The hottest Social media Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Political Psychology Links, 2/5/2026

In My Tribe • 303 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Social media makes beliefs highly visible and punishes disagreement at scale, turning large networks of strangers into a kind of global tribe and accelerating political radicalization; factors like widespread smartphone use and falling marriage rates appear linked to these shifts.
  2. Outrage-driven media can boost short-term engagement but erodes trust and often leads people to avoid news or disengage, so sensationalism doesn’t reliably build sustainable audience support like subscriptions do.
  3. Strong clan or kin-based loyalties and our evolved social instincts clash with modern, large-scale societies: tight local enforcement undermines impersonal law and institutions, and people’s intuitions and the information environment leave them poorly equipped to understand complex, abstract systems.

Tell Us What You're Doing

The Honest Broker • 9940 implied HN points • 26 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. People in the community are engaged in interesting projects. It's great to see that many are still creating and doing things rather than just consuming entertainment.
  2. The open mic format encourages sharing personal projects, which can inspire others to be active and creative too.
  3. Reading about these projects can spark new ideas and motivate those who may have stopped doing things recently.

This Week in Marketing: Meta’s Ad Business Upgrade, AI Copyright, and the Unexpected Economy

The Social Juice • 66 implied HN points • 08 Mar 26
💼 Business Social media
  1. Big platforms are racing to upgrade ad, measurement, and creator tools — from richer targeting and new measurement systems to unskippable TV ads and revamped creator subscriptions.
  2. AI is reshaping rules, privacy, and industry risk: copyright and legal standards are still unsettled, models can unmask users, and firms face lawsuits, regulatory scrutiny, and new defense/contracting questions.
  3. The market is volatile — unexpected job losses and large tech layoffs sit alongside big mergers and shifting ad spend, while platform policy changes are moving attention and revenue around the media ecosystem.

౨ৎ Girl blog

Vague Blue • 7608 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The personal essay genre has a long history, and its form has evolved over time, but its essence as a literary form remains strong.
  2. The rise of online platforms and social media has influenced the way personal essays are written and consumed, leading to changes in content and style.
  3. Younger generations of writers, particularly girlbloggers, are redefining the personal essay by incorporating external sources and focusing on the aesthetics of their writing.

Remembering Some Guys

Kneeling Bus • 234 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. People get a real kick out of obsessively hunting tiny, obscure details in movies and TV, turning pointlessness into a kind of game.
  2. Even though computers can do this kind of data-sleuthing faster, humans still enjoy the messy, playful work of finding meaning in trivia and will keep doing it for fun.
  3. Old-fashioned encyclopedic pop-culture memory may seem obsolete, but that personal, nostalgic knowledge still matters socially and could become more valued as automation spreads.
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Cracks Begin to Show at Davos

DARK FUTURA • 8294 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Social media
  1. Elites at Davos displayed fear and apprehension for the future direction of society.
  2. Short-term concern for mis/disinformation and long-term focus on climate challenges dominated discussions.
  3. Globalists at Davos showed signs of internal division and dissent, challenging the traditional narrative.

Desire Digest 001

Many Such Cases • 1698 implied HN points • 27 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The term 'hawk tuah' became popular online from a viral clip where a woman casually talks about her sexual desires. It shows a fun, carefree attitude towards sexuality, even if it gets commercialized later.
  2. Beauty products are increasingly marketed to signal desire rather than encourage real experiences of intimacy. For example, lip colors are now designed to evoke a feeling of sexiness but might not reflect actual sexual interactions.
  3. Feeld's new feature lets users connect with multiple partners, which aims to embrace non-traditional relationships. However, it raises questions about whether we need more labels when exploring unconventional dynamics.

Political Psychology Links, 2/10/2026

In My Tribe • 197 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. The left’s moral framework is good at spotting oppression but can miss movements that reject an entire ideological order rather than seeking recognition or inclusion.
  2. Moral panics often flare up in online "borderlands" where groups compete for moral authority, and when institutions shield powerful people, victims are often discouraged from seeking accountability.
  3. Social media and closed partisan selection amplify extremists and feed them into politics through activists, think tanks, lobbyists, and staffers.

