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

FRIDAY Y'ALL

0 implied HN points • 01 May 15
🕹 Technology Algorithms Online Dating Activism Tech news
  1. The economics of Tinder and online dating favor women more than we might think.
  2. Algorithms enforcing policies can raise significant questions when they make mistakes in important decisions.
  3. Hashtag activism is transitioning from online to real-world protests by the new generation of civil-rights leaders.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Who among us has NOT dreamed of shooting the computer screen?

0 implied HN points • 22 Apr 15
🎭️ Culture Technology Social media Collectibles Online Trends Internet culture
  1. The world is becoming more complex, similar to a Rube Goldberg machine, due to the influence of smartphones and computers.
  2. A new group of tech-savvy travelers are embracing hoboism through social media platforms like Instagram and Craigslist.
  3. Just like vinyl records, VHS tapes are becoming a collectible item for some people, with games on cartridges and films on VHS gaining popularity.

Dreaming in praise-hands

0 implied HN points • 21 Apr 15
🕹 Technology Bots Emoji Wearable Tech
  1. Building a bot to trade stocks based on Twitter news can yield $2.4 million.
  2. It's common to think in emojis; linguists suggest it's more natural than writing.
  3. Future fashion may feature wearable tech like LED dresses and programmable clothing.

Written in the stars

0 implied HN points • 15 Apr 15
🎭️ Culture Technology Business Internet culture Food Social media
  1. Be cautious of apps claiming to read your mind, as they may gather data to create accurate personality profiles.
  2. Some companies like Munchery are paying workers a living wage, setting a positive example in the gig economy.
  3. Susan Miller became a popular internet astrologer, suggesting her success was destined, like it was 'written in the stars.'

No, totally!

0 implied HN points • 07 Apr 15
🎭️ Culture Internet Media Social media Entertainment Tech
  1. Wikihow provides answers to a range of questions and depends on Google search for its business model.
  2. Genius, formerly Rap Genius, is gaining credibility by attracting intelligent users and annotations.
  3. The use of new domains like .sucks can be a compelling tool to grab attention.

Let’s not get meta about it

0 implied HN points • 02 Jul 21
🎭️ Culture Influencers Internet culture Politics Social media Art
  1. The newsletter mentions interesting articles to read, like one about a scamming influencer and another about 'main character energy'.
  2. There is an article highlighted on parasocial friendships that readers might find intriguing.
  3. The newsletter also touches on evolving social media trends, like the shift in trolling practices and the rise of 'anti-MAGA trolls'.

~Flawless~

0 implied HN points • 24 Mar 15
🎭️ Culture Music Religion Social media Food Comedy
  1. Musicians discuss surviving in the age of Spotify and review a book on copyright and the Internet.
  2. The line between technology and magic blurs with digital incantations and horoscope bots.
  3. Exploring the reactions and engagements Pope Francis receives on Twitter provides insight into his responses.

It's Ban Ki-Moon and Britney, bitch

0 implied HN points • 23 Mar 15
🎭️ Culture Internet Online Dating Social media
  1. Internetting like it's 1998 was nostalgic for some but not quite as exciting for others with modern technology.
  2. Online dating in 1982 involved filling out a questionnaire by mail, showing how far dating has come since then.
  3. Looking at Gamergate as a form of anti-colonial backlash provides a different perspective on broader cultural issues.

h8rs gonna h8

0 implied HN points • 19 Mar 15
🕹 Technology Internet Wearable Tech Social media Mobile Apps Tech Trends
  1. Explaining the magic of Google Autocomplete: It's more than what Google initially envisioned and keeps things quirky. Let's keep Autocomplete weird.
  2. How Larry King tweets: He uses a flip phone, calls an assistant to transcribe, and claims to tweet daily. A unique approach to social media.
  3. Effects of Internet trends: Punctuation-less humor is catching on, but it might not be everyone's cup of tea. Trends in online communication evolve quickly.

