The hottest Social media Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

The speed of Information

SatPost by Trung Phan • 111 implied HN points • 14 Oct 23
📰 News Social media
  1. The speed of information today is vastly different from historical times of war and conflict.
  2. Social media and smartphones have changed how we consume and process news and images of conflicts.
  3. The current media environment with instant access to information can impact mental health and our ability to process emotions.

another newsletter? in this economy?

an email from eugene • 59 implied HN points • 10 Aug 22
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. People are craving more control over what they see on social media; they want a way to subscribe to content they care about and interact meaningfully.
  2. Maintaining a personal website is seen as a work in progress rather than a polished final product; it's like tending to an 'online garden' to shape identity and share thoughts.
  3. Encouraging dialogue and conversation through newsletters is important; it's about sparking interactions and meaningful exchanges rather than passive engagement.

Maybe we're already too far gone

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 159 implied HN points • 26 Mar 21
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The culture of likes and reactions on social media platforms may be contributing to outrage and polarization, and possibly removing likes altogether could be a solution.
  2. The NFT craze in art raises questions about benefiting artists versus making cryptocurrency holders richer, showcasing a shift in ownership dynamics.
  3. The consequences of online shopping and the rise of music streaming services are being explored through topics like cargo loss and ownership models.

Selling account names in the blue, blue skies

Conspirador Norteño • 36 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Handle squatting is when people register social media handles to sell them later. Even though Bluesky allows custom domain names as handles, some still try to squat.
  2. Buying account names is risky and usually a bad idea. It's better to create your own accounts instead of getting them from spammers.
  3. Some recent accounts on Bluesky show repetitive bios and were created in batches, indicating possible spam activity. One such account even changed its bio to seem more legitimate.
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This landscape does not exist

Conspirador Norteño • 32 implied HN points • 28 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Facebook is flooded with AI-generated images, often coming from pages that aren't run by regular users. These images sometimes get a lot of attention, but they mainly come from content farms.
  2. Many Facebook pages post the same AI-generated images around the same time, with slight changes to avoid detection. This suggests they might all be operated by the same group of people.
  3. The AI-generated images often look strange and unrealistic, with obvious glitches like odd-looking roads and animals. They tend to have brighter colors than real photos, making them easy to spot.

SPSP Censorship 2.0: "We Are Above the Rules"

Unsafe Science • 79 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🚌 Education Social media
  1. Individuals who believe they are above the rules can be harmful to society or organizations.
  2. SPSP did not abide by professional guidelines for retraction, choosing to make up reasons to retract papers.
  3. There was a discrepancy in how SPSP handled different posters, allowing some politically motivated content while taking down others.

Saturday 25th November, 2023 - Passing the Baton of Chaos (Issue #142)

Mark Smith’s Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 25 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The baton of chaos shifted from Elon Musk and social media to OpenAI, causing a frenzy globally.
  2. Amid the chaos, significant developments in banking, society, social media renaissance, and reality simulation were happening.
  3. Podcasts covered topics like Bitcoin for banking failures, AI and regulatory capture, and the impact of software in government and technology.

Accelerationism is Terrorism

Never Met a Science • 105 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Accelerationism is a form of terrorism fueled by unsustainable concentration of power.
  2. Engineers now hold societal power, overshadowing the importance of humanities.
  3. Accelerating technological development without understanding its consequences is dangerous and dehumanizing.

Beyond Dunbar

Philip’s Newsletter • 24 implied HN points • 25 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Tech can help people build trust and connect more in local communities. By using technology, we can find out who we have in common with others, making it easier to meet new friends.
  2. Having groups, like school alumni or local clubs, helps establish trust between strangers. If we create safe online spaces for these groups, it can strengthen our connections with others.
  3. Sharing locations securely with close friends can enhance trust. With the right technology, we can let friends know where we are without compromising our privacy.

