Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends

This Substack explores digital culture, internet phenomena, and the impact of technology on daily life, emphasizing themes like privacy, grief, social media trends, AI, wellness culture, consumerism, and personal narratives. It critically reflects on changes in internet use, the commodification of personal life, and the evolving landscape of online interaction.

Digital Culture and Internet Phenomena Technology and Society Mental Health and Wellness AI and Automation Social Media Trends and Impacts Consumer Culture Personal Narratives and Storytelling Internet and Technology Critique Public Health and Misinformation Media and Content Consumption

The hottest Substack posts of Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends

And their main takeaways

Count me OUT of all that

0 implied HN points • 16 Mar 15
🕹 Technology Travel Social media Apps Internet Smartphones
  1. TripAdvisor has a significant impact on travel decisions; it can make or break hotels, restaurants, and tourist stops.
  2. Twitter bots are considered as artificial creatures, prompting discussions about human intelligence in social contexts.
  3. There is concern about a future lived solely through on-demand mobile apps, causing some to resist this trend.

Burnt out on Internet stuff

0 implied HN points • 24 Feb 15
🕹 Technology Social media Online Culture
  1. Tragedy on Tumblr highlights the danger of glorifying victim's stories on social media.
  2. Urban myths persist despite fact-checking tools online, showing that understanding the world remains a challenge.
  3. American Sign Language adapts to include new Internet slang words, demonstrating the evolution of language.

That's enough haterade for one day, yeah?

0 implied HN points • 28 Jan 15
🎭️ Culture Internet Gender Social Trends
  1. The post discusses the Men's Rights Movement, pickup artist movement, and misogyny on the internet.
  2. The post introduces the controversial figure Dan Bilzerian, showing the contrast between his online persona and real life.
  3. There is a beautifully articulated defense of a thesis about the idea of ignoring each other.
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FORBIDDEN TOPICS

0 implied HN points • 25 Nov 14
📰 News Social Issues Internet Entertainment Politics Culture
  1. Avoid discussing controversial topics like Ferguson, President Obama's immigration reforms, and Bill Cosby during Thanksgiving gatherings.
  2. Therapists could use social media like Twitter to gain insights into their patients' mental health.
  3. People can rent a Thanksgiving date online if they don't have one, showing a unique aspect of holiday traditions evolving with technology.

*Waves*

0 implied HN points • 21 Oct 14
🕹 Technology Social media Online Content Cybersecurity Apps Tech Culture
  1. If considering leaving a job, getting fired can be a win-win situation for both employee and employer.
  2. Speaking out against dangerous groups like cartels can have serious consequences and risks.
  3. The complexity of movements like Gamergate can lead to challenges in media coverage and understanding.

Got that buzz

0 implied HN points • 08 Oct 14
🎭️ Culture Social media Internet Trends
  1. Social media is expanding our friendship circles beyond what was previously thought possible.
  2. The overuse of superlatives like 'awesome' and 'amazing' might not be as positive as it seems.
  3. Some people are making a living by playing video games, which can be surprising to many.

#Blessed! :)

0 implied HN points • 29 Sep 14
🎭️ Culture Social Psychology Internet Relationships Music Technology
  1. Trolling has evolved into a more serious and harmful activity compared to the past.
  2. YouTube parodies may sometimes undermine the depth and seriousness of pop music.
  3. Texting has become a significant platform for emotional infidelity, introducing new complexities into relationships.

"Not even against the rules"

0 implied HN points • 23 Oct 22
🕹 Technology Social media Content Moderation Cybercrime AI
  1. The impact of public pressure on social media platforms has diminished over time when it comes to moderating violent and dangerous content.
  2. In the past, platforms like Twitter and Reddit were more hands-off with violent content, but norms have shifted due to public outcry.
  3. Fringe sites like 4chan, known for extreme content, have been resistant to traditional methods of regulation and moderation, posing a challenge for authorities.

STEP IT UP, slacker.

0 implied HN points • 17 Sep 14
🕹 Technology Internet Wearable Tech Social media Online Culture Digital Trends
  1. The internet hit one billion websites milestone. Not all of them are great, but the ones that are bring us unique and fun content.
  2. Nowadays, having a Fitbit and aiming for 10,000 steps on top of other Type-A behaviors is the new standard for success.
  3. Even long-time Twitter users like Erin Kissane are considering leaving the platform due to its troubles.

Sorry, no.

0 implied HN points • 11 Sep 14
🎭️ Culture Social Commentary Pop culture Technology Science Literature
  1. Matt Mullenweg created Wordpress which powers a fifth of websites while working from home in pajamas.
  2. Seemingly quick decisions like swiping left or right on Tinder are based on assumptions drawn from a single photo.
  3. Miranda July's app 'Somebody' attempts unique communication methods but doesn't work as intended.

Nothing to hide

0 implied HN points • 26 Aug 14
🕹 Technology Privacy Social media Virtual reality Internet
  1. Mary Beard faces daily abuse on Twitter due to her prominence and beliefs
  2. A man emailed all his passwords to a journalist to prove a point about privacy and faced consequences
  3. Twitter 'favs' serve as the digital body language of today, though 'fave' may be more appropriate

What's this Notorious

0 implied HN points • 01 Aug 14
🎭️ Culture Social media Food Internet Pop culture Memes
  1. Defending 'clickbait' can actually be about encouraging people to read valuable content on the internet instead of dismissing everything as worthless.
  2. Chefs have a love-hate relationship with Yelp, feeling it has both ruined and supported them, showing a complex dynamic.
  3. Sharing personal content online can lead to unexpected outcomes, like viral success causing unwanted reactions and responses.

Plz see yourself out.

