The hottest Social media Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Scott Galloway Explains Why Age Gating Social Media Is Both Necessary and Doable

After Babel • 1346 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Social media can be very harmful to kids, exposing them to risks like addiction, violence, and negative mental health effects. Just like age restrictions exist for alcohol and smoking, similar rules should apply to social media.
  2. Changing how social media platforms operate is key to protecting children. This means having laws that ensure kids can't access these platforms without parental oversight or age verification.
  3. Forcing social media companies to bear the costs of the harm they cause can help change their behavior. If they hurt someone, they should be held accountable, just like in other industries.

Arianna Caserta: Artificial Deaths

Do Not Research • 479 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. In the digital age, the concept of being forgotten has become as important as being remembered, raising questions about digital legacy and the right to be forgotten.
  2. The presence of deceased individuals online is increasing, posing ethical dilemmas about digital immortality, control over online data after death, and the merging of real life and digital afterlife.
  3. Navigating social media after the death of a friend raises complex emotions about unfollowing profiles, online grieving, and the moral implications of interacting with deceased individuals' digital presence.

Read the Damn Article

Polymathic Being • 102 implied HN points • 30 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. People often react to headlines without reading the full piece, which leads to strawman arguments, misinformation, and pointless online fights.
  2. Short, provocative headlines and algorithms exploit our cognitive biases and emotional reactions to steer what we believe and share.
  3. You can resist this by slowing down, recognizing your biases, avoiding outrage engines, and choosing to read and think before you comment or share.

What If You Replaced Yourself with AI for the Summer?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 357 implied HN points • 05 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Dave Rubin created an AI version of himself to host his show while he's away. He thinks people will still enjoy the show even if it's not him.
  2. The AI clone can imitate Rubin’s voice and even hold a conversation, but it feels very unnatural and lacks real emotion.
  3. Talking to AI Dave can be uncomfortable, and there’s a cost involved for a one-on-one chat, which makes some people hesitant to interact.

A Few Things — Friday Link List

Design Mom • 825 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
📰 News Social media
  1. Threads is a new social media platform launched by Instagram aiming to compete with Twitter and has gained 55 million users in a short span of time.
  2. There are concerns about platforms trying to replace Twitter, like Mastodon and Bluesky, lacking a large user base for quality content.
  3. The author shares interesting shopping links, like a popular $35 polka dot dress at Target and a $40 boilersuit, that resonated with readers.
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Crisis CEO

Points And Figures • 1172 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Musk handled a crisis well by communicating clearly and quickly. He used social media to share important updates and information.
  2. His approach focused on transparency, which helped counter misinformation from the media. This made it easier for the public to trust what Tesla was saying.
  3. Effective crisis management involves understanding the situation and reacting swiftly. Musk's method showed how to turn a potentially negative event into an opportunity to build trust.

Join me on Notes

CB • 818 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Notes on Substack is a new platform for sharing links, short posts, quotes, photos, and more.
  2. Readers can automatically see notes by accessing substack.com/notes or finding the 'Notes' tab in the Substack app.
  3. The goal is to create a space where readers can share thoughts, ideas, and quotes from the content they engage with on Substack and beyond.

On the dangers of audience capture in new - and old - media

Unreported Truths • 42 implied HN points • 16 Jan 26
📰 News Social media
  1. Audiences now steer content: creators and outlets often tailor what they say to win likes, clicks, or engagement instead of sticking to hard truths.
  2. That incentive affects both new independent creators and legacy media, producing biased or sensational narratives that prioritize attention over accuracy.
  3. Journalism that resists audience capture by prioritizing facts and honest analysis is rare and valuable, and it benefits from conscious support.

This Week in Marketing: Google does Apple, OpenAI does ads, publishers do Google — What?

The Social Juice • 36 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
💼 Business Social media
  1. Big tech is folding AI into advertising and shopping so companies can monetize AI — OpenAI is testing ads in ChatGPT, and Google is adding personalized ads to its AI tools and shopping features.
  2. Publishers, regulators and advocacy groups are pushing back as platform ad practices and AI usage shift — major publishers are suing over ad-auction issues, traffic to news sites is dropping, and governments are challenging AI apps and policies.
  3. Social platforms and creator economics are in flux — algorithms, features and monetization keep changing, creators are valuing authenticity over AI-generated content, and new tools and payouts are reshaping how creators earn.

Brainfooders - Join this

Recruiting Brainfood • 805 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The future of publishing and community platforms may revolve around LinkedIn, Twitter, and Substack.
  2. Substack Notes is a new feature that got Elon Musk's attention and led to Twitter blocking the sharing of Substack links.
  3. Substack Notes offers an ad-free, spam-free environment for sharing thoughts and only shows content from those you subscribe to.

