The hottest Social media Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

And now Holden's Substack

Science Forever • 99 implied HN points • 10 Dec 22
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Holden Thorp is building up accounts on alternative platforms to Twitter like Mastodon and Post
  2. He is the Editor-in-Chief of _Science_ and will use his Substack for various interests beyond science like jazz, theater, and sports
  3. Subscribe to Holden's Substack if you enjoy his Tweets for more amusing musings and personal anecdotes

#PitchYaGame is LIVE

The PitchYaGame Awards • 58 implied HN points • 03 Nov 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Social media
  1. PitchYaGame is live, showcasing independent video games globally
  2. Participants should use hashtags universally across all platforms and limit pitches to one per game per platform
  3. PitchYaGame is a voluntary movement that showcases indie games twice a year in June and November

Taming the Blue Bird

The Joyous Struggle • 118 implied HN points • 30 Sep 22
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The author is using Substack as a way to wean off a Twitter addiction and find a new creative outlet for writing.
  2. Twitter can be intellectually and socially stimulating but also lead to status anxiety, time wasted, and fear of missing out.
  3. The relationship with Twitter is complex – it offers validation but can be imprisoning, prompting the author to seek new spaces like Substack for a change.

Let's "Unfriend" Facebook

Diane Francis • 619 implied HN points • 22 Feb 21
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Facebook's response to Australia's push for media regulation shows their arrogant power. They blocked important information and media, which raises questions about their respect for democracy.
  2. The company's early financial backing from Russian investors highlights concerns about privacy and user data exploitation. This money helped transform Facebook into a tool for propagating various ideologies.
  3. Facebook's history of blocking content and censoring users, especially in oppressive regimes, indicates a troubling disregard for free speech. The company often reacts slowly to criticism and legal issues, making it seem like they prioritize profit over ethics.

Is A Tech Winter Looming?

The Digital Anthropologist • 39 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. A tech winter may be coming, leading to better technologies and innovations.
  2. There are signals suggesting a shift in technology is happening driven by culture and disillusionment with certain tech advancements.
  3. Culture shapes and refines technology, leading to new norms and improvements in society, creating exciting opportunities for innovators.
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Will the New York Times ever quit Twitter?

Silver Bulletin • 325 implied HN points • 05 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Nate Silver discusses mixed feelings about Twitter's impact on democracy and tribalism.
  2. Twitter's latest changes, like removing headlines from external link previews, raise questions about its future utility.
  3. The potential consequences if the New York Times, with its high editorial standards, decides to quit Twitter and influence other publishers to follow suit.

Happy 2024 🥂!

FontDiscovery • 39 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
💼 Business Social media
  1. Creating an idea bank for marketing content makes promotion easier and can help reach more followers on social media platforms.
  2. Running a sales campaign in parallel with a product launch can generate more sales and help in product promotion.
  3. Experimenting with shorter sales windows can be more effective than longer sales campaigns.

Heaven is High and the Emperor is Far Away

Polymathic Being • 113 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Don't let fear from social media take over your life. There's plenty of good around you if you look for it.
  2. Remember that political news is often far removed from your daily reality. You have control over how much it affects you.
  3. Take action in your local community. Get involved and focus on what truly matters to you, instead of constantly worrying about the emperor.

Twitter. Just. Sucks. Join our new subscriber chat!

Fight to Repair • 98 implied HN points • 07 Nov 22
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The post discusses creating a new subscriber chat on Substack for those passionate about repair and tired of Twitter trolls.
  2. Paul Roberts announces the addition of a Fight to Repair subscriber chat space for exclusive subscriber discussions and updates.
  3. Subscribers can access this chat and interact by joining the conversation started by short prompts and thoughts shared by Paul.

Why Are Teens Still Risking Their Lives for Likes?

Beyond the Screen • 12 implied HN points • 20 Oct 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Teens often take dangerous challenges for likes because they crave attention and validation online. This need for social approval can make risky behavior seem appealing.
  2. Social media algorithms tend to promote extreme and shocking content, which encourages more dangerous trends to spread quickly. This makes it hard to stop harmful content once it gains traction.
  3. To help teens, we should focus on teaching them digital literacy and emotional awareness about social media. Encouraging healthy ways to seek recognition, like art or community projects, can also help replace risky behaviors.

