The hottest Social media Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Bluesky follower sales websites

Conspirador Norteño • 52 implied HN points • 07 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Websites selling Bluesky followers, likes, and reposts have multiplied and are easy to find with a simple search as the platform grows.
  2. Many of those sites look nearly identical, use the same chat widgets (often backed by LLMs), and rely on similar hosting, which suggests shared operators or common tooling.
  3. Fake follower accounts show a repetitive bio pattern like “X based, interested in Y,” and thousands were created in bulk, indicating they were manufactured for sale.

Polarization and social media : how it works and what we can fix

techandsocialcohesion • 199 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Companies on social media make money when users stay longer, often through engaging and polarizing content.
  2. Algorithmic extremism on social media rewards and amplifies extremist content, resulting in more polarization in conversations.
  3. Promoting pro-social design governance and tools on social media can help build cohesion, encourage understanding, and bring out the best in humanity.

Import AI 335: Synth data is a bad AI drug; Facebook changes the internet with LLaMa release; and Chinese researchers use AI to figure out chip design

Import AI • 459 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Synthetic data during AI training can be harmful if not used in moderation, as shown by researchers from Rice University and Stanford University
  2. Chinese researchers have successfully used AI to design semiconductors based only on input and output data, demonstrating the potential for economic and national security implications
  3. Facebook has released Llama 2, a powerful language model with freely available weights, potentially changing the landscape of AI deployment on the internet

Rage against the machine

Logging the World • 458 implied HN points • 14 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The competition for attention on social media has evolved over time, with platforms now offering monetary rewards for content creators based on ad views.
  2. Twitter's new payment system incentivizes generating 5 million page impressions in 3 months, potentially leading to a culture of provocative and controversial content for profit.
  3. Platforms like Substack provide an alternative space for creators to build an audience and share longer, thoughtful pieces outside the cycle of inflammatory content and hate clicks.

How to Get Boosted on Medium (with Insider Interview)

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 619 implied HN points • 23 May 23
🚌 Education Social media
  1. Medium can boost your stories, giving them more views and exposure. Some writers have seen their stories gain 100,000 views and more, meaning good potential for recognition.
  2. There are five key criteria to get a story Boosted: it should be constructive, original, share relevant experience, be well-crafted, and memorable. Using these tips can increase your chances of being seen.
  3. Adding a human touch to your writing can make a big difference. While algorithms help, connecting with readers on an emotional level is what truly makes a story stand out.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Et tu, Substack?

Disaffected Newsletter • 899 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Substack has introduced a feature called 'Notes' that users cannot turn off. This feels like forced participation to many writers.
  2. Many writers joined Substack to avoid the constant notifications and pressure of social media like Twitter.
  3. The changes to Substack have made some users reconsider their support for the platform and their plans to continue using it.

This YouTuber amassed a half million social media followers by interviewing touring musicians

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 249 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
🎶 Music Social media
  1. Josh Weidling created Digital Tour Bus to give fans a peek inside musicians' tour experiences. He films tours and shares the behind-the-scenes moments through videos.
  2. Since starting in 2010, Weidling has posted over 9,000 videos and gained a following of over 500,000 people on social media. His work has grown from MySpace to platforms like TikTok.
  3. He originally saw the project as a way to help promote bands while also using his skills in planning and content creation. It's a unique way to connect musicians with fans.

Important information if you used my Bluesky MP follows bot

Odds and Ends of History • 737 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. If you used the Bluesky MP follows bot, it's a good idea to change your Bluesky password for safety. There's a small chance harmful code was on the server, but it seems unlikely any personal data was taken.
  2. The issue arose from outdated Wordpress code on a server that was unintentionally exploited, highlighting the importance of keeping software updated. Neglecting updates can lead to security problems.
  3. The creator of the bot took immediate action by shutting it down and ensuring no more data was at risk. He is being transparent about the issue to help others understand the risks and best practices.

