David Friedman’s Substack

David Friedman's Substack explores a wide range of subjects from economic principles and climate change to intellectual debates and law enforcement, emphasizing critical thinking, skepticism towards mainstream narratives, and the interplay of natural and social sciences in understanding human behavior and societal issues.

Critical Thinking and Truth Seeking Political and Economic Theories Science and Climate Change Legal and Ethical Considerations Societal and Cultural Analysis Philosophy and Morality Education and Learning Methods Technology and Society

The hottest Substack posts of David Friedman’s Substack

And their main takeaways

Idk, you tell me.

0 implied HN points • 09 Mar 15
🎭️ Culture Internet culture Media Social media History Technology
  1. Engaging in endless internet chats may hinder introspection and reflection.
  2. Obama has interacted with unconventional media sources, shedding light on changing interview dynamics.
  3. The return of the iconic figure Carles signifies the continuation of his unique take on online media content.

Millennial obsolescence

0 implied HN points • 09 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Internet Social media Online Trends Youth culture Memes
  1. The market for memes has consolidated over the years, with fewer platforms generating a larger share of memetic content, impacting the influence of smaller sites.
  2. Millennials, the first to grow up on social media, are now navigating growing older online, with platforms evolving and trends shifting.
  3. There is a shift in online culture, from the types of food photos shared on Instagram to the rise of podcasts critiquing wellness consumerism, reflecting changing digital trends.
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What are you doing?

0 implied HN points • 27 Aug 22
🎭️ Culture Social media Trends Internet culture Youth culture Online Communities
  1. The BeReal app prompts users to post unfiltered and uncurated photos, revealing the banality of everyday life, leading the author to prefer 'fake stuff'.
  2. Key weekend reads explore topics like TikTok audio memes, the dangerous side of QAnon, and the evolution of social justice into a quasi-religion.
  3. Various internet trends are discussed, from the aesthetics of 'weird girls' to extremist alternatives to YouTube, providing a glimpse into the diverse online landscape.

We all should have taken off this week.

0 implied HN points • 11 Jun 14
🕹 Technology Internet Social media Tech news
  1. The internet had a major meltdown with Feedly, Evernote, and Tweetdeck breaking down. It's a sign we all should have taken this week off.
  2. Mesh networking offers a different way to structure the internet, promising to solve net neutrality issues.
  3. Some parents are paying thousands to improve their children's Google search results, showing how extreme online reputation management can get.

Baby, you autocomplete me.

0 implied HN points • 24 Apr 14
🕹 Technology Online Culture Social media Privacy
  1. Telecom companies and phone manufacturers resist better theft protections for smartphones, possibly to benefit financially.
  2. Review sites like Yelp may not accurately represent the views of the general public, but rather a privileged few.
  3. The concept of the sharing economy might be driven by both trust and desperation, blurring lines between motives.

Aw, that's so great!

0 implied HN points • 17 Sep 15
🕹 Technology Social media AI Smartphones Innovation
  1. Meet the stars of anti-anorexia Instagram and consider how their fame can impact others seeking help.
  2. Reflect on whether our gadgets will ultimately make us happier or not, especially considering the importance of personal relationships for happiness.
  3. Prepare for smartphone assistants to evolve to AI-level capabilities beyond Siri.

Excuuuuuuuuuuuse you

0 implied HN points • 02 Sep 15
🎭️ Culture Social Trends Tech Internet Entertainment
  1. Filing gender-discrimination suits to admit men to tech meet-ups reduces female participation in the industry.
  2. Prepper Pinterest is a popular forum choice for those interested in the prepper movement, combining mainstream and niche interests.
  3. year-old Baddie Winkle stands out for her unconventional behavior, including wearing teen rave outfits and maintaining a rebellious spirit.

"Hustle"

0 implied HN points • 25 Aug 15
📰 News Technology Crime Politics Internet Social media
  1. Ashley Madison created fake profiles to lure more users, which is common in the industry.
  2. A small number of companies worldwide help governments spy secretly on citizens.
  3. An account of the Slender Man stabbing details a disturbing and intense incident involving young girls.

Touching grass

0 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Theater Internet Social media Wellness Music
  1. The concept of gatekeeping holds power over someone or something and can connote protection or exclusion.
  2. Online sleuthing can lead to unexpected results, such as failed internet marketers surpassing police in investigations.
  3. Internet cafes in certain parts of the world provide a glimpse into a simpler, pre-data plans internet era.

I didn't ghost you

0 implied HN points • 19 Aug 15
🕹 Technology Internet culture Privacy Social media
  1. Early notes on the Ashley Madison hack: Understanding the impact and consequences for the internet's future.
  2. Conversations about infidelity: A personal story of confronting a cheating ex through the Ashley Madison leak.
  3. Modern views on marriage and infidelity: Exploring the evolving concepts of love and monogamy in today's society.

That's it?