Do You Know How To Read Online Social Cues? I Certainly Don't

Default Wisdom • 111 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Reading social cues online can be really hard and people often feel awkward in digital spaces. It’s not like we magically become better at socializing when we switch to the internet.
  2. The rise of online eating disorder communities is alarming, and it seems like each new platform struggles to address the issue. It's dangerous to have these conversations pushed into our feeds without proper care.
  3. There’s a theory called 'virtual autism' that suggests kids might miss out on learning social skills due to too much screen time. This could lead to them feeling out of place both online and offline.

All My Apes Are Going to Be Strangers

Kneeling Bus • 224 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The future of the internet may involve a personalized experience with content made just for us, but ultimately, human connection remains a fundamental desire.
  2. Despite the push towards connectivity online, there are also strong forces leading to isolation and individualization in the digital age.
  3. Sports betting apps represent a shift towards solitary engagement even in traditionally communal activities like watching sports, altering how one engages with content and the overall experience.

Graphing in the blue skies

Conspirador Norteño • 36 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Repost network graphs are helpful to understand how ideas spread on social media, especially on platforms like Bluesky. You can visualize how hashtags or posts gain popularity and interaction.
  2. You can create these graphs from datasets of reposts and original posts, using Python to handle the data. This allows researchers to analyze which accounts are most influential in sharing content.
  3. Different types of conversations on social media can create unique patterns in these graphs. For instance, debates might lead to clusters of accounts, while friendly interactions could show a more unified graph with fewer divisions.

How to stop writing

The Leftovers • 79 implied HN points • 25 Jan 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Book Twitter can harshly critique writers and their work, potentially affecting their motivation to write.
  2. Engaging in online debates and arguments, especially in toxic environments, can lead to a loss of enthusiasm for writing.
  3. Negative experiences online, like encountering harsh criticism or trolling, can severely impact a writer's desire to continue writing.

A note on Unreported Truths and AI-written stories

Unreported Truths • 40 implied HN points • 12 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Some writers use AI to create many posts quickly, which can spam your inbox. This is seen as a bad shift in how content is created.
  2. Real engagement comes from genuine writing. The writer promises to share meaningful content without relying on AI or spammy tactics.
  3. The writer values the community built around their work and encourages everyone to support it by subscribing, ensuring quality over quantity.

Migrating to Substack: A guide for TikTokers

Substack • 182 implied HN points • 16 May 24
💼 Business Social media
  1. Set up your Substack for easy discovery. Choose a memorable name and personalize it to make your audience feel at home.
  2. Create your first post to introduce yourself and what you’ll offer. This helps new subscribers know what to expect from you.
  3. Use your TikTok platform to promote your Substack. Share updates and links to engage your followers and grow your community.

Fear not the Chinese bots

Nonzero Newsletter • 417 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The 'Because China' argument against AI research slowdown is not convincing due to China's cautious approach to AI development.
  2. Centralized control in China may slow AI progress compared to the decentralized innovation in America.
  3. Considering 'Because China' as a reason to regulate AI can be a valid argument to prevent chaos and maintain stability in America.

OSD 308: Instagram matters more than gun laws do

Open Source Defense • 80 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Social media has a huge impact on discussing gun rights. If people can freely talk about guns online, they can challenge and change laws more effectively.
  2. Current rules on social media limit conversations about guns, which can make laws tougher to fight against. Better communication online can help spread good ideas and innovations about gun rights.
  3. Gun laws are important, but the culture around guns and the ability to talk about them online is even more powerful. A strong gun culture can prevent restrictive laws from being made in the first place.

The curious case of the lifelong Democrats from China

Conspirador Norteño • 32 implied HN points • 11 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. There are many fake accounts on Bluesky that pretend to be liberal Democrats. These accounts often use stolen photos and similar bios.
  2. The fake accounts appear to be hijacked from real people instead of being created from scratch. This means that actual Democrats' accounts are being misused.
  3. These spam accounts share the same images and posts, showing a lack of originality. They continue to use plagiarized photos instead of creating new content.

The Ultimate Founder-Led LinkedIn Guide

Startup Business Tips 🚀 • 73 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
💼 Business Social media
  1. A strong LinkedIn presence can help founders build their personal brand and authority, attracting more leads and opportunities. People want to engage with real people, not just logos.
  2. Creating valuable content and sharing personal stories can make you stand out on LinkedIn. It's essential to show your expertise while being authentic.
  3. Engaging with your audience regularly and responding to comments can improve visibility and build relationships. Active participation is key for success on the platform.

Substack fights Elon Musk [Finance Fridays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Substack introduced a new feature called Notes resembling Twitter, aimed at enhancing writer engagement.
  2. Substack's focus on paid subscribers sets it apart from traditional social media platforms, indicating a unique strategy.
  3. The move by Substack to introduce Notes hints at a strengthening independent writer community and a shift in digital content consumption trends.