The Work of Being Mid

Oliver Bateman Does the Work • 235 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. In social media, using terms like 'mid' is a powerful way to engage audiences and spark conversation.
  2. Challenging people's preferences by calling something 'mid' can create personalized interactions and provoke reactions.
  3. Provocative social media tactics like 'mid' posts blur the line between criticism and trolling, garner engagement, and maintain relevance.

Artificial Inconvenience

coldhealing • 452 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Twitter implemented restrictions on interaction with posts containing Substack links to compete with Substack Notes.
  2. Platforms strive for dominance and monetization through user retention and restricting links to other platforms.
  3. Despite challenges and artificial inconveniences on social media, users seek diverse platforms for different purposes.

How to Use Twitter's Community Notes

Myth Pilot • 452 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Twitter's Community Notes is a powerful open-source moderation system for Twitter users.
  2. Community Notes are small blocks of text that appear beneath tweets, offering additional context and clarification.
  3. Participating in the Community Notes system can help hold major public figures and media organizations accountable for their statements.

The Theory of the Leisure Class on Instagram

quite useless • 452 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The internet phase of culture is driven by recursion, accelerating social cycles and shifting tastes rapidly.
  2. Instagram has evolved from reflecting real-world consumption and leisure to a curated space for projecting digital honorific waste.
  3. Strategies such as humor, conspicuous crap, hypercuration, and outsourcing signal a shift away from the pursuit of illusory perfection on Instagram.

SITREP

THREE SEVEN MAFIA • 1079 implied HN points • 17 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Community support is valued and acknowledged.
  2. Engagement on personal platforms is prioritized over social media.
  3. Projects are being actively worked on, with plans for exclusive content in the future.

Social Learning Links, 5/31/2025

In My Tribe • 288 implied HN points • 31 May 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. TikTok boosts right-wing populism by making emotional content easily shareable and bypassing critical thinking. This makes it very appealing and dangerous as a social media platform.
  2. It's important for individuals to reflect on their beliefs, and to be open to the idea that they might be wrong sometimes. This kind of self-examination can help improve understanding and reduce defensiveness.
  3. The power of the presidency has grown partly because Congress has given up its authority. This shift means that the executive branch now has more control, which raises concerns about the balance of power in government.

Hidden Open Thread 392.5

Astral Codex Ten • 206 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. This thread is meant for paid subscribers only. It’s a place to share thoughts and engage with others.
  2. Subscribers can share their questions and ideas, making it an interactive space.
  3. It offers a chance to connect and discuss topics that matter beyond regular posts.

Here are 13 Other Explanations For The Adolescent Mental Health Crisis. None of Them Work.

After Babel • 2133 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
🏥 Health Politics Social media
  1. Smartphones and social media are the main factors behind the adolescent mental health crisis.
  2. The decline in independence among children and teens may be a contributing factor to the rise in teen depression, but it works in conjunction with smartphones and social media.
  3. Alternative explanations such as increased academic pressure or lack of places to hang out do not fully explain the significant increase in teen depression rates.

435: Constellation Software, Twitter vs Threads, Mr. Beast, Air Travel, EVs, CANDUs, OpenAI, TSMC, and Trent Reznor

Liberty’s Highlights • 432 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Constellation Software focuses on smaller acquisitions to maintain discipline and high returns.
  2. Twitter is facing challenges with spam, algorithm changes, and leadership, leading to fragmentation.
  3. Open standard ActivityPub offers hope for bringing various social networks together in a federated way.

How This Travel Blogger Hit 180,000 Medium Followers & Is Catching Up on Ryan Holiday!

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 339 implied HN points • 21 Nov 23
🏝 Travel Social media
  1. A travel blogger named Anne Bonfert grew her Medium following to 180,000 in just three years. This shows that with dedication, it is possible to build a large audience online.
  2. Anne shares important tips on how Medium works, including its recommendation engine. Understanding these tools can help others get their stories noticed more easily.
  3. Connecting with your audience and writing from the heart is essential. Anne's success proves that authenticity and passion can really resonate with readers.

