The hottest Social media Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

MSCHF, escapism, and Gen Z

The Digital Native • 58 implied HN points • 10 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. MSCHF is an art collective that blends absurdity and fashion, known for their unconventional drops like the Jesus and Satan shoes.
  2. MSCHF stands out by creating viral content without traditional marketing, appealing to Gen Z's love for novelty and escapism.
  3. In a world craving newness and belonging, unique and weird ideas like MSCHF's products provide escapism and captivate attention.

The Maslow's hierarchy of social media

system bashing • 58 implied HN points • 04 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Tailor content for different levels of audience on social media, based on a hierarchy akin to Maslow's Pyramid
  2. Understanding and classifying the audience helps in managing articulation efforts effectively
  3. Knowing the needs and expectations of different audience levels can aid in creating effective content for social media

Attention Is The Most Valuable Currency

The Loop News • 58 implied HN points • 19 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. In today's world, attention is a valuable commodity and currency.
  2. Attention is more valuable than money for some and has power to sway opinions and shape cultural norms.
  3. The future of the attention economy is likely to be driven by personalized experiences and advancements in technology.

How Twitter Survives (Or Doesn't)

Throwable • 58 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Meta excels at applying data rigorously to their product development process.
  2. Twitter's unique atmosphere of cynicism and wit sets it apart on the internet.
  3. Possible future scenarios for Threads include dominance, failure, or coexistence with Twitter.
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How to Embed a Substack Form in Your WordPress Site

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 119 implied HN points • 01 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. You can easily add a Substack sign-up form to your WordPress site. This helps more people subscribe to your newsletter directly from your website.
  2. Setting it up is straightforward if you have a Substack account. Just copy some code from Substack and paste it into your WordPress site.
  3. Testing the setup is important to confirm everything works well. After you add it, try signing up yourself to see how it looks.

Links to Consider, 3/18

In My Tribe • 197 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. The perspective that social media is responsible for the prevalence of disinformation is challenged. The era of the mid-twentieth century press was also insular and biased.
  2. There has been a shift in societal values, with the relative importance of a good job increasing in status over having a good family.
  3. The implementation of industrial policy, like the CHIPS Act, is criticized for being slow and laden with DEI-related issues that hinder progress.

And the antidote to polarization is... deliberative tech

techandsocialcohesion • 19 implied HN points • 26 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Deliberative technology, enhanced by AI, can foster inclusive public discourse by bringing together diverse perspectives to tackle shared challenges.
  2. Deliberative technologies enable dynamic exchanges that go beyond traditional polls, allowing participants to refine solutions collaboratively.
  3. The integration of AI in deliberative tech not only streamlines processes but also amplifies democratic participation, navigates polarization, and reveals common ground for more effective solutions.

Friday Funnies: Dog Days

Who is Robert Malone • 33 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
😂 Humor Social media
  1. AI can greatly affect our unconscious thoughts and biases. It's important to be aware that technology is shaping how we think and feel.
  2. Skepticism about AI is healthy, but we should still recognize its power. Stay informed and critically evaluate the influences in your life.
  3. The unique qualities of animals, like horses, are showcased in specialized sports. They can do remarkable things, and each animal brings its own special traits.

Theses on Substack (and Recommendations)

Castalia • 159 implied HN points • 11 Nov 22
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Substack is like a new way of sharing ideas online that offers a space for individual voices to be heard. It tries to create a community where people can connect over shared interests and passions.
  2. Unlike traditional journalism, Substack avoids gatekeeping and advertising, giving everyone a chance to express themselves freely. This makes it different from mainstream media that often has strict rules about what gets published.
  3. Even though Substack has many great writers, it faces challenges like marketing and revenue. For it to thrive, more people need to support and subscribe to different creators on the platform.

