The hottest Internet Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Internet: a user manual

Escaping Flatland • 1749 implied HN points • 02 May 23
🕹 Technology Internet Social media Productivity Information Consumption Habits
  1. The internet is like an alien entity that we are still learning to navigate, and it requires practice to use it well.
  2. Approach internet use as a practice, with structure and clear goals to focus your efforts and make better decisions.
  3. Block or prune distracting or negative online habits to make space for things that truly bring value and joy.

GPT-4 Plugs In

thezvi • 1740 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Internet Privacy Security Programming
  1. GPT-4 is getting an upgrade with plug-ins for browsing the internet and using various websites.
  2. Concerns about safety and risks involved in using these new plug-ins have been raised.
  3. The introduction of plug-ins makes it easier to interact with GPT-4, but also raises questions about trust and potential misuse.

The generative AI apocalypse turned out different

Meaningful Particulars • 65 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Internet Ethics Future Social media
  1. AI-driven algorithms provide more of what you've already liked, causing further optimization and less variety.
  2. Generative AI may not reach its full potential due to becoming incoherent when fed human responses, resulting in a lukewarm outcome.
  3. AI's development is not a straight path - it faces limitations, and changes in technology and society will alter its course.

Hot Guy Books and GPT Admissions

Embedded • 117 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Books Media Internet
  1. The post discusses 'Hot Guy Books' and GPT Admissions, sharing a roundup of articles, links and thoughts from the internet.
  2. There are featured stories like 'Are creators the future of media?' and 'The TikTokification of ASMR'.
  3. The post includes exclusive content for paid subscribers and promotes subscriptions for full access.
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The Work of the Truth

Oliver Bateman Does the Work • 157 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
📰 News Misinformation AI Journalism Internet Content creation
  1. Misinformation online can be rampant and dangerous, especially when created by exploiting the absence of accurate information.
  2. AI-generated content is becoming more prevalent, but it often sacrifices accuracy for speed and efficiency.
  3. Access to reliable information may become a privilege, leading to an information divide between those who can afford it and those who can't.

A re-cap of 2023...

Default Wisdom • 244 implied HN points • 23 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Internet Identity Pop culture Media Technology
  1. The author reflects on the concept of 'main character syndrome' and the importance of narrative in life.
  2. The author highlights various pieces of their writing from 2023, covering topics like AI, digital culture, and more.
  3. The author provides predictions for 2024, discussing shifts in culture wars and emerging societal trends.

Read Write Own, Reviewed

The Future, Now and Then • 79 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Blockchain Web3 Cryptocurrency Venture Capital Internet
  1. Chris Dixon's book 'Read Write Own' discusses the impact of blockchain technology, but fails to address the potential downsides of Web3 projects and the financial risks involved.
  2. Dixon's vision for Web3 revolves around tokenomics and a future where everyone is an owner and investor, which can lead to increased financial precarity and reliance on speculative investments.
  3. The book highlights Dixon's overconfidence in blockchain technology, lack of detailed understanding of technical aspects, and his past involvement in hyped NFT and play-to-earn ventures, casting doubt on his ability to provide a realistic and innovative vision for the future of the internet.

There is no such thing as community, and we're all lonely

The 21st Century Proletarian • 139 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Society Labor Social Issues Internet Social relationships
  1. Loneliness in society can be linked to the impact of labor under capitalism.
  2. Proposed solutions to the 'loneliness crisis' often focus on individual actions rather than systemic changes.
  3. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance and more leisure time are crucial in addressing social isolation and loneliness.

Sunday Scroll: Chad facing and chicken bones

Embedded • 98 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Internet Social media
  1. The 'Clean White Noise - Loopable with no fade' by White Noise Baby Sleep has reached 1.5 billion streams on Spotify.
  2. The Sunday Scroll is a roundup of articles, links, and thoughts from being on the internet.
  3. Embedded published articles about TikTok's Melissa McCarthy Mandela effect and My Internet: Stephen Totilo.

Kolrami and Social Media.

The Good Life • 235 implied HN points • 04 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Social media Creativity Algorithm Internet Content
  1. Playing for fun and balance, not just to win, can be a powerful strategy.
  2. Consider using social media platforms in a way that goes against the typical approach, focusing on genuine enjoyment rather than audience growth.
  3. By being authentic and unconcerned with building an audience, it's possible to navigate social media algorithms in a more fulfilling manner.

Why would we want to be online forever?

Very Fine Day • 42 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Media Internet Youth Content
  1. The assumption that the future of media will always be online is flawed as the free internet is declining.
  2. Content creation on the internet is now a crowded space with competition from all age groups and professional creatives.
  3. The future of media and content is uncertain, with possibilities like the resurgence of print and increasing skepticism towards online content.

