The hottest Online Culture Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Soy Right ascendant

Read Max • 14516 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Rhetoric Online Culture Trumpism Social movements Media Analysis
  1. The Soy Right has emerged as a new group within Trumpism that emphasizes a sensitive and emotional style, contrasting with earlier, more aggressive right-wing attitudes. They often complain about feeling oppressed and seek validation.
  2. This group combines elements of online culture like meme-making and social media engagement with a political platform that mirrors the traits they once mocked in liberals. It's a blend of corniness and a demand for social approval.
  3. There are strong parallels between the current Soy Right and the past Gamergate movement, as both display similar attitudes of victimhood and entitlement while engaging in cultural conflicts. They represent a shift in the focus and style of online right-wing discourse.

sunday memepool 2: cheer up

bad cattitude • 110 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
😂 Humor Memes Comedy Entertainment Online Culture Social media
  1. Sometimes, life can feel overwhelming or tough. It's important to find ways to lift your spirits when you're feeling down.
  2. Humor and lighthearted content, like memes, can be great tools to cheer ourselves up. They help remind us not to take life too seriously.
  3. Sharing feelings and laughter with others can create connection and support, which is really helpful during hard times.

Ruby Thelot: A Cyberarchaeology of Checkpoints

Do Not Research • 319 implied HN points • 22 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Online Culture Community Internet culture
  1. The book 'A Cyberarchaeology of Checkpoints' by Ruby Thelot delves into the vanished online community of 'Checkpoints,' which were personal life updates shared in a now-deleted YouTube video's comments section.
  2. While the original video was removed, a user named Rebane2001 meticulously archived the 'Checkpoints,' preserving a decade of human experiences and emotions captured in these digital narratives.
  3. The book not only contains the archived 'Checkpoints' but also includes a reflective essay on their cultural significance, an interview with Rebane2001, and an exploration of digital memory in the modern era, challenging readers to consider what remains of our digital footprint.

Bye Bye Blue Check

Drezner’s World • 786 implied HN points • 31 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Social media Tech Companies Digital Content Online Culture Monetization
  1. Twitter is changing their verification program and making it tied to subscribing to Twitter Blue for $8 a month.
  2. There is controversy and dissatisfaction among users about having to pay to keep their blue checkmark.
  3. Elon Musk's decisions regarding Twitter's verification system and revenue generation strategies have faced criticism and led to speculation about his ability to run the company.
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⬜ Notes on format

One Thing • 395 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Media Online Culture Community Creativity Authenticity
  1. Neighborhood restaurants like Tail Up Goat focus on a coherent vision, care, and unexpected surprises, qualities desired in media publications.
  2. One Thing newsletter aims for reliability with interest, focusing on quality, specificity, and texture in the content.
  3. The project explores a new form of 'corner-store microblogging' to move away from formulaic content creation, prioritizing authenticity, creativity, and discussions among cultural friends.

I still miss you, StumbleUpon

The Rectangle • 56 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Internet Online Culture Social media Digital Trends
  1. StumbleUpon was a fun tool to discover interesting websites, making time online feel valuable. The internet has changed a lot since then, and it’s hard to find that same kind of exploration now.
  2. Big social media sites have taken over the internet, making it feel less diverse. While there are more websites, we mostly stick to a few major platforms instead of exploring niche interests.
  3. To bring back the spirit of discovery, we need to move away from big networks. Engaging with small communities and personal projects online can give us a richer experience.

The void

Close-reading the reruns with Phoebe Maltz Bovy • 235 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Social Commentary Identity politics Feminism Twitter Online Culture
  1. The post discusses a tweet involving a white woman and a shirt slogan in a Pilates class - there's a void at the core of the story.
  2. The narrative explores how social media posts can project feelings onto situations and individuals.
  3. The author questions the meaning behind a shirt slogan stating "Literally nothing I do is for men" and the implications it carries.

