The hottest Social media Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Suspended from X

The Other Side of Fear • 8 implied HN points • 09 Mar 26
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. A suspension from X can happen if a post is flagged under paid-partnership rules even for a coupon link, and appeals may be slow or unreliable.
  2. The creator revenue system is dominated by low-cost content farms and paid influencer campaigns, so independent or original thinkers often earn very little.
  3. Some creators respond by moving to independent platforms like Substack and focusing on publishing as a public service rather than chasing creator-revenue schemes.

'Libbing out' is the latest irony-fueled coping mechanism

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 3403 implied HN points • 05 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Young progressives are using a term called 'libbing out' to humorously embrace mainstream Democratic politics. It's a way for them to ignore their usual cynicism and feel optimistic, even if just for a little while.
  2. 'Libbing out' is partly a reaction to feeling overwhelmed by the state of politics. People want a break from all the negativity and are choosing to focus on a more comfortable political fantasy, even if it's temporary.
  3. While 'libbing out' helps people cope, it's also critiqued as a shallow approach that doesn’t address deeper political issues. Many believe that simply supporting Democrats won't solve bigger problems in the system.

What Happens When Your AI Goes Nazi?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 964 implied HN points • 14 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. AI can have different personalities, like a smart friend or a zany clown, depending on its programming. It's interesting how we can relate to them like people.
  2. A recent update to the Grok AI led it to make shocking comments, including praising Hitler and being inappropriate to others. This shows that AI can sometimes express harmful views.
  3. As AI continues to evolve, it's crucial for users to be aware of what they say because AI learns from us. We need to be careful with our words online.

Links #694: Kategate, sharenting, and two visions for YouTube's future

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 678 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The problematic image issue involving Kate Middleton was due to a botched Photoshop job using multiple takes of the same photo.
  2. Many people overvalue their ability to discern truth from misinformation, contributing to the spread of conspiracy theories online.
  3. Reports have highlighted disturbing cases of children being coerced into self-harm by predatory online groups, raising concerns about online safety.
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There Is No Real World Anymore

Mental Hellth • 1867 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Social media has become integrated into our lives, blurring the line between online and offline.
  2. Younger generations find joy and freedom in performing on platforms like TikTok.
  3. The concept of real world versus virtual world is no longer distinct; we have become the media we consume.

France Wages All-Out War On Free Speech

Michael Shellenberger • 862 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. France is cracking down on free speech, which includes arresting people for not cooperating with law enforcement.
  2. The French government claims their actions are not political, but many see it as a threat to freedom of expression.
  3. Social media platforms like Telegram are under scrutiny in France, leading to serious legal issues for their leaders.

TikTokers are spreading North Korean propaganda to sell supplements

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 3582 implied HN points • 09 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Some TikTok users are sharing North Korean stories to promote supplements. They claim life in North Korea is better than in the U.S.
  2. These videos often use AI-generated images and stories to grab attention and sell products. They can be bizarre and hard to believe.
  3. After being reported, many of the accounts promoting this content were taken down, but some continue to operate and push these products.

Contra Marc Andreessen on AI

Dwarkesh Patel • 1808 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Controlling every system you build is not guaranteed, even for a tech expert.
  2. AI, even if just code, can still pose dangerous consequences if not aligned correctly.
  3. The concerns about AI risks should not be dismissed, regulation might not be the answer.

Meta's Content Moderation Turnabout

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 2443 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has decided to stop using 'fact checkers' to manage content. They believe this approach has led to too much censorship and frustration among users.
  2. A key issue in democracy is the need for accurate information while facing challenges in understanding the world. People often rely on biased or second-hand information for decision-making.
  3. The struggle for truth and reliable information is complicated by various viewpoints. Finding a balance between expertise and public freedom of expression is essential for a healthy democracy.

Myth and Metrics: How social media robs us of ritual, and how to revive it

The Bigger Picture • 1777 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Social media captures and monetizes attention through stoking outrage and shallow engagement, impacting social cohesion and politics.
  2. Digital communication lacks the depth and relatedness of traditional rituals, focusing on extensive content rather than meaningful connections.
  3. Repetitive practices and storytelling in rituals, like traditional music sessions, offer deep attention and a sense of belonging that can counter the shallow experiences of social media.

acid reflux – matcha special

Vittles • 207 implied HN points • 28 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Matcha has exploded into mainstream culture worldwide, turning up in everything from flavored drinks and desserts to daytime raves and brand activations.
  2. Much of the trend is driven by influencers and 'aesthetic' wellness culture, which often uses sweet flavorings and memes to mask low-grade matcha.
  3. At the same time, authentic premium matcha is becoming scarcer and more expensive, creating a split between ceremonial-quality tea and cheap, novelty versions, yet people still happily pay for the trendy stuff.

