The hottest Social media Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Metrics don't write books

The Leftovers • 139 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
📚 Literature Social media
  1. Metrics like social media engagements don't necessarily translate to book sales.
  2. Authors shouldn't solely rely on self-promotion, as publishers have a crucial role in book promotion.
  3. Writers should focus more on writing books rather than getting caught up in ineffective social media promotion.

The Work of Free Speech on Social Media

Oliver Bateman Does the Work • 98 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. The banning of certain figures on social media is often driven by public relations considerations rather than purely moral or ethical standards.
  2. Social media platforms prioritize maintaining a certain inoffensive public image to attract ad revenue and align with mainstream media-approved trends.
  3. The dynamics of speech regulation on social media platforms spark debates about freedom of speech, corporate interests, and user empowerment in the digital age.

At the Halfway Mark in 2023

Holodoxa • 139 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The author reads and reviews a significant number of books, mostly non-fiction, providing detailed commentary and recommendations.
  2. The author shares a list of podcasts they enjoy listening to regularly and new shows they've discovered recently.
  3. The author discusses an academic debate on social status persistence and genetic factors, highlighting critiques and supportive commentary.

Sexual Competition, Social Media & Algorithms

The Great Gender Divergence • 137 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Female beautification is inevitable, especially under intense sexual competition
  2. Sexual competition heightens beautification, with greater competition leading to more focus on appearance
  3. Algorithms on social media platforms like Instagram manufacture an inequality of adoration by showcasing the most popular posts, distorting girls' perception of peer competition
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The future of social media 🔮

The Digital Native • 137 implied HN points • 17 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The history of social media platforms reveals how they evolved over time from the first websites to the current popular ones.
  2. The future of social media is shifting towards more video content, engagement with photos, the rise of podcasts, and the importance of authentic self-expression.
  3. New platforms like Threads are emerging, offering unique ways for users to connect and share content, hinting at a return to more honest and less curated social media trends.

The insidious middle

WORLD GONE WRONG • 137 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. The concept of polarization as a measure of social or political health is challenged
  2. The myth of society having a 'neutral center' is critiqued, especially in terms of social justice and equality
  3. Polarization often occurs when society is changing, and change can be positive

Bluesky Is Not Ready

Mosquito Chronicles • 137 implied HN points • 02 May 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Bluesky, the decentralized social network, is not fully ready for competition with Twitter.
  2. Bluesky is lacking core features like DMs, public protocol, and app features.
  3. Issues to address include content moderation, performance, usability, and community expansion.

The Unbundling of Twitter

ceonyc • 137 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Consider the shift towards posting on platforms that are more specialized for specific topics or verticals.
  2. Analyzing the engagement on different social media platforms can provide insights on audience relevance and interaction.
  3. Reflect on how the trend of unbundling services, like seen with Craigslist, could impact the microblogging and newsfeed landscape.

A typology of the social media feed

12challenges • 514 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Social media feeds have evolved towards a TikTok model, focusing on varied content over personal connections.
  2. The design aspects like full-screen, infinite scroll, and autoplay play a significant role in the success of the social media feed model.
  3. Analyzing the evolution of social media through a typology can help understand past shifts and predict future trends, like the influence of AI.

Brazil Bailed on Twitter, and So Did I: The Vibes Are Off

What the Blurb • 2 HN points • 05 Sep 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Brazil's Supreme Court banning Twitter led to a big drop in users there, and many are trying out other platforms like Bluesky.
  2. Bluesky is gaining popularity because it has cool features that users find fun and engaging, unlike some other social media apps.
  3. The writer feels stuck between using both Threads and Bluesky, realizing social media is becoming more divided and siloed.

‘We the People Are for TikTok’

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 176 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. TikTok faced serious legal issues that could have led to its ban in the U.S. due to national security concerns. Many influencers were worried about losing the platform.
  2. Donald Trump announced a temporary delay on the TikTok ban, allowing the app to continue operating for now. This news sparked celebrations among influencers and supporters.
  3. During a TikTok-sponsored party, influencers celebrated the app's reprieve, showcasing a community that heavily relies on the platform for their fame and income.

