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

Not-so-obvious

0 implied HN points • 25 Feb 22
🎭️ Culture Internet culture Pop culture Social media Science Entertainment
  1. Hank the Tank, a 500-pound bear, is breaking into homes near Lake Tahoe for snacks, gaining fame and support from people.
  2. Potato controversies, like Mr. Potato Head losing the 'Mr.' title, show how common sense can clash with scientific explanations, sparking debates.
  3. Fun science facts, like monkeys in Japan preferring salty sweet potatoes or evidence that knives made from frozen feces don't work, highlight the importance of funding research for interesting discoveries.

Pretty weird, damn!

0 implied HN points • 02 Feb 16
🕹 Technology Online Dating Wikipedia Algorithm Internet Art Social media
  1. Beware of fake profiles in online dating sites, the use of fake bots is widespread and many people have fallen victim to them.
  2. Wikipedia can be a predictor of the presidential race and wikipedians have a significant influence on public opinion.
  3. Algorithms are both simpler and more complex than they seem, reading up on them could be beneficial.

Turns out the internet is real life after all

0 implied HN points • 04 Mar 22
🕹 Technology Social media Internet culture Algorithm Digital Content E-commerce
  1. TikTok's recommendation algorithm and user engagement lead to content that is titillating and participatory, influencing the way users consume information.
  2. The increase in social media users has led to a higher volume of content being created and shared, impacting how information and narratives spread, especially in times of conflict.
  3. The perception of social media has shifted significantly over the years, with mainstream media now acknowledging the importance of the social media narrative in shaping public opinion and influencing beliefs.
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In praise of the internet's house parties

0 implied HN points • 19 Nov 22
🎭️ Culture Social media Internet culture Online Communities Influencers Media Trends
  1. Mastodon is a social media platform that offers a different experience from Twitter, focusing on small community interactions and lack of performance pressure.
  2. Twitter and Mastodon have distinct differences in their approach to user engagement, with Mastodon being more about community and less about chasing popularity.
  3. The internet landscape is evolving, with trends like declining social media usage and changes in online media consumption, signaling a shift towards new platforms and content styles.

~spooky~

0 implied HN points • 18 Feb 16
🕹 Technology Addiction Treatment Internet Influence Social media Tech news Digital Security
  1. Inside the nation's first rehab center for video game addiction is treating game-addicted kids effectively with exercise, unplugging, journaling, and basic life/social skills.
  2. Subliminal messaging is prevalent on the internet, with corporations manipulating what you see on Google and Facebook potentially influencing elections and thoughts.
  3. Trump's Twitter feed exemplifies the Aristotelian principles of logos, ethos, pathos, and pomposity in a concise manner.

"Links" Weekend Edition: GET IT?

0 implied HN points • 19 Feb 16
🎭️ Culture Digital Culture Social media Internet culture
  1. Emoji meanings can sometimes be different from what we expect, for example, the 'goat' emoji can signify 'greatest of all time' as an acronym.
  2. On Fridays, the newsletter changes slightly by offering an ebook of weekly reads along with the regular link roundup, providing a different form of catching up.
  3. The digital culture newsletter includes varied content like articles on Tumblr teens, video-game rehab, Instagram-famous animals, and online mob behavior.

Online jellyfish

0 implied HN points • 11 Mar 22
🕹 Technology Translation Social media Online Activism Virtual reality Crypto
  1. Google Translate has become more accurate and useful in global communication, especially in conflict situations.
  2. Efforts like Squad3o3 aim to combat propaganda by sending messages to random Russians, using tools and Google Translate.
  3. Although Google Translate has improved, it still has flaws in communicating important or complex information in various languages.

Your tweets are not art

0 implied HN points • 22 Feb 16
🕹 Technology Social Engineering Internet Access Smartphones Virtual reality
  1. Confessions of a serial social engineer highlight the practice of tricking people for financial gain rather than hacking machines.
  2. Being a teenager without internet access can pose challenges, especially as more educators require online work which can put students at a disadvantage.
  3. An app aims to bridge political divides and foster friendships, with claims of success in conflict zones like Israel and Palestine.

Go for the memes, stay for the pornography.