✅ Monday briefing: Leaving the door open and the ladder down

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 30 Oct 23
💼 Business Social media
  1. Talking to experts can give you a lot of valuable insights. It’s great when someone is willing to spend extra time discussing important topics.
  2. News publishers are facing challenges with search visibility due to recent changes in Google's algorithm. Many are seeing their online reach drop.
  3. AI is becoming more inclusive with new models designed to better represent diverse cultures and experiences. This is an important step for fairness in technology.

The Man Leading the Charge Against TikTok

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 74 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. The House of Representatives is expected to vote on legislation that would force the Chinese tech company ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban in the United States.
  2. Trump and Biden stand on opposite sides of the TikTok issue now, with Trump opposing the forced sale while Biden supports it.
  3. The main concern behind the bill to sell TikTok is the fear of foreign adversary control, specifically by the Chinese Communist Party, impacting news, data, and election integrity in the U.S.

What happened in marketing: TikTok's last chance, ChatGPT hotline and LinkedIn's campaign manager makeover

The Social Juice • 31 implied HN points • 22 Dec 24
💼 Business Social media
  1. TikTok is facing potential bans as the US Supreme Court considers a case about it. Companies are trying to find ways to keep users engaged despite the uncertainty.
  2. ChatGPT has launched a hotline, allowing people to interact with AI in new ways, which could change customer service and support.
  3. Platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram are updating their features to help marketers better reach their audiences, including new ad tools and insights.

What is a tilter?

Thoughts • 19 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. A "tilter" alters text similar to how filters alter images on social media.
  2. Tilters can change text phrasing, font, and apply special visual effects.
  3. Examples of tilters include rewriting text in different styles like horror or hip language.

Building the Society We Want

Never Met a Science • 88 implied HN points • 26 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Social media has greatly influenced society and its bans would bring rapid change.
  2. Technology developments must be considered with an understanding of values, tools, and actions in achieving societal goals.
  3. Lessons from historical movements like Romanticism and Ecology can guide discussions on technology and society today.

Society is Questioning Social Media. That’s Good.

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Society is undergoing a fundamental shift in how social media is perceived and used, indicating a positive change.
  2. There is a growing awareness and pushback against misinformation on social media at both societal and governmental levels.
  3. The evolving societal perspective on social media may lead to increased regulations and standards to protect mental health, privacy, and freedoms of citizens.

Dear algorithm

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 19 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The 'Dear Algorithm' posts on Threads reveal how users are trying to shape their content feeds and connect with specific audiences through an appeal to the algorithm.
  2. These posts also highlight the convergence of targeted advertising logic and individuals' attempts to curate their online presence, creating a more niche approach to reaching desired followers.
  3. The tone of these posts often carries a spiritual element, resembling prayers or appeals to a higher power, emphasizing the mysterious yet influential nature of algorithms in online platforms like Threads.

Jack Sweeney: Troll? Stalker? Or Free Speech Hero?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 74 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Jack Sweeney faced legal challenges for his social media accounts tracking celebrities' private jets. Celebrities like Taylor Swift and Elon Musk took legal action against him for privacy concerns.
  2. Sweeney's interest in tracking celebrity jets began as a tech and aviation fascination. He uses various sources like FAA databases and aviation enthusiasts to update his spreadsheets.
  3. Despite facing legal threats and backlash, Sweeney maintains his accounts are journalistic and informative. He relies on his instincts when dealing with offers from celebrities like Elon Musk and Mark Cuban.

Game-Theory Negotiations

The Questioner • 19 implied HN points • 21 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Social media
  1. Social media often pushes us to form strong opinions on highly politicized topics like the Israel-Palestine conflict.
  2. Mainstream media and individuals tend to jump to conclusions without fact-checking, so it's important to wait for accurate information to emerge.
  3. Taking time to gather all the facts before forming opinions on current events can lead to a more informed perspective.

80 Percent of American Politics Is Just Who Runs Twitter

House of Strauss • 22 implied HN points • 05 Mar 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Whoever controls Twitter has a big impact on American politics. This platform shapes the information people see and influences public opinion.
  2. The Democrats seem to struggle with their messaging because they don't control Twitter. Their attempts to communicate may be falling flat because they can't get their message out effectively.
  3. Political parties need to adapt to the current landscape, where social media plays a huge role. Right now, Republicans seem to have the upper hand in shaping the narrative and controlling the discussion.