Vol. 2, Issue 20 - Interview with Joey & Jolty's Home

Johto Times • 39 implied HN points • 16 May 24
🎭️ Culture Fan Communities Pop culture Interviews Media Coverage Online Culture
  1. Joey & Jolty's Home was a fun Pokémon fan website created in 2003, where people shared art and stories about their favorite Pokémon. It had a friendly vibe that appealed to kids and fans alike.
  2. The site featured various content like games, quizzes, and fan creations. It built a small community of friends who still keep in touch today, showing how special these web projects can be.
  3. While the website hasn't been updated in years, its creator cherishes the memories and friendships made through it. He believes that even if projects change, the joy they bring can last a lifetime.

The Matrix as symptom

The Leftovers • 199 implied HN points • 04 Jan 23
🎭️ Culture Conspiracy Theories Ideology Cultural criticism Online Culture Alienation
  1. Fools convinced of a supposed revelation can be dangerous, leading to calamity if they believe they see hidden truths others can't.
  2. Conspiracy theories often oversimplify and focus on baroque explanations for obvious phenomena, when the real issues are visible to everyone.
  3. The Matrix, a movie from the '90s, is relevant even today as it symbolizes a collective alienation that still exists, highlighting society's struggles for credible answers.

Logan Bruni: Heatmap

Do Not Research • 19 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Digital Art Online Culture Conspiracies
  1. The video features 3D scans of clay sculptures, digital art, and AI-generated content, with unique audio creation methods.
  2. The themes touched upon in the video include human subjectivity in digital space, online culture, and references to historical government involvement in digital infrastructures.
  3. The visual elements include a clay figure interacting with images, and a floating head narrating haikus and poetic monologues about digital culture.

On Apologies

Tom Thought • 19 implied HN points • 10 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Community Conflict resolution Online Culture Apologies
  1. Apologies aim at restoring relationships within a community, not necessarily at being perfectly sincere or compensating fully for harm.
  2. Communities function best when conflicts are resolved judiciously; regular expulsion of members can lead to community fracture.
  3. Online apologies can lack satisfaction as internet outrage is diffused with no clear leadership; each person decides for themselves if an apology is sufficient.

Messianic Onlineism and the Spirit of '16

Zero HP Lovecraft • 25 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ideology Leadership Online Culture Election Policies
  1. The spirit of '16 represents a right-revolutionary consciousness poised to challenge and change the prevailing leftist ideologies.
  2. Emancipation and feel-good vibes shaped the spirit of '68, while the spirit of '16 confronts uncomfortable realities and 'hate facts' for necessary change.
  3. Messianic Onlineism reflects a passive online culture jumping from savior to savior, with Donald Trump as a central figure embodying the spirit of '16.

Postmodern Paralysis and the Anxiety of Ironic Awareness

Holodoxa • 39 implied HN points • 13 Aug 22
📚 Literature Postmodernism Online Culture Irony Satire
  1. In the post-modern era, creating meaningful narratives becomes challenging when all meta-narratives are considered false.
  2. Authors face anxieties like fear of mockery and lack of originality, leading some to use esoterica, ugliness, and irony as shields.
  3. Literary works focusing on 'very online' themes, like 'Fake Accounts' by Lauren Oyler, may risk being seen as empty and lacking substance.

xleepy fay: femcel z-dolls and the memetic urge surfing of their irl compulsive insanity

Do Not Research • 19 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Generation Z Online Culture Social Issues Youth culture Internet culture
  1. The current generational gap leads to a crisis where older governing systems clash with the beliefs and needs of the younger generation, especially Gen Z.
  2. Femcel z-dolls navigate a digital world filled with information overload, developing a keen eye for discerning truth from propaganda.
  3. Online communities provide an outlet for femcel z-dolls to fulfill their urge for transgressive behavior in a memetic way, seeking relief and connection in a futureless reality.

The saddest place on the internet

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 19 implied HN points • 23 Oct 20
📰 News Internet Social media Philanthropy Media Online Culture
  1. Twitter sweepstakes organized by Bill Pulte have taken a darker turn during the pandemic, evoking stories of desperation and hardship from participants.
  2. The phenomenon of @pulte, with 3.1 million followers, reveals a tragic trend of people reaching out online for financial help, reflecting a dire situation.
  3. Despite some positive transactions, many followers appeal directly to Pulte, raising questions about the overall impact and sincerity of the assistance provided.

