The hottest Social media Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

The Tale of Two Phones

SatPost by Trung Phan • 196 implied HN points • 29 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Having a "Cocaine Phone" for distractions and a "Kale Phone" for focus can help manage smartphone addiction.
  2. Variable rewards from apps can lead to smartphone addiction by triggering dopamine responses.
  3. Creating a phone protocol with limited app access can increase productivity and reduce distractions.

My year in review

Kyle Chayka Industries • 143 implied HN points • 30 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The newsletter covers Kyle Chayka's favorite pieces and updates for the year, including a list of tour dates for his new book.
  2. Kyle Chayka started a new newsletter project called One Thing, focusing on curation of authentic content in digital spaces.
  3. Kyle Chayka reflects on his New Yorker columns, discussing topics like AI in art, AI-generated imagery, and the impact of social media on news consumption.

Attention Traps

Public Experiments • 236 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Our attention is a valuable and limited resource in the digital age.
  2. Curation is key to navigating the vast amount of information available online.
  3. Platforms should focus on helping users reclaim their attention by prioritizing important ideas.

Twitter admits its algorithm promotes right-wing politicians and media outlets

Geopolitical Economy Report • 159 implied HN points • 25 Oct 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Twitter's algorithm favors right-wing politicians and media outlets in several countries like the US, Britain, Japan, Germany, France, Spain, and Canada.
  2. The algorithm amplifies right-leaning news outlets and parties more than left-leaning ones.
  3. In most cases, center-right and neoliberal politicians, parties, and media are the most promoted on Twitter.
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The Medium is the Mentality:

⭐️Bob’s Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Understanding how different mediums influence us is crucial in today's digital age.
  2. The evolution of media ecology shows how technology shapes human relations and cognition.
  3. Balancing the benefits and risks of social media and AI requires cultivating digital mindfulness and awareness.

My New Book, Influencer Bootcamp, Is Out Now!

Startup Strategies • 14 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
💼 Business Social media
  1. The book 'Influencer Bootcamp' teaches how to use viral strategies for better messaging and marketing. It can help boost visibility and engagement.
  2. The author shares personal success stories of growing their newsletter and social media presence significantly in just one year.
  3. Learning to create engaging content can dramatically increase your audience size and interaction online.

Judging myself by likes

Kyle Chayka Industries • 195 implied HN points • 22 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Likes can impact how we judge our online success, but their significance varies across platforms.
  2. Algorithms on social media have changed how engagement is measured, making it harder to interpret likes as a true reflection of content quality.
  3. The age of likes is evolving, with platforms like TikTok shifting focus away from visible likes but still using them to influence content.

#150 - Back to our roots

davidj.substack • 59 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Data Twitter was once a lively community for people interested in data, but it has changed significantly over time. People are looking for new platforms to connect and share ideas.
  2. Blue Sky is gaining popularity as a new home for data enthusiasts, offering features that help with discoverability and community building. This makes it easier for users to engage and find relevant content.
  3. Writing regularly has been rewarding and helpful in personal growth. It's a great way to clarify thoughts and boost confidence in communication, so everyone should consider writing for themselves.

OSD 297: You can’t fake gun knowledge

Open Source Defense • 59 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. In today's world, people can't just fake their knowledge about guns; they need to actually show they know what they're talking about.
  2. If someone makes mistakes about guns, social media will quickly point it out, making it hard to mislead others.
  3. This shift helps spread accurate information more easily and challenges old sources of misinformation about firearms.

Culture: The Arbiter of Technology

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Culture plays a crucial role in determining the success or failure of technology and how it is ultimately used.
  2. Societal acceptance and rejection of technology are heavily influenced by culture, impacting advancements and innovation.
  3. Culture has historically driven improvements in technology, making it safer, more beneficial, and ultimately shaping the future of industries.

Join my new subscriber chat

Beyond the Screen • 6 implied HN points • 22 Oct 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. There's a new chat space just for subscribers, like a group chat where we can all talk and connect.
  2. To join the chat, you need to get the Substack app and turn on notifications so you don't miss anything.
  3. Once you have the app, you can easily find the chat and start chatting with me and other subscribers!

