technology for the United States government.
These aren't the only new features to have shown up on The White House's website in the aftermath of Biden's inauguration.
According to NPR, The White House contact form now includes gender-inclusive pronouns, such as "they/them" and also the gender-neutral title "Mx" for users that require it.
Per NPR, this new feature was applauded by Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of the LGBTQ+ awareness organization GLAAD, who stated:
Watch Donald Trump's farewell speech here:"Pronouns matter, and adding inclusive pronouns to a contact form is more than just a demonstration of allyship.
"Research has shown that recognition and respect of our pronouns can make all the difference for our health and wellbeing — especially when it comes to LGBTQ youth."
A statement on the site says that the Biden administration is striving to make web content easier for people with sensory, cognitive, and mobility disabilities in the near future.
A spokesperson writes: "Our ongoing accessibility efforts work toward making WhiteHouse.gov as accessible as possible. The White House welcomes comments on how to improve the site’s accessibility for users with disabilities."