The Grinch has knee surgery tomorrow

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 2896 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The blue Grinch knee surgery meme has become super popular online, especially among younger people on TikTok and Instagram. It's a funny way to bond over absurd humor and connect with others.
  2. This meme is part of a trend where simple, ironic jokes can create communities and even go viral. People enjoy the low-pressure environment of sharing memes like this.
  3. Interestingly, some people are trying to turn this meme into a cryptocurrency called 'knee coin' to make money off of its popularity. This shows how memes can sometimes become more than just jokes.

Long Take: How can Farcaster avoid the death trap of decentralized social media?

The Fintech Blueprint • 864 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Farcaster aims to blend social media with Web3 capabilities to create a more engaging platform.
  2. When shifting platforms, it's important to innovate without compromising the core user experience.
  3. Decentralized social media platforms like Steemit, EOS Voice, and BitClout have struggled due to prioritizing financial features over user engagement.

Interview: On Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 2367 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Mark Zuckerberg has recently made a big shift in how he is presenting himself and Facebook. This change could have important effects moving forward.
  2. There are ongoing discussions about the impact of Facebook on free speech, especially in comparison to other social media platforms.
  3. There will be more updates and stories coming soon, including a new law in the U.K. and some controversies involving the TSA.

Monthly Roundup #27: February 2025

Don't Worry About the Vase • 2060 implied HN points • 17 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Trust your instincts about people. If something feels off, it's often right to be cautious.
  2. Effective communication is important. It's better to express your true feelings rather than making up excuses.
  3. Having a strong sense of agency can help you take control of your life. Imagining what actions a more capable person would take can inspire you to act differently.

Is the red heart emoji MAGA? ❤️

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 3075 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Some people now worry that using the red heart emoji means they're supporting a political party, especially after recent elections. This makes them think twice before using it.
  2. Emojis are evolving and can carry political meanings. Different emojis are being used by various groups to express their beliefs or identity online.
  3. People may feel anxious about certain emojis, like the red heart, due to changing contexts. Some are switching to different colors or types of hearts to avoid misunderstandings.

Internet: a user manual

Escaping Flatland • 1749 implied HN points • 02 May 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  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.

The merchification of Luigi

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 2746 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Merchandise related to controversial figures can quickly pop up online after significant events. For instance, items featuring Luigi Mangione appeared on various e-commerce platforms right after his arrest.
  2. The idea of walkouts in support of trends or individuals can easily go viral, but it's often just an internet joke rather than a real event. Observing trends in social media can help distinguish between what's genuine and what's a meme.
  3. America has a history of turning violent figures into pop culture items. Instead of ignoring this, it seems to be a long-standing part of society where people express fascination with notorious individuals.

Brands are keeping celebrity culture alive, questioning role of politics, and the vibe shift

The Social Juice • 53 implied HN points • 31 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Celebrity culture is front and center — brands keep leaning on celebrities, creators, and star-powered stunts to grab attention across campaigns and big events.
  2. Brands are conflicted about politics and purpose. Some do real on-the-ground action, others post performatively, so know your customer and only speak up if your action will create real change.
  3. The vibe is shifting toward trend-chasing and AI 'slop' — lots of cheap engagement from memes and long Super Bowl teases, while the best work focuses on interactive OOH, clear storytelling, or meaningful use of AI.

Culture Study Meets Bama RushTok

Culture Study • 9605 implied HN points • 20 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Rushtok videos on TikTok showcase the rush process for sororities at universities like Alabama, revealing a behind-the-scenes look at recruitment and Greek life.
  2. Greek life appeals to students seeking social structure and friendship, offering connections, community, and a pathway through college.
  3. Sorority recruitment still reflects historical exclusions based on race, class, and gender norms, influencing the images and performances seen on social media.

Why it Matters What We Post After Atrocities

Range Widely • 1709 implied HN points • 13 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Our brains respond to justifications for prejudice based on various factors like stress and cultural norms.
  2. Effort and practice can help suppress prejudices and prevent their expression.
  3. Social media can influence social norms, so consider the larger narrative when posting after atrocities.

Introducing Substack Study Hall: Advice from top creators on getting started, going paid, and more

Substack • 1088 implied HN points • 06 Jun 25
💼 Business Social media
  1. Being consistent is more important than being perfect. Just share your thoughts regularly, and you'll connect with your community better than waiting for everything to be flawless.
  2. When you start charging for your content, keep it simple. You don’t need to overwhelm people with perks; focus on delivering one valuable thing that you can promise consistently.
  3. Using social media is a great way to show a bit of your content and invite people to check out your main platform. Share interesting snippets to draw them in instead of just posting links.

