The hottest Social media Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Live video on Substack: smarter, simpler, more discoverable

Substack Blog • 309 implied HN points • 02 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Substack has made live video easier to use with tools that help you plan, promote, and share your streams. Now you can invite guests even if they don't have a Substack account.
  2. After your live stream, Substack automatically creates short clips that highlight important moments. These clips can help attract more viewers and subscribers to your content.
  3. You can schedule your live events and even add them to your audience’s calendars, making it simpler for them to join. This way, your streams can keep attracting new audiences even after they end.

What we publishing people can learn from that Cloudflare layoff TikTok brouhaha

How to Glow in the Dark • 359 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Lesson from Cloudflare layoff: There are useful lessons for everyone in handling layoffs and difficult conversations professionally.
  2. Lesson from Brittany's experience: Be prepared, question feedback that doesn't make sense, and stand up for yourself in professional settings.
  3. Lesson on organizational culture: Though industries may differ, there can be overlap in challenges like attracting talent and handling social media crises.

How not to support the National Park Service

Conspirador Norteño • 44 implied HN points • 26 Dec 25
📰 News Social media
  1. The site loudly claims to be a partner of the National Park Service and to have raised large sums, but it offers no evidence and the NPS does not list it.
  2. The same promotional text and stolen photos show up across multiple nearly identical storefronts and social accounts, suggesting a coordinated, inauthentic sales operation.
  3. Domain registrations and a GMT+8 shipping notice point to China/Hong Kong origins, so buying the shirts is unlikely to actually support U.S. national parks.

The coming pro-smoking discourse

Read Max • 3504 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. There's a prediction that a pro-smoking discourse backed by socio-political identities is gaining momentum.
  2. Historically, contrarian arguments in favor of smoking have existed but are now potentially resurfacing in various circles.
  3. The potential pro-smoking coalition includes The Intellectual Dark Web, cool downtown art and scene kids, and 'trad' health and lifestyle influencers.

The Internet As a Giant Skinner Box

Novum Newsletter • 309 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The concept of the Skinner Box explains how people can become addicted to behaviors through random rewards, like what we see with endless scrolling on the internet.
  2. A hidden workforce called 'ghost workers' handles tasks for tech companies, often under stressful conditions with unpredictable pay, similar to gambling.
  3. Both internet users and these invisible workers are conditioned by the same reward systems, highlighting how ingrained and widespread this behavior has become.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

I Lost on Jeopardy!

Sucks to Suck • 550 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The author lost on Jeopardy! but was okay with it.
  2. Being on Jeopardy! was a unique experience, with behind-the-scenes moments of interest.
  3. Losing on Jeopardy! meant missing out on potential prize money, but the author found camaraderie and closure in the experience.

Overthinking Elon Musk

Read Max • 2766 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Elon Musk may be making decisions for Twitter based on private-equity strategies to grow revenue and margins quickly.
  2. Product changes on Twitter, like removing headlines, may be aimed at increasing metrics to attract advertisers rather than harming journalism intentionally.
  3. Many negative changes on Twitter may be due to structural power dynamics and financial pressures rather than Elon Musk's personal ideology.

Anti-AI Sentiment Is So Strong, Even Celebrities Are Backing Down

The Algorithmic Bridge • 318 implied HN points • 28 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. There's a growing movement against artificial intelligence, even among top influencers like YouTuber MrBeast. It shows that public opinion can shift quickly and impact popular figures.
  2. The resistance to AI suggests that people are starting to worry about its effects on society and jobs. Many seem to be seeking a more cautious approach to its use.
  3. As anti-AI sentiment rises, it might change how technology is developed and used in the future. This could lead to more regulations and a focus on ethical use.

Fixing the Web Week Recap: 5/20/24

Unmoderated Insights • 99 implied HN points • 21 May 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. There's growing concern about deepfake videos during elections, as they can mislead voters. People can easily create fake videos that look real, making it hard for social media to verify what’s true.
  2. Tech companies are required to share their data, but many are making it harder to access it. This could lead to fines if they don't comply with new regulations.
  3. The European Union is leading the way in regulating tech companies more effectively than the US. They are gathering experts to tackle tech issues, which can teach other countries about better oversight.

The Scan Artist

escape the algorithm • 279 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The poem 'Pad' by Steven Zultanski dives into the concept of copy and repetition through a lengthy exploration of objects and capabilities
  2. The Instagram account 'everything.can.be.scanned' is part of a trend focusing on comprehensive stunts, showcasing scanned reproductions of various everyday items
  3. Artists like Kenny Goldsmith and projects like 'everything.can.be.scanned' emphasize on attention to detail and the mundane in their work

Dingus of the week: Mark Zuckerberg

Men Yell at Me • 753 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta is shutting down its fact-checking department, claiming it's biased. This means users can share their opinions without being corrected.
  2. Misinformation on social media has led to real violence and harm, raising concerns about the consequences of this new policy. People have been hurt or even died because of false information spread online.
  3. The community has shown kindness by supporting important causes, like abortion access. Together, people can make a difference and help those in need.