Dead Internet Confirmed: It's agents, trolls and clankers all the way down

The Corbett Report • 37 implied HN points • 14 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Much of what people see online is created or amplified by bots, foreign agents, and automated systems. So you often can’t trust that you’re talking to a real person.
  2. AI-generated content and organized trolls have degraded online discussion, spreading rage-bait and misinformation that now influences real-world behavior.
  3. You can reduce exposure by avoiding big platforms, using tools like RSS, and joining smaller communities, but the real remedy is rebuilding genuine human connection offline.

One AI-generated human race

Conspirador Norteño • 60 implied HN points • 21 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. A lot of TikTok accounts are posting AI-generated videos of fictional Black people, aiming to get attention and followers. These videos often have the same themes and messages.
  2. The accounts use the same hashtags in their posts to trick the TikTok algorithm into showing their content to more users. Most of them don't share any real, authentic videos.
  3. Some accounts have shifted from AI-generated content to posting ads and other types of spam. This shows that their main goal is to build an audience for future promotions, rather than spreading genuine messages.

The Tech Industry’s Playbook To Prevent Regulation

After Babel • 647 implied HN points • 11 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The tech industry often blames users for any harm their products cause. They argue that it's up to individuals to control their usage rather than taking responsibility themselves.
  2. Tech companies have developed tools like parental controls, but these often fail to make a real impact on screen time. Instead, they shift the responsibility to parents, making it seem like it's their job to manage their kids' online behavior.
  3. Legislation like the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) tries to hold tech companies accountable while also giving parents some control. This is important because it recognizes that tech companies have a duty to ensure their products don't harm kids.

Dog vs Void

Fragmentary • 412 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The author got a dog named Blue in 2021, who has an existential attitude.
  2. The Hindi adaptation of The Night Manager is a significant first in international book adaptations.
  3. The author shared thoughts on Twitter and emphasized the importance of self-care.

Real Estate - 2 Short Posts 🇨🇦

Deplatformable Newsletter • 216 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
💼 Business Social media
  1. Having a sign on your lawn when selling your home can attract potential buyers who may not have seen your listing otherwise.
  2. Be cautious about what you post on social media as a realtor, as inappropriate comments can damage your reputation and career.
  3. Maintain professionalism and sensitivity in all interactions to avoid negative repercussions.

Big racks

quite useless • 412 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Arms races can lead to inefficiencies and waste, like in economic and beauty standards competition.
  2. Positional social competition can create pressure and dissatisfaction even among winners.
  3. Implementing progressive consumption tax can help reduce material and digital arms races by altering spending behaviors and neutralizing competitive dynamics.

I Salute You, Saluting Face Emoji 🫡

Did Someone Say Emoji? • 281 implied HN points • 23 May 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The saluting face emoji 🫡 is a way to show presence and agreement. It can be used sincerely or sarcastically, making it versatile in conversations.
  2. Saluting has various cultural meanings and styles across different countries. The emoji represents a blend of these styles without favoring any one tradition.
  3. Emojis, like the saluting face, can express a mix of emotions. This emoji fits many situations, from respectful gestures to playful communication.

Be an active listener at work ⚡

Arpit’s Newsletter • 216 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Good engineers actively listen to understand the intent and context in meetings and discussions.
  2. Asking the right questions clarifies ambiguities and prevents mistakes during development.
  3. Active listening indicates high ownership mindset and gives necessary visibility in the organization.

The Stars in Our Phones

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 466 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Astrology is becoming popular again, especially among younger people who use apps for horoscopes. They find it interesting and fun, and it gives them a sense of connection in today's tech-driven world.
  2. Historically, many famous leaders, like Ronald Reagan, have turned to astrology for guidance. This shows that astrology has always held a place in society, despite its ups and downs in popularity.
  3. The market for astrology-related products is growing rapidly. It's expected to double by 2031, indicating a significant rise in interest and belief in astrology as a tool for understanding life.