🎧 Technically Optimistic Podcast: Season Two

Technically Optimistic • 19 implied HN points • 08 Jun 24
🎙 Podcasts Social media
  1. Season Two of Technically Optimistic Podcast dives into the topic of data privacy and control.
  2. Episodes discuss how our behavior online is used as a valuable resource, the impact of digital surveillance on reproductive rights, and the use of data in influencing voters.
  3. The podcast explores the concerns around online tracking of children, the evolving data economy in South Asia, and the implications of facial recognition technology in law enforcement.

cultural invasion with gain of function virus

bad cattitude • 170 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. There's a concern that a gain of function virus could spread to populations without immunity, causing chaos, similar to how some American cultural elements might disrupt other countries.
  2. American online influencers could significantly impact cultures where such media is new, possibly leading to a rapid change in youth behavior and social norms.
  3. The rise of social media influencers may act as a powerful cultural tool, comparable to past political movements, and may influence societal structures in unexpected ways.

Ranking Content On Signals Other Than User Engagement

techandsocialcohesion • 59 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Ranking content by user engagement is good for user retention, but there can be a negative correlation between engagement and content quality.
  2. Optimizing for quality content can lead to better long-term retention for platforms and improve user experience.
  3. Platforms are exploring using non-engagement signals, like surveys and negative feedback controls, to improve content quality and user satisfaction.

Origins Season 7 Mystic Era is Here

The Lunacian • 506 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. New season in the game Axie Infinity called Mystic Era has started with higher stakes
  2. Diverse meta in the Mystic Era includes the Jinx comeback and strong Sturdy comps benefiting from new mechanics
  3. Players can win huge prizes like 18,900 AXS and 1,374,051 SLP in this season, encouraging intense ladder climbs

Groyperfication

Unpopular Front • 160 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Groyperfication refers to the spread of extreme right views, primarily through online trolling and memes. This movement is influencing young conservatives and their political beliefs.
  2. Many young people on the right are exposed to groyper ideology daily, making it more popular than traditional conservative ideas. The groyper community is considered both avant-garde and mainstream among this group.
  3. Mainstream media struggle to understand and report on groyperfication, as it operates in a decentralized manner and challenges established political narratives.

Leading journalist calls Zuckerberg's free speech announcement "an invitation to genocide," EU parliamentarians petition for actions to mitigate the "systemic risk" of Elon Musk, and other lunacies

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 182 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Mark Zuckerberg announced a shift in Facebook's content policies, saying he wants to focus on free expression and simplify rules. He plans to phase out fact-checkers and bring back more political content.
  2. Some European leaders are expressing strong concerns about this approach, fearing it might lead to more dangerous speech online. They worry that American social media giants might undermine rules in Europe.
  3. There's a growing tension between American social media companies and European regulations, which could lead to major changes in how the internet operates in those regions.

Dispatch from a Clusterfuck

Situation Normal • 167 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Social media can create confusion during disasters by spreading misinformation instead of clear communication. It's hard to find the truth when everyone is shouting different stories online.
  2. We have lost some human connection with news in the age of social media. Instead of personal calls, we often just get notifications and likes on platforms, making tough moments feel even more isolating.
  3. While social media has its downsides, there are still valuable resources like Watch Duty that provide real-time, accurate information during emergencies. Supporting such services can help communities stay safe.

China's CCP-controlled 'Little Red Book' app drives home two messages: America stinks and China rules

The Dossier • 168 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. The 'Little Red Book' app is heavily controlled by the Chinese government, promoting ideas like 'America stinks' and 'China rules'.
  2. Users experience strict censorship on sensitive topics, which is very different from American social media where more free expression is allowed.
  3. Downloading this app carries risks due to Chinese data laws that allow the government access to personal user data, posing privacy concerns for American users.

With Revenues Declining, Corporate Media Demand Substack Censorship

Public • 515 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
📰 News Social media
  1. Corporate media is pressuring Substack for censorship due to declining revenues, but claims of widespread Nazism on the platform are exaggerated.
  2. A journalist revealed inaccuracies in an article that sparked the anti-Substack campaign, highlighting errors in claims about a writer's earnings through the platform.
  3. Mainstream media's coordinated attack on Substack, framing it as a platform for Nazis, aims to undermine its threat to legacy media, resembling past efforts seen with social media giants like Facebook and Twitter.