My wife Nina Zhang appears to be missing

Safety Critical Computer Security • 15 implied HN points • 02 Oct 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Nina Zhang has gone missing, and there's concern for her safety. The police are involved in her case because of strange occurrences surrounding her accounts.
  2. Nina published important articles about a professor's legal troubles but now her social media seems compromised with deepfakes and hacking.
  3. The author is organizing Nina's work in case her accounts get deleted. He's looking for a lawyer and encourages anyone with information about her to contact the FBI.

The independent truth service

Gray Mirror • 76 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter need to create independent truth services. This would help them figure out what information is reliable and what isn't.
  2. Currently, our trusted sources of truth, like newspapers and universities, are becoming less reliable. We need better systems to ensure that the truth is accurately represented.
  3. Building a solid and powerful truth signal can change how we see and understand facts. If we create a strong, trustworthy source of information, it could help improve the way people perceive what's true.

4 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Mastodon — The Anti-Twitter

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 119 implied HN points • 17 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Mastodon is growing while Twitter is losing users. Many people are leaving Twitter, and Mastodon is gaining traction as a new option.
  2. Creators are seeking alternatives to Twitter due to the changes made by Elon Musk. Mastodon offers a decentralized space where users can have more control.
  3. On Mastodon, you can post short messages called 'toots' that are up to 500 characters long. This is a great way for users to connect and share their thoughts.

We need to start marketing… Now what?

Etel’s Substack • 10 HN points • 20 May 24
💼 Business Social media
  1. Key channels for building awareness include YouTube, Events, Written Content, LinkedIn, Discord, and Email.
  2. YouTube is a powerful platform for showcasing products, reaching new audiences, and collaborating with content creators.
  3. Creating original, valuable content and using various channels like LinkedIn, Discord, and Email can be effective in building awareness for a startup.

the cuban message crisis

bad cattitude • 207 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Social media can be a double-edged sword for those seeking attention and engagement.
  2. Engaging in debates and discussions on social media can expose individuals' lack of critical thinking skills.
  3. Twitter can be a challenging arena where individuals might face unexpected criticism and scrutiny.

The Trojan Kid

Technically Optimistic • 39 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The Kids Online Safety Act aims to protect children online, give parents more control, and hold big tech accountable by age-gating, granting parents access to social media content, and imposing a duty of care on platforms.
  2. Legislation targeting teen mental health should consider various factors beyond social media impacts, such as economic insecurity, gun violence, and climate change.
  3. Proposed tech regulations like age verification may have unintended consequences, such as creating barriers for certain communities and endorsing authoritarian parenting styles.

These defenders of democracy do not exist

Conspirador Norteño • 76 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Some social media accounts pretend to be liberal activists but are actually fake and use AI to generate responses. They try to look real but their activity is suspicious.
  2. These accounts follow a lot of people quickly but don't gain many followers back. This pattern shows they are likely bots trying to manipulate engagement.
  3. Many of the replies from these accounts are generic offers of help or unsolicited responses. It's often clear they are automated replies, not real conversations.

The Anti-Defamation League Defames Substack

Karlstack • 366 implied HN points • 08 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. ADL criticized and called for the deplatforming of several Substack writers for promoting conspiracy theories.
  2. There is suspicion that Substack was blocked by Twitter as retaliation for launching a new feature similar to Twitter.
  3. The incident involving the ADL, Substack, and Twitter is a developing story that has caused confusion and concern among content creators.

The state of The Path Not Taken

The Path Not Taken • 220 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
📰 News Social media
  1. The author has gained over 1,200 subscribers from 58 countries for their Substack on politics and academics.
  2. In 2023, the author focused on topics like low liberalism, freedom of speech, and reviewed books on academia.
  3. The author plans to continue writing about politics with a focus on institutional theory in 2024 and asks for recommendations to help grow their Substack.

