@shadyvb from the `author_meta` streammeta record shared by @krogsgard in #477, the underlying DB value is *not* double-serialized. Also, `maybe_serialize()` explicitly prevents double-serialization of strings: https://github.com/x-team/wordpress-develop/blob/cd356b6404b5a770cf69f81f80efd6eb046e6c57/src/wp-includes/functions.php#L354-L372