Hot and cold takes

Samstack • 960 implied HN points • 19 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Economic growth should not be the sole focus, quality matters too.
  2. Analogies for progress can overlook the importance of innovation.
  3. Consider the reliability and representation of data in discussions and surveys.

Doctors migrating to bluesky is like Harris declining to speak with Joe Rogan

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 219 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Some doctors are leaving social media platforms like X for newer sites like Bluesky, especially after the recent elections. This change seems more emotional than principled since they didn't leave when their views were challenged earlier.
  2. Kamala Harris declined to speak with Joe Rogan because she was worried about upsetting her progressive supporters. This shows a reluctance to engage with differing opinions.
  3. People with far left views often avoid conversations with those they disagree with, which can harm communication and understanding. This avoidance might damage academic and public discourse over time.

Shallow Feedback Hollows You Out

Nothing Human • 180 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. When thinkers have a large audience, they often repeat the same ideas instead of generating new ones. This can happen because they aim to please the crowd instead of exploring their original thoughts.
  2. To keep your thinking fresh, it's better to share ideas with a close friend or someone who understands you deeply. This one-on-one communication allows for more honest and thorough discussions.
  3. In academic spaces, there's a need to protect innovative ideas from becoming overshadowed by popular ones. Maintaining separate status hierarchies helps ensure that truly original contributions are still recognized.

Woodstock 1999: When Influencer Marketing Goes Wrong

Litverse • 259 implied HN points • 23 Sep 22
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Influencer marketing, with its significant impact and reach, has become a prominent and desirable career option in today's world.
  2. Woodstock 1999 serves as a cautionary tale of how influencer marketing, choice of influencers, and audience dynamics can lead to disastrous outcomes.
  3. In the realm of influencers, the artists become as influenced by their own influence as everyone else, which can sometimes lead to issues of authenticity, growth, and perpetual self-actualization.

Shiri's Margin Attractor

Handwaving Freakoutery • 464 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. In the media world, controversy attracts attention and drives engagement, leading to more clicks and traffic.
  2. The Shiri's Margin Attractor theory suggests that modern media is not focused on truth but on generating controversy for profit.
  3. Using the Attractor theory, different advocacy groups can strategically navigate their issues to align with public opinion trends and potentially secure wins on their key topics.

Uploading Instagram Videos with 94% LESS CPU

Byte-Sized Design • 58 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Instagram improved video uploading efficiency by compressing videos first to progressive encodings and then converting them to adaptive-bit-rate videos, saving 94% of resources.
  2. The challenge for Instagram was to support various video formats for different devices while minimizing resource consumption and CPU usage.
  3. Insightful optimization was achieved by realizing that progressive and adaptive bit rate encodings could use the same codec, streamlining the encoding process to focus on scalability.

"The Chinese Government Will Lie to You!" said the U.S. Government the Day It Was Caught Lying to Us.

JoeWrote • 165 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. The ceasefire in Gaza shows what really happened during the conflict. Now that fighting has stopped, more people can report the true impact on civilians.
  2. The U.S. government and media have misled the public about the reasons behind the ceasefire and the crisis in Gaza. Many now see this as part of a larger pattern of dishonesty.
  3. Concerns over apps like TikTok highlight a divide in perception about security and media control. Some people believe manipulation is happening on both sides, questioning why they should fear one over the other.

After the Honeymoon: The Virtual Threats with Threads

Pen>Sword • 119 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Threads is a social media app launched by Meta that aims to fill the void left by Twitter's decline.
  2. Threads has raised concerns about privacy, speech, and censorship due to its data collection practices, restrictions on deleting accounts, and aversion to political content.
  3. The app's emphasis on 'kindness' and 'friendly spaces' is in contrast to worries about potential censorship and the impact on user freedom.

Biden White House and Big Disinformation Have Policies to Ban “True Content” on COVID Vaccines

The DisInformation Chronicle • 760 implied HN points • 21 May 23
📰 News Social media
  1. Social media companies censor 'true content' on vaccines in line with government and pharma interests
  2. Big Pharma spends millions on social media ads while platforms regulate vaccine 'misinformation'
  3. There's a conflict in regulating pharma 'misinformation' on social media while Pharma is a major advertising client