Fixing the Web Independence Day Edition

Unmoderated Insights • 0 implied HN points • 04 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Social media Data Privacy Cybersecurity Online Culture Digital marketing
  1. Mark Zuckerberg is under pressure from many lawsuits and investigations about how his company handles user safety, but he's still making headlines with flamboyant summer videos. It feels like a disconnect from the serious issues he's facing.
  2. There's ongoing work to gather data about social media's impact in countries like Poland, Kenya, and Somalia, aiming to understand users' experiences better. This could lead to important insights and improvements.
  3. Research is being done into how to react to toxic political content online, focusing on counterspeech as a potential solution. This could help create a healthier online environment.

Baby, you autocomplete me.

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 24 Apr 14
🕹 Technology Online Culture Social media Privacy
  1. Telecom companies and phone manufacturers resist better theft protections for smartphones, possibly to benefit financially.
  2. Review sites like Yelp may not accurately represent the views of the general public, but rather a privileged few.
  3. The concept of the sharing economy might be driven by both trust and desperation, blurring lines between motives.

You're being a jerk.

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 06 Apr 15
🕹 Technology Internet Social Networks Tech Trends Digital Privacy Online Culture
  1. Social networks use nostalgia for financial gain, but it also offers psychological benefits to users.
  2. Being the target of an internet joke can be hurtful, especially when there's a personal story behind the image.
  3. Even when exposing information for a perceived good cause, like doxing, it's important to consider the impact and potential harm.

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Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 19 Dec 14
🕹 Technology Data Internet Online Culture Social media E-commerce
  1. Infomania refers to hoarding digital content, which can be less funny due to privacy concerns.
  2. Some people have witnessed the development of social networking from its early days in the '90s.
  3. The Boston Globe reconstructed the life of Amazon's top reviewer who declined an interview.

STEP IT UP, slacker.

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 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.

Does this computer make me look fat?

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 03 Jun 14
🕹 Technology Internet Digital Health Online Culture Social media
  1. The internet is full of wicked things like the creepy character Slender Man, started as an internet meme but turned into a real-life horror story.
  2. Desktop computers, thought to be outdated, surprisingly seem to be making a comeback in the era of cloud computing, showing that tech trends can be unpredictable.
  3. Too much time spent on computers can contribute to weight gain; taking regular breaks from digital screens could help with weight management.

Brandon Bandy & Rachel Jackson: Network Spirituality

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Exhibition Collaboration Online Culture
  1. Network Spirituality was a collaborative exhibition at University of California, Riverside in April of 2022, exploring algorithmic domination, 'content mirage,' and religious signifiers in the online world.
  2. The exhibition featured works that combined seemingly unrelated source material to create new cultural forms referencing past influences, like a chair reupholstered with ads or lamps transformed into stickers.
  3. Art has the potential to influence real-world events, as seen when Olivia Rodrigo became Glossier's first celebrity brand ambassador and a 'Praying for Olivia Rodrigo' purse was released as tour merchandise after being featured in the exhibition.

My Political Journey: Margo Bergamini

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Sep 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Identity Online Culture Mental health Literature
  1. The author's political journey was heavily influenced by their personal experiences as a transgender individual, which led them to radical politics.
  2. Discovering folk-punk music in middle school sparked the author's interest in anarchism and DIY culture, shaping their political views.
  3. Engaging with online communities and content creators, such as leftist YouTubers and anarchist subreddits, played a significant role in the author's evolving political ideologies.

Sjef van Beers: Gamer Keyboard Wall Piece #1

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Sep 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Gaming Online Culture Visual art Social Commentary
  1. Online culture often portrays gamers in a negative light, highlighting stereotypes such as being socially inept and aggressive.
  2. The _Gamer Keyboard Wall Piece_ series reimagines the gamer stereotype using gamer subculture visuals to give it a new political identity.
  3. The artwork _Gamer Keyboard Wall Piece #1_ uses RGB lit keys of gamer keyboards as pixels in a video installation that addresses themes like loneliness and anxiety.