We need to talk about micro-treason

Jeff Giesea • 219 implied HN points • 08 May 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Using TikTok can be seen as a security risk because it is owned by a Chinese company. Many people believe it could contribute to a national security threat if many users stay connected.
  2. The idea of 'micro-treason' is introduced to describe small actions that collectively make a country vulnerable. This term helps us discuss the impact of seemingly harmless behaviors.
  3. It's important for society to be more aware of actions that could harm national security, even if those actions seem small at an individual level. We need to have conversations about these issues to protect our country.

Congress Must Pass KOSA By Christmas. The Only Obstacle Seems to be Meta’s Influence

After Babel • 1221 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) aims to protect children online by introducing stronger privacy settings and reducing harmful features on social media platforms.
  2. There is significant concern over the current impact of social media on kids, including issues like sextortion and mental health problems, which KOSA seeks to address.
  3. The bill has strong bipartisan support in Congress, but its progress is hindered by lobbying from major social media companies that fear regulation.

Happy Third Birthday to This Newsletter...

illyanna Maisonet's Newsletter • 786 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Author reflects on the growth of their newsletter over the past three years and sets a goal of reaching 10,000 subscribers by the end of 2023.
  2. Author discusses the challenges of comparing oneself to others in the industry and the need for self-acceptance and authenticity.
  3. Author addresses feedback regarding cursing in their content, highlighting the importance of staying true to oneself and maintaining a supportive community.

Bye Bye Blue Check

Drezner’s World • 786 implied HN points • 31 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  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.

Algorithms and the Homogenization of Taste

The Analog Family • 379 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Social media algorithms influence our tastes by showing us similar things repeatedly, which can make our preferences less personal and more generic. Instead of discovering unique experiences, we often end up picking places that are popular online.
  2. The rise of these algorithms leads to a homogenization of culture, where everyone likes the same music, wears similar clothes, and follows the same trends. This makes our experiences and choices feel less special and diverse.
  3. To combat this, it's important to seek out personal experiences and make choices based on curiosity and spontaneity, rather than popularity. Trying new things and exploring without reliance on online reviews can lead to more memorable and meaningful moments.

Marshall McLuhan on Why Content Moderation is a Red Herring

After Babel • 2883 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Content moderation is essential, but focusing solely on it overlooks larger issues related to the harmful effects of platforms on kids
  2. The harmful impact of social media on children is not just about the content they consume, but also about the changes in childhood due to excessive screen time
  3. Implementing norms like delaying smartphones until high school could help in restoring a healthier, play-based childhood for kids

Why Australia is Setting a Minimum Age of 16 for Creating a Social Media Account

After Babel • 1272 implied HN points • 26 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Australia plans to set a minimum age of 16 for social media accounts. This is to help protect young people from online harm and encourage them to enjoy real-life activities instead of getting lost in social media.
  2. Research shows a big increase in mental health issues among young Australians, which coincides with the rise of smartphones and social media. The government believes that limiting social media use can help improve young people's mental wellbeing.
  3. The new law will hold social media companies responsible for checking users' ages. If they fail to enforce this rule, they could face hefty fines, which will help make sure children's online experiences are safer.

In Search of the “Reasonable Man”

Symposium • 432 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. The debate about Substack and 'Substack Nazis' raises questions about freedom of speech and tolerance.
  2. Moderation on platforms like Substack should aim to keep out trolls and explicit Nazis while allowing for diverse discussions.
  3. A 'reasonable man' approach to content moderation could help platforms like Substack navigate difficult decisions.

This social-first news outlet turned street interviews into a 600,000-subscriber YouTube channel

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 24 implied HN points • 21 Jan 26
📰 News Social media
  1. They left traditional institutional media to build a direct-to-audience outlet that prioritizes on-the-ground reporting and aims to present stories without a partisan filter.
  2. They found product-market fit by focusing on Instagram and designing platform-native 'Quick Cards' that capture attention, with a viral GameStop post showing how fast that approach can grow an audience.
  3. The social-first strategy was scaled into multiple products—a newsletter, mobile app, and a longform YouTube channel built around street interviews that grew to about 600,000 subscribers.

Language models as community moderators

Escaping Flatland • 766 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Community moderation is effective because it mirrors real-life social interaction and distributes the task of policing the internet.
  2. Algorithmic content filtering on social media platforms may lead to lower conversation quality and increased conflict.
  3. AI models can support community moderation in self-selected forums, potentially enabling the growth of larger moderated communities.

The Collapse of Teacher Twitter

Mathworlds • 746 implied HN points • 08 Jun 23
🚌 Education Social media
  1. There has been a significant decline in teachers actively using Twitter from 2022 to 2023.
  2. Teacher creativity that was once flourishing on Teacher Twitter seems to have shifted elsewhere.
  3. The future holds promise for new platforms where the next generation of teachers can collaborate and create together.

To Tweet, or not to Tweet?