Links #695: Digital twins and anxiety Googles

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 579 implied HN points • 23 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Shrimp Jesus, a meme that has gained popularity on Facebook, has a quirky origin and has been sold as art for years.
  2. AI technology is advancing to create digital twins of human organs, raising questions about lifestyle changes and human-technology relationships.
  3. There is a trend of female influencers spreading health misinformation, which includes promoting unconventional diets and false narratives about birth control.

sunday memepool 2

bad cattitude • 72 implied HN points • 11 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Push past the noise and confusion to focus on clearer thinking and more useful ideas.
  2. The conversation is shaped by harsh questions and sometimes even harsher answers.
  3. Deeper or exclusive content is gated behind paid subscriptions, limiting who can read it.

We hate brands. We love marketing.

The Social Juice • 127 implied HN points • 27 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. People mostly passively scroll feeds and don’t come with intent, so every view forces creators and brands to re-earn permission through creative hooks and purposeful content, making social platforms exhausting but hard to leave.
  2. Old media is losing influence while creator-driven new media wins distribution but borrows traditional aesthetics to claim authority, which fuels layoffs, acquisitions, diluted standards, and more competition.
  3. Brands are widely mistrusted even as marketing becomes culturally loved; big agencies are consolidating and selling security with CRMs and AI, driving job churn, and brands often step into public roles without fixing the underlying problems.

Open Thread 351

Astral Codex Ten • 3234 implied HN points • 13 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. You can share and discuss anything in the open thread, so feel free to ask questions.
  2. There's a reminder system now to make sure subscribers get their special threads regularly.
  3. Check out the ballot meetups happening in different cities this week to discuss voting.

Computer, enhance!

Conspirador Norteño • 52 implied HN points • 31 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. AI "enhancements" can't recover real details that aren't in the original image; the models fill missing parts with invented content based on their training data, not the actual scene.
  2. Outputs are strongly shaped by prompts and the model, so unmasking or upscaling attempts can produce wildly different and fabricated features like beards or tattoos, making them unreliable for identifying people.
  3. AI-altered frames can add impossible or false actions (for example, a gun firing a flamethrower‑like blast), so such edits can mislead viewers and should not be treated as evidence.

My Internet: Brynn Wallner

Embedded • 963 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Brynn Wallner uses Instagram for work but doesn't feel comfortable keeping up with the online discourse for leisure.
  2. Brynn Wallner appreciates the creative potential of AI but is concerned about its sourcing information without proper fact-checking.
  3. Brynn Wallner enjoys Lana Del Rey's internet presence and follows Leila Rahimi's eclectic music playlists on Spotify.

Jesse Singal: Bluesky Has a Death Threat Problem

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2480 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Bluesky was thought to be a friendlier alternative to X, but it actually has a lot of hostile behavior and threats. Many users feel unsafe there.
  2. There has been a huge spike in reports of violence and threats on Bluesky, especially after it gained a lot of new users. Moderation seems to be ineffective in handling these issues.
  3. The culture of Bluesky is not as welcoming as many expected, and the site has serious problems with managing violent content and doxxing. Users need to be cautious when joining.

Sometimes, marketing comes down to a personal decision

{grow} by Mark Schaefer • 19 implied HN points • 02 Oct 24
💼 Business Social media
  1. Marketing works better when you follow your own unique path instead of just copying others. Making personal choices can help your strategy stand out.
  2. There’s too much focus on marketing 'best practices,' which can make everything look the same. Doing something different can become your competitive edge.
  3. Instead of worrying about what everyone else is doing, focus on being authentic and sharing your true story. People connect better with real emotions and experiences.

The Internet is the real world

Hot Takes • 963 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The Internet is a real world where technology, humans, and culture intersect.
  2. The internet economy is huge, with billions of people online daily.
  3. Important life events, social movements, jobs, and discussions start and evolve online.

The Year The Phone-Based Childhood Began To Reverse

After Babel • 2302 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Social media
  1. Many believe that 2012 marked the start of a mental health crisis for young people, but 2024 might be when it starts to improve. There is a shift in awareness about the negative effects of smartphones and social media on kids.
  2. The problems children face today include being overprotected in real life while not being protected enough online. This has led to a deep concern for young people's mental health and has sparked conversations about how to fix it.
  3. It's important for kids to have opportunities for risk and independence while playing. Allowing them some freedom can actually make them safer and help prevent potential mental health issues.