Book Notes: The Internet is not what you think it is

Data People Etc. • 302 implied HN points • 27 Sep 23
📚 Literature Internet
  1. The Internet is not just a new technology, but a continuation of humanity's quest to connect across time and space.
  2. The book warns of new exploitative aspects of the internet, including the exploitation of human lives as resources and the impact on attention and perception.
  3. To resist the dehumanizing aspects of the internet, it's important to limit consumption, reclaim attention, and remember our individuality amidst the data-driven world.

A Requiem for Techno-Optimism

Banana Peel Pirouette • 79 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Internet Social media Artificial Intelligence Digital Revolution
  1. Historical optimism about the internet's potential has evolved into a more pessimistic view due to the impact of social media, corporate platforms, and the digital revolution.
  2. Millennials are more accepting of social media's impact on mental health compared to Gen Z, with many finding the internet's pervasive influence leads to negative psychological effects.
  3. Public opinion reflects a growing distrust of technological progress, with concerns about AI development, self-driving cars, and cryptocurrencies impacting the collective outlook on Silicon Valley.

Xleepyfay & Aemmonia: The Xenofeminist Hauntology

Do Not Research • 199 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Internet Identity Politics Art Social media
  1. Questionable fandoms and post-identity roleplays are replacing traditional political identities online, with origins in initially progressive communities.
  2. Xenofeminism challenges current identity politics, transitioning into hyper-aesthetisized roleplay as a response to political disillusionment.
  3. Post-identity roleplay serves as a detached, non-consequential fantasy exploration, replacing traditional political values and aims.

Amy Schumer Now Streaming on Amazon Paramount+ Channel

Textual Variations • 231 implied HN points • 12 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Streaming Television Entertainment Internet Media
  1. Amy Schumer's show is available on Amazon's Paramount+ Channel even after being removed from the main Paramount+ platform.
  2. Removed Paramount+ Originals are now available in other formats outside of streaming.
  3. Streaming platforms like Disney+ are re-releasing their paywalled Originals on different platforms to reach wider audiences.

The technology of nationalism

Yasha Levine • 589 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Nationalism Media Internet Ideology Culture
  1. The concept of nationalism is tied to the emergence of mass media technology like the printing press.
  2. Print technology created national identities by standardizing languages and expanding cultural identity beyond local communities.
  3. The Internet may not be creating new ideologies, but rather reproducing existing nationalist ideals from before.

Taiwan AI Conference Slides, Nvidia Fraud Hoax, Huawei, ARM IPO, and Intel

Mule’s Musings • 263 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
🕹 Technology AI Semiconductors Crypto Internet Conspiracy Theories
  1. The Taiwan AI conference had great slides and discussions on AI content and technology.
  2. There is a debunking of the 'Nvidia is a fraud' narrative, explaining reasons for recent actions by Nvidia.
  3. The complexity of internet-scale events can lead to conspiracy theories as people try to make sense of things beyond their understanding.

One Thing: a catalogue of authenticity

One Thing • 316 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Authenticity Internet Objects People
  1. One Thing newsletter collects cool and good things like objects, people, and ideas to help you navigate the internet.
  2. The newsletter is a project started by Kyle Chayka and Nate Gallant, inspired by Kyle's upcoming book, Filterworld.
  3. It aims to provide short blurbs that offer a glimpse into the diverse and fragmented online world.

Grief for Twitter

Kyle Chayka Industries • 175 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Social media Internet Community Algorithms
  1. Twitter used to be a vibrant platform for diverse discussions and connections, but has now deteriorated due to algorithms and glitches.
  2. Finding spaces for meaningful human interaction on the internet is becoming increasingly challenging as platforms focus more on algorithms and less on authentic conversations.
  3. Despite the challenges, platforms like Substack are emerging as potential spaces for cultivating genuine communities and conversations.

A Great Interruption Begins

From The Future • 294 implied HN points • 17 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Information Management Machine Learning Social Networks Internet
  1. A new era called The Great Interruption seems to be approaching, freeing us from the constant distractions and reclaiming our attention
  2. Information and attention have always been intertwined, impacting humanity's growth and evolution
  3. Interest Grids could be the future of organizing our attention, helping us navigate a world inundated with information and distractions

AI

Life in the 21st Century • 39 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Data Manipulation Internet
  1. AI is a powerful evolution of computing technology, tracing back 75 years to the invention of the transistor.
  2. AI's exponential growth in compute power enables manipulation of vast amounts of data and sophisticated algorithms.
  3. The internet plays a crucial role in AI, facilitating extensive networking and simultaneous computing.

Notes from #WIRED30

The Future, Now and Then • 73 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Futurism AI Internet Tech Culture Digital Media
  1. Tech's center of gravity has shifted in the past 30 years in Silicon Valley, futurism, and WIRED.
  2. Tim Berners-Lee's effort to give users control over data faces challenges from established tech giants.
  3. WIRED is drawing boundary lines around the AI debate, embracing diverse perspectives and urging attention to the limitations of large language models.