0 implied HN points • 06 Aug 15
🎭️ Culture Internet Music Dating Social media Pop culture
  1. Every click on the internet has ethical implications.
  2. The internet's influence and immediacy can exaggerate and change narratives quickly.
  3. Some online discussions can be fun distractions from the complexities of everyday life.

How screwed are you, exactly?

0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 15
🕹 Technology Internet Music Memes Social media Hackers
  1. Stop capitalizing the word Internet, it represents a major philosophical change.
  2. Understanding why Grooveshark failed is crucial, as it signifies a different approach needed for success in the music industry.
  3. Exploring the evolution of memes, like Pepe the Frog, offers insight into how internet culture takes shape.

ENDLESS el-oh-els

0 implied HN points • 23 Jul 15
🕹 Technology Apps Social media Innovation Internet Gaming
  1. Charging $1,000 for nothing: An app that eight people bought raised questions of scam or performance art.
  2. NASA's social media strategy is both active and effective, but some worry it may benefit private companies more than the agency's core mission.
  3. Starting a connection on social media through a direct message is becoming more common and maybe less surprising.

Not much seems to have happened

0 implied HN points • 11 Feb 22
🕹 Technology Metaverse Social media Cryptocurrency Online Communities Virtual reality
  1. The concept of virtual embassies in the metaverse raises questions about their practicality and purpose.
  2. Virtual embassies like those in Second Life were more about generating publicity than providing actual diplomatic services.
  3. The idea of virtual embassies evolving to offer e-visas and utilize blockchain technology, while more practical, may still struggle to provide significant utility compared to traditional websites.

Leap second FOMO

0 implied HN points • 30 Jun 15
🕹 Technology
  1. Don't always click the first Google result, as it may not be the best for you.
  2. New chat apps are changing how we shop, talk, and interact online.
  3. Online personas can disappear under mysterious circumstances, like the Internet legend Ann Pragg.

Please enjoy this GIF of a small terrified child

0 implied HN points • 10 Jun 15
😂 Humor
  1. The post shares a GIF of a small, terrified child to express the feeling of booting up a computer every day
  2. The GIF captures the mix of excitement and dread that many people feel when starting their work day
  3. Even in busy days, there's always something to look forward to tomorrow

Seriously the best. (Read: worst.)

0 implied HN points • 29 May 15
🕹 Technology Internet Language Future Technology Digital Divide
  1. The Internet is seeing a rise in the use of Esperanto, a language intended for global unity.
  2. There is a possibility that in the future, technology may enable people to upload their brains to machines, posing a question about eternal consciousness.
  3. Silicon Valley workers are reportedly facing challenges related to love and intimacy, leading to an interest in potential reality TV content.

IS THIS REAL LIFE?

0 implied HN points • 28 May 15
🔬 Science Artificial Intelligence Psychology Technology Research Innovation
  1. The future is advancing quickly, with technologies like computers that predict dreams and functional artificial intelligence.
  2. In the Instagram era, the obsession with documenting everything may not always portray the complete truth.
  3. Researchers have created a computer that can 'imagine' objects based on descriptions, marking a significant step in computational imagination.

Tripping on the Interwebs

0 implied HN points • 20 May 15
🕹 Technology AI Computing Internet Tech Ethics
  1. IBM's Watson continues to advance in intelligence and capabilities, sparking discussions about the potential implications of AI technology.
  2. Zoltan Istvan, a 'transhumanist,' believes in the possibility of a robot ruling the world, highlighting controversial viewpoints on AI development.
  3. There is a trend towards advocating for building and customizing your own computer, akin to the slow food movement but in the realm of technology.

We found Wi-Fi in a hopeless place

0 implied HN points • 07 May 15
🕹 Technology Social media Digital Culture
  1. Friendship has been impacted by social media and big data, turning relationships into tools for personal gain.
  2. Tech companies are modeling their products after slot machines, utilizing addiction techniques for user engagement.
  3. Satirical depiction of Pinterest as a lady starts the day thanking the universe, showing a humorous take on social media platform personification.

Digitally pickled

0 implied HN points • 05 Nov 21
🎭️ Culture Entertainment Social media Internet culture Influencers Digital Trends
  1. Few things live up to the hype that precedes them, like the metaverse being just Mindcraft in different packaging.
  2. The newsletter recommends intriguing articles like the one about the cultural revisionism industry and Jake Paul's profile in The New Yorker.
  3. South Korea's evolution into a global cultural force, marked by state policies, YouTube metadata, and Gangnam Style, is explored in detail.

The Internet is occasionally kind

0 implied HN points • 27 Apr 15
🎭️ Culture Internet Fame Media Privacy Social media
  1. Medical sites like WebMD are important for people with serious illnesses, offering diagnosis and hope.
  2. Having internet fame can be strange, as seen in the example of Anil Dash having more followers than Ted Cruz.
  3. The internet can be wonderful and kind, as shown in the story of a llama becoming famous and the New York Times covering it.