King Elon, the Owner of the Ball

The Leftovers • 59 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Football games in childhood were impacted by the ownership of the ball, highlighting power dynamics within groups of kids.
  2. Elon Musk's actions as the 'Owner of the Ball' on Twitter have negatively affected the platform's value and functionality, leading to significant repercussions.
  3. Using Twitter effectively requires understanding its algorithms and limitations, as well as being cautious about how interactions and content are promoted.

Today’s Top 5 HN posts

Top 5 HN Posts of the day • 19 implied HN points • 29 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The post highlights the top 5 HackerNews posts for today, offering a daily dose of popular tech-related content.
  2. The featured posts cover a variety of topics such as Boeing, Redis alternatives, privacy concerns between Facebook and Netflix, and tech job opportunities.
  3. Additional bonus content includes job listings from companies like Capi Money, Keeling Labs, and RankScience, appealing to tech professionals.

Zombie misinformation

Conspirador Norteño • 36 implied HN points • 20 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Misinformation can spread quickly on social media, especially older bad advice that suddenly becomes popular again. It's important to critically evaluate advice circulating online, especially in chaotic situations like protests.
  2. The 'sit down wave' meme told protesters to sit down during violence, but this is a dangerous idea. It can make people vulnerable and unable to escape harm.
  3. Even when misinformation is debunked, it can still go viral. People should be careful about sharing unverified content, especially from popular accounts.

My Moments

The Elbow • 58 implied HN points • 16 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The experiment to replace compulsive social media use with creating 'Moments' was successful in curbing the urge to check Twitter on mobile devices.
  2. Creating 'Moments' helped in focusing and mindfulness, capturing observations and thoughts throughout the day, leading to increased awareness of internal and external experiences.
  3. Decoupling the genre of tweets from the Twitter platform through private 'Moments' allowed for more experimentation in content creation and a different form of creative expression.

✍️ New Journalism Jobs and Will TikTok Be Banned? ✍️ — March 27

Inside The Newsroom • 58 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
📰 News Social media
  1. TikTok is facing bans in multiple countries due to concerns about data privacy and ties to the Chinese government.
  2. The social media industry, including TikTok, is under scrutiny for data privacy issues that are not unique to TikTok alone.
  3. Calls for stronger regulation and oversight of social media companies are growing to protect user data and online privacy.

Twitter Shoots Itself In The Head

Everything's Broken • 58 implied HN points • 09 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Elon Musk partnered with Tucker Carlson for a show on Twitter, raising concerns about premium video content hosting.
  2. Elon Musk has been amplifying far-right conspiracy theories, creating controversy.
  3. Tucker Carlson's past behaviors and beliefs, like the 'white replacement' theory, have been highly criticized, leading to his firing from Fox News.

What's a tomato girl? 🍅

The Digital Native • 58 implied HN points • 01 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Tomato girl is a popular aesthetic trend linked to European summer vibes and Mediterranean girl aesthetics.
  2. The tomato girl's appeal lies in her fashion choices and slow-paced lifestyle, which are anchored in tradition and natural elements.
  3. Food micro-trends like tomato girl and others offer a unique blend of food, art, and fashion creativity, allowing individuals to embody different aesthetics through personal interpretations.

Join me on Notes

Knowledge Problem • 58 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. There's a new space called Notes on Substack for sharing various content like links, short posts, and more.
  2. As a subscriber to Knowledge Problem, you can automatically see the author's notes where you can like, reply, or share them around.
  3. Readers can also share their own notes on this platform and it's envisioned as a space for sharing thoughts and ideas.

Verified sextortion scammers are flooding the Chinese circle on Twitter

Wenhao’s news blog • 58 implied HN points • 23 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Social media
  1. Verified sextortion scammers are targeting the Chinese circle on Twitter by flooding the platform with fake accounts and threats.
  2. The scammer operation involves potentially thousands of members working outside of China to carry out sextortion schemes.
  3. The presence of these scammer accounts has disrupted political discussions within the Chinese community on Twitter, leading to influential figures feeling discouraged.

Twitter Makes Journalism And Academia Look Terrible

Dilan’s Newsletter • 58 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
📰 News Social media
  1. Twitter can lead to journalists spreading inaccurate information when rushing to provide quick hot takes.
  2. Journalists and academics engaging in Twitter fights with insults and profanity can harm their professional reputation.
  3. Academics on Twitter may misrepresent their expertise, leading to a loss of trust in academic institutions.