China via social media

Austrian China • 314 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Social media
  1. Making sense of the world through social media can be challenging, especially when lacking first-hand experience.
  2. Western observers often encounter four main narratives about China on social media, but these may not reflect reality.
  3. Different narratives exist about China, from portraying it as a socialist success to predicting its collapse, but the reality is more nuanced and complex.

Everything Feels Like It Doesn't Make Sense

Kyla’s Newsletter • 320 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Our lives are filled with contradictions, where technology promises a better future but the reality feels chaotic. We need to recognize the gap between the ideal futures promised by AI and the struggles we face today.
  2. AI and social media are often misaligned, causing disinformation while claiming to help us. This shows how the tools intended to connect us can also create confusion and frustration.
  3. The stories we tell ourselves about progress can ignore the very real human costs. It's important to see and acknowledge the work and lives behind the technology and systems that support our convenience.

I LIKE Labubus and Dubai Chocolate and Matcha and Lana and Brandy Melville and TikTok Aesthetics and and and

Default Wisdom • 210 implied HN points • 14 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Trends on TikTok, like Labubus and Dubai chocolates, might seem random but actually reflect deeper cultural connections. People enjoy sharing and discussing them, which brings a sense of community.
  2. The identity of today's culture isn't tied to specific trends but rather to the ability to navigate and mix different aesthetics. Being part of this conversation is what matters now.
  3. Many people view AI, like ChatGPT, as infallible, which could lead to misinformation. It's important to stay critical and ask questions to discern what's true.

Evading categorization

Erifili • 339 implied HN points • 27 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Evading easy categorization can allow for a richer, more engaging life experience, going beyond limiting definitions and boxes.
  2. Being multi-passionate and defying easy categorization, like Feynman did, can bring fulfillment and excitement to life.
  3. Embracing complexity and resisting simplification can lead to a more beautiful and meaningful existence.

Elon Musk

kamilkazani • 471 implied HN points • 30 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Elon Musk's innovation can sometimes be misunderstood as tricksterism due to disruption.
  2. Non-violent businesses like Musk's may face security challenges by outsourcing violence.
  3. Musk's success in creating non-violent enterprises may be due to existing in an environment that favored this approach.

Summertime Blues

Logging the World • 518 implied HN points • 23 Jul 23
🏥 Health Politics Social media
  1. Lockdown restrictions have mostly been dismantled in the UK, returning to normalcy post-COVID.
  2. It's important to allow young people to enjoy festivals and parties after putting aspects of their lives on hold during the pandemic, despite public health concerns.
  3. Language around illness as punishment can lead to harmful judgments and biases in healthcare and society.

Applying The Bradford Hill Criteria To Social Media Use and Adolescent Mental Health

After Babel • 787 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Social media
  1. Heavy social media use is linked to poor mental health in teens, like depression and anxiety. This effect is often stronger in vulnerable groups, especially girls.
  2. The Bradford Hill criteria help us explore if social media actually causes mental health issues instead of just being correlated. It's a framework to understand more about how risks might affect health.
  3. Not all social media use is harmful; some might even be okay. The key is moderation and understanding the potential risks, especially for those who might be more affected.

Substack Notes: A Threat to Twitter's Monopoly?

The Planet • 511 implied HN points • 08 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Musk's actions on Twitter suggest a fear of competition and maintaining a monopoly.
  2. Alternative platforms like Substack are growing and innovating in response to Twitter's decline.
  3. Twitter's dominance may not be permanent, as history shows examples of once-dominant companies losing market share.

Fixing the Web with Warning Labels?

Unmoderated Insights • 59 implied HN points • 22 Jun 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. The U.S. Surgeon General is suggesting that social media should have warning labels. This idea is controversial because it assumes social media only causes negative effects, while it can also have positive impacts.
  2. Warning labels might not stop people from using social media and could even backfire by making them more curious or anxious. Past experiences with fear-based campaigns show that they don't always work as intended.
  3. These warning labels might shift focus from the companies responsible for harmful designs to the users, putting pressure on parents instead of changing how social media platforms operate.

I Joined TikTok Refugees on RedNote. Here’s What It’s Like.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 686 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Many people are moving from TikTok to a new app called RedNote due to concerns about a potential ban. This shift shows how social media changes quickly based on user needs.
  2. RedNote is a Chinese app that feels different from TikTok, with most content in Mandarin. Users are finding it hard to adjust since it mainly caters to a Chinese audience.
  3. Despite the differences, both American and Chinese users on RedNote are engaging together, often humorously referencing their cultural differences. This highlights how social media can connect people across boundaries.