"The attack is an advertisement"

0 implied HN points • 27 May 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Racism Extremism Disinformation Violence
  1. The attack carried out by a white supremacist was seen as an advertisement for his racist beliefs, attracting attention through various means like live streams, memes, and news coverage.
  2. The response from white supremacists in online forums to the attack came in three forms: false flag theories, sleuthing, and hero worship, all conveyed with a casual and disturbing tone.
  3. The experience of delving into extremist online communities led to a deeper understanding of their vocabulary and tactics, prompting reflection on the role of media and the spread of dangerous ideologies.

Or something equally thrilling

0 implied HN points • 13 Mar 15
🎭️ Culture Internet Art Society Media Relationships
  1. Pi Day occurs annually on March 14th; it's a fun celebration for math enthusiasts and those who enjoy discounted baked goods.
  2. 4chan's founder left due to the site's negative environment and financial reasons.
  3. The intersection of 'high' and 'low' culture is debated with the idea that all forms of culture contribute to art and creativity.

Straight-up insane

0 implied HN points • 11 Mar 15
🎭️ Culture Internet Entertainment Social media Memes
  1. The post explores Internet fan fiction phenomenon and answers key questions about it.
  2. Online communities like Reddit and Facebook may contribute to solving cold cases that stumped authorities for years.
  3. Insights are shared on why the theme song of 'Kimmy Schmidt' is popular, including its connection to a viral meme.

That moment when

0 implied HN points • 06 Mar 15
🎭️ Culture Internet Dating Books Movies Music
  1. Myspace failed due to corporate complications like slow decision-making, similar to home internet issues.
  2. Essays that make mundane things seem fascinating using phrases like 'that moment' can be quite compelling.
  3. Online dating presents challenges for women above 25, indicating a statistical struggle in the dating market.

Plz do not try this at home

0 implied HN points • 29 Jun 15
🎭️ Culture Media Social media Internet Celebrities Entertainment
  1. The tide is turning against revenge porn after advocates lobbied for 15 years, showing progress in addressing nonconsensual pornography.
  2. The popularity of ebooks has contributed to a rise in unconventional erotica, like stories about pregnant bisexual vampires.
  3. The word 'mom' has taken on new meaning in social media, now used as praise akin to 'queen' or 'slay,' showing how language evolves online.

You gotta know your limits

0 implied HN points • 03 Mar 15
🕹 Technology Social media Inventions
  1. The Internet blurs the line between online and real-world relationships, urging us to embrace online intimacy.
  2. Reddit's unique approach to suicide intervention is spontaneous and effective for both men and women.
  3. A Canadian man in his 60s is credited for inventing the selfie stick for his child, marking an interesting origin story.

You're welcome

0 implied HN points • 02 Mar 15
🕹 Technology Internet Linguistics Privacy Social media Smartphones
  1. Using linguistic forensics to identify writers is controversial. It's how JK Rowling was revealed.
  2. When you use personal assistants like Siri, your recordings could be reviewed by contract workers.
  3. On Twitter, saying 'you're welcome' can come off as a form of bragging rather than politeness.

Everything you still need to know about "THE DRESS"

0 implied HN points • 27 Feb 15
🎭️ Culture Internet Social media Entertainment Technology Music
  1. The Internet can surprise us. For example, an essay from 20 years ago predicted the Web would be a fad, but it got almost everything wrong.
  2. Social media can change how we deal with emotions. A person reflected on how going to college before Facebook helped him avoid some heartbreaks.
  3. Strange and amusing stories exist online. There's a story about someone considering casting a spell for journalism, and you can even buy spells for $20 on Etsy.

*Cue cry-laughing emoji*

0 implied HN points • 06 Jul 15
🕹 Technology Social media Search Engine Smartphones AI Internet
  1. Teenagers are using 9/11 in memes, possibly to give meaning to digital artifacts.
  2. Google is evolving beyond a search engine and making strides towards global domination.
  3. The upcoming election is being dubbed the 'selfie election,' indicating a shift in political engagement towards photo opportunities over traditional campaigning.