0 implied HN points • 23 Jul 14
🎭️ Culture Internet Social media Entertainment Travel Food
  1. Aaron Brown is not a real person but a creation of artist/programmer Curtis Wallen, who experimented with anonymity online.
  2. Webcam girls are gaining recognition and have their own convention, CammingCon, to legitimize the industry.
  3. Subtweeting can be witty and sharp, like an Oscar Wilde one-liner, if done well.

Are you kidding me?!

0 implied HN points • 09 Jul 14
🎭️ Culture Internet Media Pop culture Humor Social media
  1. Lay off the potato salad guy - Support the guy who started the potato salad Kickstarter, internet weirdness happens, deal with it.
  2. Defend the humble compact disc - Some albums are best suited for CDs, despite their declining sales.
  3. Email-writing as a genre - The personal touch of uncensored electronic letters is unmatched, inviting instant and potent replies.

Quit your job and buy a cat

0 implied HN points • 16 Jun 14
🎭️ Culture Media Internet Social Issues Arts Pets
  1. The creepiest thing about online ads is when they're wrong, not when they're right
  2. Content online has become less diverse, but are we just writing more about the same topics?
  3. The nonprofit behind Kony 2012 faced challenges after the viral video faded in popularity

FINALLY.

0 implied HN points • 28 May 14
🎭️ Culture Literature Social media Technology News Internet
  1. FOMO is a common modern issue affecting social networks and real life. There's a complex solution rooted in economic theory.
  2. Poet Patricia Lockwood gained fame on Twitter before her viral poem 'Rape Joke'. She's now releasing a print collection.
  3. Sabu, from LulzSec, was a famous hacker who later collaborated with the FBI. Now he's casually hanging out at a Starbucks in New York.

With "it"

0 implied HN points • 10 Apr 14
🎭️ Culture TV Cults Emails Social media Restaurants
  1. Growing up in an apocalyptic cult influenced Flor Edwards's early life but she managed to break free from it.
  2. Emails can reveal the personal and emotional sides of people, showing how they change, grow, and feel different emotions.
  3. A nun addicted to Twitter showcases a modern twist on traditional figures, raising questions about the changing roles of individuals in society.

Catching feelings

0 implied HN points • 13 Mar 14
🎭️ Culture Social media TV shows Relationships Online Privacy
  1. TV seasons may end differently than we perceive based on our expectations.
  2. Teju Cole's Twitter account [@apieceofthewall] is noteworthy for its unique essay-style tweets.
  3. According to the "Princeton Mom", being single can be influenced by habits such as Netflix, Seamless, and constant phone use.

I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.

0 implied HN points • 24 Sep 15
🎭️ Culture Social media Technology Internet Entertainment Art
  1. The selfie economy is thriving, with some benefiting and others worrying about absurd claims like selfies causing deaths.
  2. Technology allows for distant profiling of individuals, like the Esquire profile of Mark Zuckerberg, showcasing the impact of advancements in the digital age.
  3. Internet traffic is manipulated by bots, with up to 20% of the traffic coming from them, showing the prevalence of fake online activity.

Even the polar bears don't like it!

0 implied HN points • 07 Jan 14
🕹 Technology Hacking Complexity Science
  1. It's so cold that polar bears and penguins had to be brought indoors.
  2. Some technologies are becoming so complex that they may soon surpass human understanding.
  3. Peter Stark's article on freezing to death provides fascinating insights on the science and history of freezing.

tf...?

0 implied HN points • 16 Sep 15
🕹 Technology Internet Social media Apps Gaming Tech Ethics
  1. Online shaming can potentially reduce sexism on the internet, but it may also have unintended consequences.
  2. Africa is making great strides in internet access and building their own infrastructure without relying on big tech companies.
  3. Dogfishing, a new twist on catfishing, is a scamming tactic that involves deceiving people with fake dog pictures - an intriguing trend to be aware of.

Dehumanizing creep

0 implied HN points • 10 Sep 15
🎭️ Culture Diversity Technology Music Fashion Social media
  1. The 'black digital intelligentsia' is a powerful social movement led by a diverse group of modern intellectuals, making an impact through social media.
  2. There's a caution against becoming too reliant on technology for fulfilling essential human roles, as it could lead to dehumanization.
  3. Cover songs are popular on Spotify because artists can make more money copying popular songs like Taylor Swift's hits.

NEVER FORGET.

0 implied HN points • 04 Aug 15
📰 News Legislation Internet culture Interviews Social media
  1. The 'right to be forgotten' movement may impact the American Internet, especially for teens trying to erase digital regrets.
  2. Police may investigate juvenile crimes more when evidence goes viral, as seen in recent cases in Britain.
  3. Vine's best teen is featured in an interview, wrapping up Teen Day on Links.

Sounds like a living hell.

0 implied HN points • 22 Jul 15
🎭️ Culture Memes Internet culture Social media Public Health
  1. Tracking the president's Twitter trolls is an actual job handled by the Secret Service's Internet threat desk.
  2. Former heroin addict uses Reddit to help others after rehab and becoming educated in public health.
  3. Some Silicon Valley workers find work-life balance non-existent, living in their offices and facing a challenging lifestyle.

Puzzling digital doppelgangers

0 implied HN points • 14 Jan 22
🎭️ Culture Retail Influencers Social media Internet culture E-commerce
  1. Purchasing items online can lead to encountering identical products with different brand names and prices, ultimately coming from the same manufacturer.
  2. Many third-party sellers on platforms like Amazon utilize white label manufacturing, where generic products are branded and sold as different items at varying prices.
  3. During supply chain challenges like the pandemic, the popularity of white label goods, including furniture and home items, has increased significantly.