The hottest Online Communities Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

substack f***'d up and now we have to talk about it

astrology for writers • 9512 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Tech Ethics Content Moderation Online Communities Digital Publishing
  1. There are Nazis on Substack, and the platform's founders shirk responsibility for content moderation.
  2. The issue of ethical consumerism is complex and challenging, with no pure choices under capitalism.
  3. Supporting marginalized artists may involve navigating difficult choices between audience support and distribution channels, like Substack.

You're not a true software engineer unless...

A Perfectly Cromulent Software Engineer • 99 implied HN points • 07 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Tech community Humor Alcoholism Online Communities
  1. In some tech communities, there's a concept called 'No True Scotsman' fallacy where group definitions get reshaped to exclude counterexamples.
  2. Humor in tech, especially when joking about expertise, can inadvertently lead to gatekeeping and exclusion, promoting dogmatism and fragmentation.
  3. Tech choices should not define our worth or belonging - divisive jokes can lead to isolated communities that hinder growth and acceptance.

Even Diabetes Research Foundations Are Trying to Connect With Kids Through Roblox

Crossplay • 235 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Gaming Online Communities Digital marketing Health tech
  1. JDRF used Roblox to create spaces for kids with type 1 diabetes to connect and learn about the condition.
  2. When trying to engage with a younger audience on platforms like Roblox, it's important to understand the platform and its audience well.
  3. Charity Walk Simulator in Roblox by JDRF incentivized players to walk and learn about diabetes, showing success with over 2,500 virtual bears given away in 24 hours.
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Building new cultures

Escaping Flatland • 1120 implied HN points • 23 May 23
🎭️ Culture Online Communities Culture Wars Social norms
  1. Building new cultures is challenging and requires careful planning and inclusion of diverse perspectives.
  2. Online communities can mirror the challenges faced by historical attempts at creating new societies.
  3. It is important to be mindful of the culture you are creating by curating your social interactions and engaging with specific information.

How To Play the Creator Game | #240

Boundless by Paul Millerd • 223 implied HN points • 16 Sep 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Content creation Marketing Online Communities Self-development
  1. When navigating the creator world, don't blindly follow what others are doing - find your own unique approach.
  2. Be cautious of being influenced by trends or strong opinions, and instead focus on what truly aligns with your goals and capabilities.
  3. Success as a creator isn't about copying what works for others, but about staying true to your interests, finding your unique path, and not giving up.

The evolution of expert communities

lcamtuf’s thing • 125 HN points • 12 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Online Communities Expertise
  1. Online expert communities follow a general lifecycle model with stages of orderly growth, deluge, crackdowns, meme slope, and terminal plateau.
  2. Uncontrolled growth of online communities can lead to issues like repetitive questions, declining discussion quality, and the need for elaborate rules.
  3. As online expert communities evolve, they might face challenges like elitism, loss of meaningful discussions, and a shift towards off-topic topics.

Google made an A.I. so woke it drove men mad

Read Max • 8 HN points • 28 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Technology Media Youth culture Social media Online Communities
  1. Google created an A.I. that unintentionally generated racially diverse images, leading to controversy and criticism.
  2. The purpose of A.I. chatbots like Google's Gemini remains unclear, raising questions about their ideal use and user expectations.
  3. The cultural shift away from tightly-knit, geographically-rooted subcultures may impact youth's sense of validation and self-worth.

Sympathy for the devils

Banana Peel Pirouette • 59 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Gaming Online Communities Identity Social Change
  1. Identity crisis can fuel violence and separatisms as people strive to prove who they are and maintain their identity.
  2. The evolution of gamer identity shows how communities form around shared interests and act as a source of social significance.
  3. The Gamergate phenomenon highlighted how shifts in culture and inclusivity can trigger reactions from groups feeling their identity threatened.

Verified sextortion scammers are flooding the Chinese circle on Twitter

Wenhao’s news blog • 58 implied HN points • 23 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Censorship Social media Online Communities
  1. Verified sextortion scammers are targeting the Chinese circle on Twitter by flooding the platform with fake accounts and threats.
  2. The scammer operation involves potentially thousands of members working outside of China to carry out sextortion schemes.
  3. The presence of these scammer accounts has disrupted political discussions within the Chinese community on Twitter, leading to influential figures feeling discouraged.

Tony Stark vs. the World

Everything's Broken • 78 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media Blogging Online Communities
  1. Elon Musk has been making controversial decisions on Twitter that have impacted the platform and its users.
  2. Musk's actions have shifted the focus of Twitter towards his personal preferences and away from its original purpose.
  3. Twitter under Musk's leadership is becoming more personalized around him, raising concerns about the direction of the platform.

Social Distancing For Skills

Day One • 798 implied HN points • 15 Apr 20
🚌 Education Skill development Online Communities Entrepreneurship Learning Strategies Personal Growth
  1. Focus on learning one skill at a time instead of overwhelming yourself with multiple choices. Don't get distracted by trying to learn everything at once.
  2. Taking action and earning from the skill you have is more important than acquiring numerous skills. Make sure to put your skills to use.
  3. Devote time to mastering a chosen skill and figuring out how to earn from it. Building expertise in one area will lead to success.

Ultima Ratio Twitterum

Never Met a Science • 16 implied HN points • 30 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Social media Internet Communication Digital Platforms Online Communities
  1. Twitter has become overrun by bots, spammers, and harmful content, making it unusable for meaningful communication.
  2. Institutions like APSA and AEA have failed to adapt to the internet era, hindering effective communication and reform.
  3. Addressing online challenges requires creating new platforms that prioritize effective communication, moderation, and community needs.