CB • 1158 implied HN points • 19 Dec 22
📚 Literature Social media
  1. The text reflects on the decision to continue or quit social media platforms like Twitter, highlighting the challenges of dealing with trolls and negative interactions.
  2. It emphasizes the idea of taking a break from social media to escape online toxicity and the stress caused by internet interactions.
  3. The passage examines the inner struggle between staying online, facing online challenges, and the desire to disconnect and find peace in real life.

2025 was the year we lived alt-2016 and debated everything.

The Social Juice • 73 implied HN points • 13 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Algorithms and AI sped up and broke culture into smaller silos, turning niche memes into fast, disposable content and forcing people to invent codes and private signals to keep communities intact.
  2. People and brands learned to play the attention game — using keywords, hidden messaging, anti‑AI posturing, and even ragebait — which moved us from naming neat trends to living in messy, performative moments.
  3. The year felt full of ambient anxiety about jobs, health, and loneliness, so many people leaned into escapism, nostalgia, small communities, and a gambling mentality where every choice felt like a risk.

Bluesky and SMM panels

Conspirador Norteño • 28 implied HN points • 25 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. SMM panels are increasingly advertising on Bluesky, selling fake followers, likes, reposts, and other engagement that violate platform rules.
  2. Many promo accounts follow and repost each other and several promote the same websites. The panels often offer nearly identical APIs, letting customers automate purchases and replace banned accounts.
  3. Large batches of dormant accounts were created in short bursts with duplicate bios and default images, suggesting they were mass-produced to be reactivated later for astroturfing or spam.

Culture Remix

In Bed With Social • 534 implied HN points • 31 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Culture today involves remixing and transformation of existing ideas, not just creating new ones.
  2. Collaboration and co-creation between brands and consumers is becoming more prevalent in the era of brand remix.
  3. Remix culture reflects the complexity of society and offers potential for innovation and expression.

How I Deal With AI-Generated Comments

The Algorithmic Bridge • 445 implied HN points • 21 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Some people really dislike AI-generated comments, feeling they are not genuine or useful. It's okay to express those feelings and set boundaries about what types of comments are welcomed.
  2. AI and its impact on interactions is a controversial topic, with many preferring authentic human responses over machine-generated ones. Maintaining a clean community space is important and can be done by rejecting unwanted AI comments.
  3. Everyone has their own tastes, including preferences for communication style. It's fine to prefer certain types of engagement, as long as it's done respectfully.

How Do You Make Email and Texts Steal Less Time?

Culture Study • 2654 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Emails, texts, and messaging apps can make us worse at maintaining deep friendships by offering false comforts and distractions that replace meaningful connections.
  2. Efficiency in emails and texts is important, but it's crucial not to let these tools take over our lives and prevent us from engaging in activities we truly value like hanging out with friends or pursuing hobbies.
  3. The goal is to communicate in more present and meaningful ways, where our attention isn't constantly divided. Finding a balance between digital communication and real-life interactions is key.

Social media is a machine that destroys empathy

The Rubesletter by Matt Ruby (of Vooza) | Sent every Tuesday • 1069 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Social media can lead to a loss of empathy. People often say things online that they wouldn't say face-to-face.
  2. When anger about issues like healthcare rises, some people turn to violence and support it. This shows a breakdown of empathy and understanding.
  3. There's a need to focus on changing the systems causing these problems, rather than blaming individuals. We should hold companies accountable while also working to fix the root issues.

Bicker, Battle, Broil, and Brawl

Bastiat's Window • 373 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. 2024 political discourse appears to be heading towards more conflict and controversy.
  2. The polarization in American politics has deepened over the years, impacting relationships and societal cohesion.
  3. Factors contributing to political polarization include historic events like Roe v. Wade, the contentious 2000 election, precision redistricting, and the rise of social media.

The Intimate World and the Remote World

In My Tribe • 789 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. We are connecting more with strangers online than with people we know in real life. This shift is causing us to lose touch with our close relationships and communities.
  2. Social media blurs the lines between public personalities and intimate friends. This can create anxiety and make us feel insecure about our own social lives.
  3. To feel happier and healthier, we need to focus more on rebuilding our real-life connections. Being connected to family and friends in person is essential for our well-being.

I want to break free

In Bed With Social • 455 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
💼 Business Social media
  1. Brands face challenges in gaining organic visibility on social media, leading to a shift towards pay-to-play advertising.
  2. High-quality advertising content in 2023 is characterized by surprise and the unexpected.
  3. Weird and thought-provoking content is gaining popularity in advertising, sparking curiosity and questions.

BIG OOF: Patreon is enabling an insane stalking campaign

Natalia Mitigates The Apocalypse • 353 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Stalking can happen to anyone, not just famous people, and tech companies like Patreon can inadvertently enable stalkers.
  2. Documenting and calling out instances of stalking and harassment can help raise awareness and hold tech companies accountable for their role.
  3. Coping strategies against online harassment include setting boundaries, exercising, practicing meditation, and using creativity to tell your story.