Astroturfing where the skies are blue

Conspirador Norteño • 36 implied HN points • 20 Dec 25
🔮 Crypto Social media
  1. A coordinated network of thousands of spam accounts massively amplified an "enterprise-grade Web3" post on Bluesky by reposting, liking, replying, and quote-posting to create fake popularity.
  2. Most of the accounts were created on the same two days, interacted mainly with the promoted account and a few crypto/music posts, and posted at very high rates — behavior consistent with a spam-for-hire operation that led to many suspensions.
  3. The promoted site offers AI-agent services that require payment in an obscure token ($MUSA), suggesting the astroturfing was intended to drive traffic and paid conversions to a crypto-linked service.

Social Learning Links

In My Tribe • 516 implied HN points • 18 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. We need to make big tech companies more open about how they control what we see online. It's important for users to understand how decisions are made about content.
  2. There's hope for improving free speech in colleges, thanks to changes in culture and organizations pushing for reform. College leaders have a critical role in shaping this positive change.
  3. The current problems in education can be traced back to how ideas have been taught in schools. We might need to rethink who we trust in academia and lift up the better thinkers.

Trying in public...works?

Trying In Public • 39 implied HN points • 02 Jul 24
💼 Business Social media
  1. Trying in public can be beneficial, even if it's intimidating. By sharing your work or thoughts, you may discover that others are waiting for someone to voice the same ideas.
  2. Using quizzes for marketing can be a creative and engaging strategy. Consider starting with the result you want to sort people into and mapping questions based on that.
  3. Engaging with feedback and experimenting with new ideas can lead to growth and learning. Don't be afraid to try new tools or trends to see what resonates with your audience.

'Just put your phone away' - Dec 2024 catch up service #1

Brain Pizza • 595 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Putting your phone away improves conversation quality. It's easier to connect and enjoy talking to each other without distractions.
  2. Smartphones are a big part of our lives, and almost everyone has one. They have changed how we communicate but can sometimes take away from real-life interactions.
  3. Being aware of smartphone usage can help us be more present in conversations. Taking a break from our devices can do wonders for our social experiences.

It’s Rational And Humane To Lack Strong Political Beliefs

Singal-Minded • 724 implied HN points • 24 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. It's okay to not have strong political beliefs. Beliefs can be complicated, and it's normal to feel uncertain about many issues.
  2. Getting too emotional about every news story can be unhealthy. It's better to approach complex situations with a level head instead of distress.
  3. Having a few things you care about deeply is more sustainable than feeling pressured to take a strong stand on everything. Focus on what really matters to you.

My Wronggest Content

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 656 implied HN points • 26 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Posting wrong code online can lead to getting helpful feedback from others. Sometimes people are quick to point out mistakes, but that can help you learn.
  2. Using social media regularly can grow your audience. Posting interesting and engaging content helps attract more subscribers.
  3. Accepting criticism is important. It can be tough to hear people say your work is bad, but it's a chance to improve and grow.

How Much Dissent is Optimal?

In My Tribe • 744 implied HN points • 12 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Dissent is important because it helps to challenge wrong opinions and beliefs. If everyone only agrees with the mainstream view, mistakes can go uncorrected.
  2. Censorship can lower morale and create a negative work or social environment. People should feel free to express concerns without fear of punishment.
  3. Policing dissent is risky because those in power might misuse it to silence voices that challenge their ideas. It's better to allow open discussion, even if some views are unpopular.

Twitter and Content Moderation

Life Since the Baby Boom • 461 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have changed how fact-checking is done on their platforms. Instead of having official fact-checkers, they are relying on community input.
  2. Many suggested corrections on these platforms seem to just be people having different opinions. Often, they don't provide clear facts and can be more about arguing than informing.
  3. The interaction with these community notes doesn't seem to attract much attention. Most users appear to prefer the regular replies over community notes, which might indicate a lack of interest in these corrections.