The red-to-blue disinformation pipeline

Conspirador Norteño • 36 implied HN points • 28 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. False claims were spread about Twitter users being part of a pro-Ron DeSantis group, but there was no real evidence to back this up.
  2. These misleading stories originated from a blog by a Republican, and later Democrats used them to accuse other users without proof.
  3. The misinformation keeps spreading, showing how easy it is for false narratives to be believed and shared, especially on social media.

Suis-je la seule personne à ... ?

L'Atelier Galita • 19 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The concept involves anonymously sharing odd thoughts to create content like surveys and discussions.
  2. Consider participating in the activity by sharing your thoughts anonymously.
  3. The idea is centered around selecting and creating content based on unique shared thoughts.

The Purpose of a System is What it Does

Cybernetic Forests • 59 implied HN points • 20 Nov 22
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The purpose of a system is reflected in what it actually does, not just what it claims to do.
  2. AI systems like Galactica may generate convincing but inaccurate results due to lack of contextual understanding.
  3. Criticism and evaluation of AI technology is crucial to ensure intended purposes align with actual outcomes and potential risks are identified.

A Quick Substack Notes Update: How I will use Notes going forward.

OSINT & Analysis by Oliver Alexander • 222 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Substack Notes will be used for OSINT work that doesn't need a full article.
  2. For some writers, Substack Notes may not add much value, but for OSINT community members like Oliver, it's very beneficial.
  3. Twitter's recent decisions have pushed Oliver to utilize Substack Notes for sharing content he would have previously posted on Twitter.

How TikTok breaks economics [Finance Fridays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 29 Oct 22
💰 Finance Social media
  1. TikTok struggles with profitability due to competition, lack of valuable data, and the expensive analysis of user behavior.
  2. The CCP's involvement in ByteDance enables them to fund TikTok despite losses for geopolitical influence, impacting the content promoted and the platform's sustainability.
  3. Banning TikTok may not address the root issues; education on health, mental wellness, skepticism, and maintaining real social connections are vital for healthier social media engagement.

“A title similar to the curious content that makes users click to see”

Conspirador Norteño • 48 implied HN points • 15 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Social media networks are being flooded with spammy posts that link to fake news sites. These are typically run by accounts that pretend to be real people using stolen profile images.
  2. Many spam accounts were created in batches, suggesting automated processes are involved. This makes it easier to spot the fake accounts since they often post the same content repeatedly.
  3. The spam accounts are not limited to one platform; they are also found on different social media like X (formerly Twitter). They mainly promote articles that are simply copied from popular news sites.

The meaning of (digital) media

Kyle Chayka Industries • 211 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Publications build intimacy and loyalty with readers.
  2. Consumers are now more connected to creators through intimate media formats like newsletters, podcasts, and TikTok.
  3. Consumers are turning to new platforms like TikTok to discover and engage with fresh ideas and content creators.

Bet on YouTube

Political Currents by Ross Barkan • 46 implied HN points • 21 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. YouTube is growing and could become the main streaming service, taking over traditional TV as more people cut their cable. It’s very popular and has a huge library of music and videos.
  2. While many tech innovations are disappointing, YouTube stands out as a great platform for finding unique content like deep cuts in music and various genres of videos.
  3. Even though big companies like Google and Meta seem powerful, there’s a lot of creativity and energy in smaller communities on YouTube that could change things in the future.

I still miss you, StumbleUpon

The Rectangle • 56 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. StumbleUpon was a fun tool to discover interesting websites, making time online feel valuable. The internet has changed a lot since then, and it’s hard to find that same kind of exploration now.
  2. Big social media sites have taken over the internet, making it feel less diverse. While there are more websites, we mostly stick to a few major platforms instead of exploring niche interests.
  3. To bring back the spirit of discovery, we need to move away from big networks. Engaging with small communities and personal projects online can give us a richer experience.

URGENT: Free speech wins at Meta

Unreported Truths • 42 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Meta is stopping its efforts to censor posts about immigration and gender. This change is being framed as a return to free speech on the platform.
  2. The debate around fact-checking is ongoing. It often shows how opinions can differ on what is true, rather than just stating hard facts.
  3. Zuckerberg aims to bring back civic content to Facebook because people want to see all sides of an issue, and just sharing fun content isn't enough.

Social Media is a Tapestry of Humanity

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 28 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Social media reflects the tapestry of humanity, showcasing both the good and bad aspects of human nature.
  2. Telling stories through words, art, and music is at the core of human culture, shaping our past, present, and future.
  3. As a species, we evolve by sharing experiences and stories, and social media provides a platform for weaving together the diverse narratives of human existence.