Thoughts on Twitter and my creative behaviour | #61

Thinking Out Loud • 23 implied HN points • 08 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Social media Creativity Online Communities Self-reflection
  1. Consider spending less time on fast-moving platforms like Twitter and more on platforms that encourage deeper thought and refinement.
  2. Reflect on how the platforms you choose to engage with impact your creativity and the quality of your work.
  3. Embrace platforms that align with your values and allow you to express different traits of creativity that you want to cultivate in yourself.

Stack Overflow's Uncertain Fate and Overflow AI

Machine Economy Press • 4 implied HN points • 03 Aug 23
🕹 Technology AI Online Communities Artificial Intelligence Internet Tech Giants
  1. Stack Overflow's traffic has been decreasing due to the rise of AI models like ChatGPT and tools like GitHub Copilot.
  2. Overflow AI is an attempt to compete with AI-driven platforms, but may not be enough in the face of changing consumer behaviors.
  3. The shift towards Generative A.I. like ChatGPT raises concerns about the future of human-generated data and interactions online.

Welcome to the season of socialized nostalgia

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 59 implied HN points • 04 Dec 20
🎭️ Culture Nostalgia Tech Companies Social media Online Communities Internet culture
  1. 2020 has been different, leading tech companies to change approaches to the usual holiday season nostalgia content.
  2. Revisiting past memories through social media platforms during the pandemic-induced trauma can feel unsettling and jarring.
  3. YouTube's decision to skip its annual year-end rewind reflects a shift in how we remember and commemorate this unique year.

Not much seems to have happened

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 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.

In praise of the internet's house parties

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 19 Nov 22
🎭️ Culture Social media Internet culture Online Communities Influencers
  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.

You’re going to have to gaslight this man.

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 17 Apr 20
🕹 Technology Social media E-commerce Data Privacy Online Communities
  1. We are constantly manipulated by websites using various tactics like 'dark patterns' to steer our actions.
  2. Some websites are adapting their designs to actually encourage positive behavior, like Instagram showing inspiring photos and Amazon discouraging needless shopping.
  3. The pandemic is accelerating the shift towards online shopping, potentially leading to more gig work and changing market dynamics.

Boom times for boredom

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 03 Apr 20
🎭️ Culture Social media Internet Trends Online Communities Digital Culture
  1. It's important to be cautious about relying on Facebook 'disaster' groups, considering the platform's own issues
  2. The political landscape is rapidly shifting to a digital space, with Democrats facing challenges in reaching voters online
  3. There's a fun read available on the legacy of Myspace music, catering to subscribers who appreciate a deep dive into nostalgia

Newfangled fads

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 15 Mar 16
🎭️ Culture Social media Internet Technology Online Communities Literature
  1. Twitter's saddest celebrity, Melissa Broder, faces criticism for potentially romanticizing anxiety.
  2. The identity politics of 4chan's 'beta males' are complex, going beyond being simply under-sexed and anti-feminist.
  3. The Internet's petri dish for 'erotic audio' is described as collaborative, anonymous, and surprisingly not terrible.

It could work

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 17 Feb 16
🎭️ Culture Social media Online Communities Celebrities Arts News
  1. Teens on Tumblr are highly engaged with online content and understand how to make things go viral very well.
  2. Victims of online harassment often receive little help from the legal system, leaving online mobs unchecked.
  3. Instagram-famous pets are a highly profitable and emotionally intense social media trend, acting as brand representatives until their passing.

What are you doing?

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 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.

"Links" Weekend Edition: Ermahgerd

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 16 Oct 15
🎭️ Culture Digital Culture Internet culture Online Communities Content creation
  1. Debates on 'Netflix and chill' as a good date idea emerged with mixed opinions, including Maxim's conclusion that it might not be the best choice for getting to know someone.
  2. A selection of interesting reads on digital culture and technology was shared, covering topics from erotic fan fiction to the impact of web 2.0 communities on the internet.
  3. Weekly round-up pdfs of digital culture reads were offered for download, adding convenience for those interested in exploring the topics further.

Everyone will know

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 12 Oct 15
🕹 Technology Social media Online Content Online Communities
  1. When sharing your life online, consider when to turn the camera off, especially during sensitive moments like tragedies.
  2. The history of CSS color names is both fascinating and quirky, with colors like 'peru' and 'rebecca' having interesting stories behind them.
  3. In the virtual world of The Sims, divorce rates are low because they are computer characters and not real people.

Proof that truth is stranger than fiction

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 11 Sep 15
🕹 Technology Social media Internet culture Tech Ethics Online Communities
  1. Facebook may know a lot about us, but it's a reminder that we can never fully know someone, not even an AI.
  2. Twitter is going after shady syndicates making money off 'parody' accounts with millions of followers, signaling potential trouble for them.
  3. Gamergate has evolved beyond gaming and journalism ethics to focus on the idea of radical free speech everywhere.

The Internet is a series of cubes

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 03 Feb 16
🕹 Technology Internet E-commerce Social media Online Content Online Communities
  1. There is a bizarre black market online for human breast milk that caters to various groups.
  2. "EOS" lip balm became wildly popular online due to its unique design and appeal to social media users.
  3. Sometimes online interactions may appear superficial, challenging the idea of meaningful connections through social media.