Why can't bitches have it all?

0 implied HN points • 19 Feb 15
🎭️ Culture Internet Social media Entertainment
  1. The brain finds patterns even in what seems random, like with Spotify's shuffle mode.
  2. A blog post by a 13-year-old became a global meme, sparking discussions on modern collective identity.
  3. Exploring the strange world of brand tweeting, including tweeting as a piece of cheese for a year.

Just don't go there

0 implied HN points • 17 Feb 15
🕹 Technology Internet Social media Virtual reality Consumer Tech
  1. Snow days have evolved with technology - it's less about taking the day off and more about working with slower internet speeds.
  2. YouTube has transformed from a rebellious platform to a dominant force in pop culture, raising questions about its impact.
  3. Virtual reality is emerging as a significant trend in the porn industry, blending futuristic technology with adult content.

Maybe people are just shitty. Or maybe it's the Internet's fault.

0 implied HN points • 03 May 16
🎭️ Culture Bullying Internet Literature Social media Online behavior
  1. The definition of "bullying" has expanded so much that it's losing its true meaning of powerful people intimidating the powerless.
  2. Online trolling and cyberbullying can have devastating real-life consequences, like disrupting a family's grieving process.
  3. There are instances of heart-wrenching online harassment, but on a lighter note, there's a young food critic making waves on YouTube.

#deep

0 implied HN points • 21 Jan 15
🎭️ Culture Internet Literature Social media Entertainment Technology
  1. Internet culture can bring unexpected characters and tools to address online harassment and support creativity.
  2. The intersection of internet and traditional publishing is evolving, with literary agents like Kate McKean bringing online phenomena to printed books.
  3. Questions about truth and engagement are raised in the online world, prompting deeper reflection on the nature of reality in a digital age.

Literally the only thing I still like online

0 implied HN points • 20 Jan 15
🕹 Technology Internet culture
  1. The Internet Archive works to preserve online content that would otherwise disappear.
  2. Following a stranger's digital trail to prevent suicide can reveal a unique digital legacy.
  3. YouTube comments on old songs sometimes turn into heartfelt memories, showing a different side of online communication.

"Thirsty"

0 implied HN points • 08 Jan 15
🕹 Technology Internet Film Social media Gadgets
  1. There is a rise in tracking every detail of one's life and health, from steps taken to how one sleeps, thanks to technology.
  2. Movies often depict the internet as a negative force that can harm relationships, mental health, and personal integrity.
  3. Interesting and unconventional connections can be made in unexpected ways, like using SoulCycle to communicate with Twitter's CEO, reflecting the concept of being 'thirsty'.

lol, idk, something

0 implied HN points • 18 Dec 14
🕹 Technology Internet Smartphones Crowdsourcing
  1. Meet the troll hunters in Sweden who track down online bullies for public shaming on TV, sparking debate about freedom of speech.
  2. Discover the vast, sophisticated, international smartphone theft networks that make huge profits after stealing iPhones.
  3. Explore the question of whether the wisdom of the crowds can create a good wine.

Over it

0 implied HN points • 21 Jul 15
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Social media Robots
  1. Internet moderation is crucial to prevent harmful online communities like r/FatPeopleHate.
  2. Researchers have created 'echoborgs' - humans connected to AI through earpieces - to explore human-machine interaction.
  3. While spam email is decreasing, unsolicited and distracting messages in everyday life are on the rise.

How to be cool

0 implied HN points • 04 May 16
🕹 Technology Internet Meteorology Navigation Podcasts
  1. A viral website from a joke to a meme led to a genuine meteorological discovery.
  2. Following digital maps blindly can lead to dangerous situations, known as 'death by GPS.'
  3. Podcasts like For Colored Nerds and Call Your Girlfriend have regained popularity and quality.