0 implied HN points • 23 Feb 16
🎭️ Culture Internet Memes Pornography
  1. Meet the amateur sleuth who uncovers internet fraud, saving donors money and dealing with online backlash.
  2. Some women use Tumblr for a mix of memes and adult content, making it a space for female-friendly smut.
  3. An article on dick pics sheds light on a topic you might not have expected a deep dive into.

The Internet never forgets.

0 implied HN points • 25 Feb 16
🎭️ Culture Internet Social media Youth Trends
  1. Terrorist clickbait is a real phenomenon, even ISIS struggles to attract an audience.
  2. The concept of 'liking' online posts defines existence, and indifference is essential in response.
  3. Internet jokes can go too far, as seen with the disproven claim linking Ted Cruz to the Zodiac killer.

The biggest killjoy you ever clicked

0 implied HN points • 28 Jan 16
🕹 Technology Social media Internet culture Online behavior Digital Platforms Tech news
  1. If Huck Finn existed on the Internet, it might look something like a troll faking his death online and facing the consequences, shifting from old ways.
  2. Facebook portrays itself as neutral but in reality has a distinct moral code that it imposes worldwide, which may not align with everyone's values.
  3. Teenagers in 2016 offer insights like 'bae' and 'on fleek' are no longer 'cool', showing shifting trends and language among young people.

~Infinite content~

0 implied HN points • 01 Apr 22
🎭️ Culture Tech Social media Journalism Entertainment Internet
  1. Instagram brought back a version of its old chronological feed, pleasing those who disliked the algorithmic feed's filtering mechanisms.
  2. The algorithmic feed risked hiding content users wanted to see, creating mainstream bias, and making real-time event updates difficult.
  3. Comparison of posts in the algorithmic and chronological feeds demonstrated the differences in content prioritization.

Links is back! (Until the robots replace me.)

0 implied HN points • 04 Feb 23
🕹 Technology AI Tech industry Generative AI ChatGPT Social media
  1. ChatGPT has rapidly advanced in capabilities, from writing speeches to passing law exams and even recruiting for cartels.
  2. The immersion of entertainment in today's world can blur the lines between reality and fiction, reducing people to mere characters.
  3. Amazon's product search experience has become convoluted, with many options and unclear distinctions, potentially to benefit third-party sellers

Oh snap

0 implied HN points • 12 Jan 16
🎭️ Culture Internet Media Social Issues Tech Entertainment
  1. There are hundreds of psychics on Etsy who do digital readings, but it's uncertain how many are legitimate.
  2. Revenge pornographer Scott Breitenstein had a change of heart after meeting a documentary crew, realizing the harm of his actions.
  3. A missing 90-year-old person became a Spotify hit through a sequence involving a cartoonist and internet magic.

~pretty gritty~

0 implied HN points • 02 Mar 16
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Social media Viral Content
  1. Downloads of non-gaming apps are expected to quadruple by 2016, but small indie developers are facing challenges which may lead to rethinking business models.
  2. With the rise of AI, the purpose of humans in this world is evolving, questioning if we're moving towards a higher goal or simply indulging in constant video gaming.
  3. Twitter continues to face difficulties in distinguishing between absurdist humor and genuine harassment, presenting a new challenge in their fight against abuse.

*Be* the nerd you wish to see in the world

0 implied HN points • 04 Jan 16
🎭️ Culture Internet culture Social Issues Gender History Relationships
  1. Your Facebook News Feed is created by computer scientists, data scientists, and behavioral researchers using some mystical methods.
  2. Dogspotting online is more complex with strict rules and competitive dog photography community.
  3. An app called 'Just Not Sorry' aims to help women avoid 'ineffective' language in emails, but it may inadvertently reinforce stereotypes about femininity.

"Links" Weekend Edition: Let's put this to rest

0 implied HN points • 04 Mar 16
🎭️ Culture Internet Digital Culture
  1. The truth about Hank the Ballpark Pup being killed or stolen and replaced with a lookalike has been debunked by the Milwaukee Brewers' released vet records.
  2. The newsletter provides recommendations for interesting reads related to digital culture, including articles on cyberstalking, Snapchat, and the app store economy.
  3. Readers can download an ebook compilation of the week's recommended reads to catch up on the digital culture topics covered.