How to launch a show on Substack

Substack • 60 implied HN points • 07 May 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Start by claiming your subdomain and choosing a title for your Substack. This will help identify your space online.
  2. Think about your video content strategy. Decide what will be free and what will be paid to attract subscribers.
  3. When you're ready, promote your launch on social media and send news to friends. Encourage them to spread the word about your new Substack.

“The Algorithm” is the only critique of “The Algorithm” that “The Algorithm” can produce

Never Met a Science • 77 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The concept of 'The Algorithm' serves to mask larger systems at play, pushing us to believe in a singular cause for societal issues.
  2. Anxieties about algorithms reflect a broader issue of how technology governs our lives in ways we don't fully understand.
  3. The influence of social media and quantified audience feedback has transformed communication, shaping our interactions and content consumption.

The anonymous Telegram channel bearing witness for the world

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 19 implied HN points • 14 Oct 23
📰 News Social media
  1. South First Responders shares graphic images of Israel massacres on Telegram, drawing attention from major news outlets with verified content.
  2. The identity behind South First Responders remains mysterious, described as a volunteer group with no clear leadership or structure.
  3. Social media platforms like Telegram and X are now instrumental in sharing shocking images of conflict, impacting traditional news gatekeeping.

When the Internet Was for People

Path Nine • 12 implied HN points • 10 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The internet used to be a place for genuine creativity, where people shared their thoughts and ideas without worrying about making money. Now, it's more about popularity and profit.
  2. AI is changing the way we create, often leading to superficial content instead of meaningful work. This trend can make us lose interest in real, deep creativity.
  3. To bring back real creativity, we need to be picky about the content we engage with, support authentic voices, and focus on making things that truly matter, not just what's trendy.

✅ Monday briefing: A new #PRstack book will review AI in PR tools

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 09 Oct 23
💼 Business Social media
  1. A new book about AI in public relations will be released soon. It focuses on how AI can help in marketing and PR tasks.
  2. The book includes insights from developers and covers more than 20 AI tools. This aims to help professionals use AI more effectively in their work.
  3. The BBC is being careful with how it uses AI, focusing on human creativity and transparency. They have set principles to guide their use and tackle risks like disinformation.

Meta's surrender, Walmart brand refresh and Heineken's brand genius

The Social Juice • 26 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
💼 Business Social media
  1. Meta's recent changes haven’t affected most businesses because their content moderation was already lacking. Many users are concerned about hate speech and adult content getting out of control as Meta steps back.
  2. Walmart is refreshing its brand with small changes to appear more friendly, but it's more about their recent collaborations and less about a big transformation. This reflects the trend of brands wanting to look welcoming without really changing much.
  3. Heineken is working hard to connect with Gen-Z by addressing loneliness and promoting a positive drinking culture. Their creative campaigns are helping them stay relevant, even as younger audiences trend towards less alcohol consumption.

Marketing to moments.

Nate is Learning • 19 implied HN points • 14 Apr 23
💼 Business Social media
  1. Marketing around moments is a key strategy in marketing.
  2. College campuses offer numerous opportunities for brands to engage with students.
  3. Aligning marketing efforts with campus events and cultural attention can boost brand awareness.

Musk vs. the Gom Jabbar

The Misinfo Hellscape • 19 implied HN points • 24 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Musk fails the test of rational humanity by not rising above debates and engaging emotionally.
  2. Having a minimal education level is crucial for rational conversation, not extensive expertise.
  3. Clear thesis statements and specific supporting arguments are necessary for rational debates.

Ripped at the Seams

Finding Joy • 19 implied HN points • 15 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Social media
  1. Social media can be addictive, be mindful of how much time you spend on it.
  2. Social media is like adult middle school, with status games and complex emotions.
  3. Online connections are not the same as real friendships, invest in meaningful relationships outside of social media.