One step closer to a Universal Age API

Tech + Regulation • 19 implied HN points • 08 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Meta is working on a Universal Age API that helps determine what apps users can access based on their ages. This is aimed at keeping kids and teens safer online.
  2. The plan includes steps for platforms to share age information, resolve any conflicts, and improve user experiences by not asking for age repeatedly. This will help ensure that kids aren’t exposed to inappropriate content.
  3. There’s a push for better age verification methods and standards to protect younger users online. Different platforms could collaborate to share age data for a safer internet.

Did feminism make men super vain?

Sex and the State • 24 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Men are showing more interest in their appearance, with searches for fitness and beauty routines increasing, especially among younger generations. This trend shows changing attitudes about masculinity and self-care.
  2. Women's greater economic independence may influence men's beauty standards, leading them to care more about how they look. In societies where women have more status, men are becoming more focused on physical attractiveness.
  3. Social media and technology are changing how men present themselves, possibly having a bigger impact on male vanity than shifts in women's preferences. Men now see and feel pressure to look good online more than ever.

Deep dive: Claude's product marketing

Mehdeeka • 6 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
💼 Business Social media
  1. Claude's product marketing focuses heavily on their website with clear product information, but it sometimes misses a cohesive brand message. It’s important to showcase both product features and your brand personality in marketing materials.
  2. Social media strategies aren't well defined for Claude. Each platform should cater to a distinct audience, but currently, their content overlaps too much, which can confuse potential customers.
  3. Keeping core marketing materials updated with rapid product changes is tricky. It's crucial to have consistent messaging across all channels, especially when introducing new features or rebranding efforts.

SBF is a fraud. But he was never the problem [Finance Fridays]

Technology Made Simple • 79 implied HN points • 24 Dec 22
💰 Finance Social media
  1. The Crypto Industry is plagued by frauds like SBF, but the root problem runs much deeper and extends beyond just cryptocurrencies.
  2. Mainstream media plays a significant role in perpetuating misinformation and misleading narratives, contributing to the success of individuals like SBF.
  3. To protect oneself from falling for scams, it's essential to critically evaluate products, look beyond social proof, and consider the utility and legitimacy of investment opportunities.

This Week in Marketing - TikTok's finale, UK Online Safety Act, YouTube AI & GPT-5

The Social Juice • 24 implied HN points • 27 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Meta is updating safety features for teenagers on its platforms to better protect them from online dangers.
  2. YouTube is introducing new AI tools to help create videos, which could change how creators make content and increase ad revenue.
  3. The UK is enforcing new online safety laws, requiring age verification for accessing certain online content to protect children.

The Dawn of Woke AI

Maximum Truth • 189 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Google's Gemini Advanced AI displayed bias by predominantly erasing European features in its generated images.
  2. The head of Google's AI team, Jack Krawczyk, has displayed strong political views, influencing the direction of the AI's bias.
  3. Competition in the AI industry offers hope for less biased alternatives to heavily politicized AI models like Google's Gemini Advanced.

Links to Consider, 3/1

In My Tribe • 182 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Limit children's exposure to smartphones and social media until a certain age for their well-being.
  2. Dancing and outdoor activities like walking can be more beneficial for treating depression than other therapies.
  3. Some universities heavily rely on government funding, impacting their autonomy and priorities.

Finding fake followers (Bluesky edition)

Conspirador Norteño • 68 implied HN points • 18 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. You can spot fake followers on Bluesky by looking for accounts with similar join dates and generic profiles. These accounts often have no posts and repetitive bios.
  2. Using a method where you track the followers of suspected fake accounts can help identify whole networks of fake followers. By downloading and filtering their followers, you can map out these networks.
  3. The Bluesky platform has a real-time feature called the firehose that makes it easier to catch fake follower activity as it happens. However, this can give some false positives, so users need to be careful.

How to Regulate Social Media

Erik Explores • 61 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Social media algorithms often promote extreme or divisive content to keep users engaged, which is harmful. Creating ethics boards to oversee these algorithms could help focus on more positive and informative content instead.
  2. Moderation of social media content does not always balance free speech with the need to prevent harmful misinformation. It's important to have clear processes for content removal and to empower users in the moderation process.
  3. Users need better tools to evaluate and discuss opinions without just liking or disliking them. A system that rewards thoughtful, respectful discussions can shape healthier online interactions.