Uhhh you're an adult human, so

0 implied HN points • 17 Dec 15
🎭️ Culture Internet Books Pop culture Literature Social media
  1. The viral web thrives on sharing collective hatred, like in the case of Martin Shkreli, but sometimes it's good to focus on more positive topics.
  2. Reading can be an intimate experience that shapes one's personal narrative, as seen in the example of Alexandra Molotkow and her bookshelf.
  3. Year-end reflections can offer valuable insights, like the one from The Morning News recapping the year 2015 with contributions from cool writers.

raelzie wat yoi've got

0 implied HN points • 14 Mar 16
🕹 Technology Social media Internet culture Web Design Digital Trends
  1. The coolest club in Los Angeles is actually on Facebook, where only suggested members can join, creating an exclusive group.
  2. Even the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, focuses on making content go viral with a savvy team and her relatable family.
  3. At Facebook, a team is working on creating tools for online interactions, such as helping users deal with breakups or identifying signs of depression.

get it together human

0 implied HN points • 10 Dec 15
🎭️ Culture Internet Social media Entertainment Mystery Pop culture
  1. Being distracted can sometimes boost productivity, according to the 'anti-mindfulness' movement.
  2. Following the Ashley Madison hack, victims have experienced a range of outcomes, from divorce to moving on.
  3. Imagining Facebook's 'On This Day' feature run by real humans offers a humorous perspective on the content that might be shared.

Bezzy, butthurt and bae

0 implied HN points • 08 Dec 15
🎭️ Culture Language Internet Media Social media Generations
  1. Dictionaries have started adding internet slang like 'bezzy,' 'butthurt,' and 'bae' due to linguistic changes, culture shifts, and industry demands.
  2. Prank videos on YouTube, depicting fake robberies and shootings, may indicate a troubling trend or a response to the demand for extreme content.
  3. Trump's ability to craft tweetable, attention-grabbing messages plays a significant role in his appeal as a relatable figure in the current media landscape.

Lol, same.

0 implied HN points • 24 Nov 15
🎭️ Culture Internet regulation Future Trends Social media Current Events
  1. Regulating the internet to combat addiction is difficult, but has been proposed as a solution.
  2. The complex battle between ISIS, Anonymous, and other vigilante groups raises questions about the future.
  3. The future of Thanksgiving may involve unconventional food options like Soylent gravy and cricket risotto.

"We've obtained all your internal data, including your secrets."

0 implied HN points • 23 Nov 15
🕹 Technology Social media Data Breach Online Communication Cybersecurity Tech industry
  1. Tech-site intrigue includes a story about Tinder executive Whitney Wolfe and a Sony hack experience.
  2. Comments from the internet's comments section show interesting confessions and the hidden humanity of commenters.
  3. Other interesting snippets include details about the Russian version of Telegram, toxic remains in Silicon Valley, and quirky GPS directions.

Really not ready for "fun Uptown funk."

0 implied HN points • 16 Nov 15
🌍 World Politics Terrorism Interview
  1. Online conversations about tragic events can sometimes become about proving knowledge rather than genuine grief for the victims.
  2. There is a digital war against the Islamic State to counter their online influence on young minds.
  3. The creator of the "Peace for Paris" symbol describes it as a creation that has taken on a life of its own.

goodness gracious

0 implied HN points • 09 Nov 15
🎭️ Culture Internet Social media Literature Tech Entertainment
  1. A new trend of poets writing on Instagram and Tumblr instead of in traditional books is gaining popularity. They often have no formal training but can gain significant attention from influencers.
  2. There's a full-time job in Starkville, Mississippi, to encourage residents to use the internet, highlighting the digital divide in some areas.
  3. The internet is a strange and diverse place, with everything from online profiles of controversial figures to unique apps and social media trends.

"Links" Weekend Edition: What's shakin', bacon?

0 implied HN points • 18 Mar 16
🎭️ Culture Social media Digital Culture Internet Celebrities Fiction
  1. Scientific minds have identified textual cues that indicate someone is drunk, like saying 'pong' or 'Friday.'
  2. The newsletter's weekend edition includes some unique reads and an opportunity to catch up on digital culture through an ebook.
  3. Readers are encouraged to share the newsletter with friends or enemies if they like or dislike it, respectively.