The curious case of the Election Day follower exodus

Conspirador Norteño • 52 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Many people lost followers on X after the recent election, and it's happening to mostly liberal accounts. Some of these losses seem to come from real users quitting.
  2. In contrast, prominent conservative accounts mostly gained followers during this time, indicating a shift in engagement on the platform.
  3. There was also a crackdown on fake accounts leading to follower loss, which means some losses are due to accounts being banned rather than people leaving.

UX Roundup: AI Music | Humans Impolite to AI | Subscriptions vs. Social Media | AI vs. Search

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 5 implied HN points • 10 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. People are usually more polite and clear when talking to humans compared to AI. This shows that AI chatbots need to learn from how we communicate with them.
  2. Subscribing to newsletters is better than relying on social media for good content. Often, the best work doesn't get enough attention on social platforms.
  3. AI answers are becoming more popular than traditional search engines. Many people prefer getting information directly from AI instead of clicking on links.

The Vision Pro? Daddy, chill

The Rectangle • 113 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The release of the Vision Pro highlights a split in culture between bootlickers and contrarians.
  2. Bootlickers overly defend products and praise them, while contrarians overly criticize and find flaws in them.
  3. Algorithmisation exacerbates this cultural division by boosting controversial content and leading us into binary situations.

The frenzy to ban TikTok is another National Security State scam

Michael Tracey • 101 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. The rush to ban TikTok by the National Security State was orchestrated quietly and with limited public exposure, showing a deliberate avoidance of public scrutiny.
  2. The push to ban TikTok largely centered around concerns about its alleged promotion of anti-Semitism and sympathy for Hamas, particularly during the Israel/Gaza conflict.
  3. The legislative bill to ban TikTok gained support from influential figures who highlighted the platform's perceived role in spreading anti-Semitic content and aligning with foreign adversaries, despite criticisms and objections against the bill.

Filterworld cover launch!

Kyle Chayka Industries • 167 implied HN points • 17 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Kyle Chayka launched a new book titled 'Filterworld' on algorithmic culture.
  2. The book explores the homogenizing effects of algorithmic recommendations on online culture.
  3. The cover design and book content discuss the impact of algorithmic recommendations on our cultural ecosystem.

What happened in marketing: TikTok ban, OpenAI expensive and Trends everywhere

The Social Juice • 44 implied HN points • 08 Dec 24
💼 Business Social media
  1. The US appeals court has upheld the TikTok ban, making it more likely that the app will have to be sold or face further restrictions in the country.
  2. OpenAI has launched a new, pricey subscription service called ChatGPT Pro, costing $200 a month, which offers advanced features for its users.
  3. Social media platforms like Pinterest and Google are sharing their trend predictions for 2025, indicating major shifts in how users will engage with content online.

Who Killed Twitter 1.0?

Tech Ramblings • 39 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Twitter struggled to grow because of poor leadership and weak management. Instead of making smart business decisions, they ended up being an easy target for a takeover.
  2. The company failed to innovate and improve, leading to stagnant stock prices. While other tech companies thrived, Twitter's management kept hiring without making meaningful changes.
  3. Even after Musk's takeover, Twitter faces challenges because it still hasn't solved its underlying issues. Competing platforms are emerging, creating a real threat to its future.

Bullet Points: On Bluesky, the Vision Pro Jackpot, and the Quiet Period before the Election

The Future, Now and Then • 105 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. BlueSky, a new platform similar to Twitter, has opened to the public, focusing on community-building and content moderation through decentralization.
  2. The Apple Vision Pro headset's purpose in today's world is unclear, but it may find relevance in a future shaped by climate crises and technological advancements.
  3. The 2024 Presidential election cycle hasn't truly kicked off yet, indicating that the media coverage may be premature and not fully indicative of the final outcome.

What happened in marketing: Meta is cooked, Microsoft goes big and TikTok's last hope

The Social Juice • 39 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
💼 Business Social media
  1. Microsoft is investing heavily in AI, planning to put $80 billion into data centers this year. This shows their commitment to growing their technology influence.
  2. Meta is facing serious challenges and has decided to remove certain AI character accounts, signaling struggles in their strategy.
  3. TikTok is in a critical situation and needs to find new ways to maintain its user engagement and popularity.