The Future, Now and Then: 2024 in review

The Future, Now and Then • 72 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. The author has been regularly writing a newsletter for two and a half years, and their audience has grown significantly. It's important to celebrate growth and consistency in writing.
  2. In 2024, topics covered included technology and political commentary, highlighting issues like the rise of Bluesky and criticism of university administrations. These topics engage readers and reflect current events.
  3. The author plans to shift focus in early 2025 to finish a book manuscript, but will still share thoughts on current events in the newsletter. Transitioning goals can bring new opportunities in writing.

July 16, 2025

Letters from an American • 25 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Trump is worried about the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal and the information that might come out. He's trying to downplay it and blame others, but it's clear he feels threatened.
  2. His approach of dismissing critical stories as hoaxes is not working as well this time. Many supporters are feeling betrayed and confused instead of rallying behind him.
  3. Trump's past connections with conspiracy theories have helped his political career, but now he's losing some support because people are seeing through his tactics and questioning his leadership.

Beware value capture

SatPost by Trung Phan • 201 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Tech apps influence our behavior through metrics, so don't blindly follow them
  2. Metrics like rankings, step counts, and likes can lead to 'value capture' influencing our decisions and behavior
  3. Be aware of how external metrics set by institutions in apps can guide our values and behaviors without us realizing

Are social media bad for mental health? It's the wrong question.

An Educated Guess • 174 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Social media
  1. The impact of social media on mental health is a complex issue that cannot be simplified to a dose-response relationship.
  2. The understanding of social media's effect on mental health can benefit from incorporating different epidemiological paradigms like sanitation, infection, chronic disease, and eco-epidemiology.
  3. Social media is not just a risk factor but an environment that plays a crucial role in shaping various behaviors and experiences, especially for young people.

Ready, set..... not ready?

techandsocialcohesion • 19 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Social media platforms are not well-prepared for the upcoming elections, scoring below 62% in terms of election readiness.
  2. Many platforms lack policies to stop the spread of manipulated content like deepfakes and to prevent micro-targeting of AI-generated political ads.
  3. There is a lack of transparency regarding platforms' performance, enforcement of policies, and safety teams, raising concerns about their effectiveness in maintaining election integrity.

On the futility of writing

The Leftovers • 119 implied HN points • 24 Jul 22
📚 Literature Social media
  1. Question the purpose of writing: Despite acknowledging its futility, the act of writing persists, raising the eternal question of why we engage in a seemingly pointless endeavor.
  2. The infinite possibilities of words: Reflecting on Borges' 'The Library of Babel,' the idea of an ever-expanding, chaotic library suggests a universe where the potential for new creations is boundless, even amidst the saturation of existing literature.
  3. Social media and the democratization of writing: The digital age demands that we all become writers, sharing our thoughts with a global audience through online platforms, blurring the lines between creation, self-promotion, and personal expression.

#6 Twitter: What's My *Name* Again?

Product Identity • 19 implied HN points • 28 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Twitter, now called X, is facing an identity crisis after Elon Musk's takeover. Users feel confused about the platform's direction and branding changes.
  2. Despite its challenges, Twitter remains a unique place for short-form content and discussions. Its text-first approach has fostered a special community culture.
  3. The introduction of long-form tweets has changed Twitter's essence, moving it away from its original character limit that defined its identity. This could impact the way users engage with content.

🎢 LinkedIn doesn't want you to go viral

Cosmos • 19 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
💼 Business Social media
  1. LinkedIn is updating its content distribution algorithm to prioritize relevant knowledge over viral content.
  2. Tools like Karat Insights are helping content creators understand their earnings and industry benchmarks.
  3. The use of AI in marketing and content production can lead to misleading experiences and scams, highlighting the importance of consumer awareness.