More languages, live video previews in the feed, and new community moderation tools in the app

Substack • 635 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Substack now offers translations in six new languages, making it easier for more people to read posts. This means readers can enjoy content in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Brazilian Portuguese.
  2. Live video previews are now part of the feed. This helps users discover and join livestreams that are open to everyone, making it easier to connect and engage.
  3. New community moderation tools allow admins to manage comments more effectively. Users can now ban commenters right from the app, helping maintain a positive discussion environment.

The Death of Twitter and Generalized Identity

The Discourse Lounge • 797 implied HN points • 30 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Twitter is losing its importance and is now filled with misleading content and bots. Many users have moved to other platforms that promote better quality discussions.
  2. While Twitter helped popularize many leftist ideas, it also made some views seem more common than they actually were among broader communities. Not all ideas on Twitter reflect the majority opinion.
  3. The way media and politicians used Twitter as a guide for understanding diverse communities can be misleading. Terms like BIPOC gained traction on Twitter but don’t always resonate with how people identify in real life.

Spamtastic T-shirt sales

Conspirador Norteño • 24 implied HN points • 17 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. A coordinated spam network of at least 31 newly created Bluesky accounts posted and amplified identical T‑shirt ads.
  2. The accounts all use female first/last name formats, follow users in large batches, and mostly rally around one low‑activity account that also promotes the same shirts.
  3. They recycle just two plagiarized profile photos and run on an external host (myatproto.social), making them clearly inauthentic astroturfing rather than real users.

The internet is for 12-year-olds

Read Max • 2950 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Many content creators online are pressured to create content aimed at 12-year-olds due to the large number in the audience.
  2. Internet platforms lack adult mediation between young viewers and content creators, leading to a focus on adolescent content.
  3. Successful creators may reintroduce wholesome content into the online sphere, standing out in a sea of material targeting younger audiences.

Join me on Notes

The Fintech Blueprint • 491 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Notes on Substack is a new way to share links, posts, quotes, photos, and more.
  2. Visit substack.com/notes to join the platform and interact with content.
  3. Subscribers to Fintech Blueprint automatically see notes; can like, reply, or share.

2023: The year in weird and stupid futures

Read Max • 2054 implied HN points • 29 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Every year, Read Max reflects on weird and stupid futures.
  2. In 2023, there were absurd events like car heater pools from Bitcoin mining, A.I. chatbots causing problems, and more.
  3. Some notable occurrences in 2023 included tech CEOs making unusual decisions and governmental actions raising eyebrows.

Failing Upward at the State Department

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1896 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Social media
  1. The U.S. diplomatic pullout from Afghanistan left many allies stranded, showing a failure in leadership.
  2. The Biden administration faces challenges in responding to attacks in Jordan by Iranian proxies, highlighting the complexity of foreign policy decisions.
  3. Farmers across Europe, like the French farmers in Paris, are protesting over issues like rising costs and green regulations, showcasing a trend of rural discontent.

‘Pronoun Illness’ 🤔

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 99 implied HN points • 10 May 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. LinkedIn's AI flagged a post as unsafe, causing some users to question the technology's bias. It's raising concerns about how social media platforms control content.
  2. There are calls for developing technology in India to avoid being influenced by foreign political agendas. People want more control over their digital spaces.
  3. OpenAI is working on a new tool called Media Manager. This tool will help creators manage how their work is used in AI training, aiming for more respect for their choices.

The existential problems with Threads

Hot Takes • 471 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Threads faces challenges in attracting users away from established platforms due to oversaturation and user fatigue.
  2. The lack of financial incentives for users on Threads puts it at a disadvantage in a landscape where users value their time and content.
  3. Privacy concerns, trust issues, and the risk of censorship could deter users from joining Threads, impacting its success.

Dating as a Digital Performance

Many Such Cases • 879 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Dating apps are often treated like content platforms instead of tools for finding real connections. Many people care more about creating catchy social media posts than actually getting to know someone.
  2. Sharing personal dating experiences online can distort the purpose of dating. When everything becomes fodder for online discussion, it can lead to unrealistic expectations and self-consciousness while dating.
  3. It's okay to not want to go out with someone based on their date location. But sharing every little criticism publicly can take away from genuine experiences and may not be necessary.

The Creator Credibility Edition

Why is this interesting? • 1870 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Having a camera crew or a podcast mic can add authority and credibility to a content creator.
  2. The visual presentation, like a podcast mic in shot, can influence perceptions of credibility even if the content itself is not impactful.
  3. Demonstrating credibility in the creator economy is crucial, and visual cues like microphones are a modern way to achieve it.