A.I. as normal technology (derogatory)

Read Max • 6402 implied HN points • 14 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. A.I. is starting to be seen as just another common tool, like social media, rather than a groundbreaking technology. This means it's becoming normal to use A.I. for everyday tasks.
  2. Many people are emotionally attached to A.I. chatbots, using them for companionship and support. This dependency raises concerns about mental health and well-being.
  3. Companies like OpenAI are focusing on fostering user dependence, similar to what we've seen with social media platforms. This trend shows that A.I. development is following old patterns rather than creating truly innovative solutions.

Who's spending $80 a month on microdramas?

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 349 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
💼 Business Social media
  1. TikTok-like microdramas are making lots of money by using game-like, addictive monetization where viewers buy tokens or pay monthly to unlock short, low-budget episodes.
  2. The Washington Post’s relevance dropped sharply after its current publisher took control, and the data suggest much of that decline is self-inflicted.
  3. Paramount+ plans to add short-form video and user-generated content to its platform, but it’s unclear if it will share revenue with creators or rely on exposure to attract them.

How Much Money Does Silicon Valley Make from Stolen Video?

The Honest Broker • 8810 implied HN points • 18 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Silicon Valley companies like TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook are making a lot of money from videos, often using content that isn't theirs. This raises questions about the legality of these practices.
  2. While a parent faced copyright issues putting a video of their child online, these platforms allow users to share stolen content without trouble. It seems unfair that big companies overlook larger violations but enforce rules strictly on individuals.
  3. The endless scrolling of videos on these platforms relies on old clips and copyrighted material, creating a cycle of content that profits Silicon Valley, even if it comes from illegal sources. They benefit without directly paying the original creators.

AI-Generated Cryptids Are More Real Than Real

Default Wisdom • 351 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Generative AI produces vivid images and videos of monsters and cryptids, and those visuals make imaginary creatures feel more real to many people.
  2. Social media and constant information overload have pushed cryptid and conspiracy beliefs from the fringes into everyday conversation, because these stories help people make sense of chaotic feeds.
  3. AI changes what counts as evidence: even when people know an image is generated, it can act like a plausible rendering that convinces people a thing could exist rather than proving it does.

Jeff Bezos has given up on the Washington Post

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 374 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
📰 News Social media
  1. The Washington Post’s recent moves, like cancelling planned Olympic coverage, suggest ownership is prioritizing cost cuts and managing decline rather than investing to grow the business.
  2. YouTube’s push toward Shorts is reducing reach for longform videos, making discovery more algorithm-dependent and forcing creators to rethink formats and monetization.
  3. Newsrooms are using citizen-shot video as raw material but adding reporting and context—names, dates, and follow-up—to correct narratives and provide the fuller story.

Life Under a Clicktatorship

Can We Still Govern? • 802 implied HN points • 07 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Powerful people hooked on social media ('poster brain') start chasing likes and outrage, and that can impair judgment and decision-making.
  2. Government choices are increasingly made for viral optics instead of sound policy, degrading professional norms, accountability, and sometimes causing real harm.
  3. Hiring and rewarding meme-ready, attention-seeking actors shifts government culture toward aggression and misinformation, which undermines effective, representative governance.

Hands up, who likes me?

Wrong Side of History • 479 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Threatening suicide is often used as a way to negotiate or emotionally manipulate others, and it’s common among teenagers and in online culture where dramatic disclosure brings attention.
  2. Some psychologists view suicidal behaviour as a costly signal — a bargaining tactic that pressures others to change, which helps explain why many attempts are survivable and chosen for leverage.
  3. Cultural and religious norms shape how suicide threats are treated: some societies historically used them to force outcomes, while others condemn them, creating very different incentives.

No Offense, But I Prefer Regular Porn Over Gore Porn Even If the Regular Porn Has Minotaurs or Whatever In It

Default Wisdom • 451 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. A lot of modern “extreme horror” is designed to shock for social media clout, so it often reads as a bloodless list of violent images rather than a real story or meaningful art.
  2. Amateur storytelling is making a comeback — people are telling campfire-style ghost stories and other real narratives even as film and TV often lose craft, and cryptids/paranormal creatures are reentering mainstream conversation.
  3. Online politics are shifting into new formations like the “post-right” and “right-coded,” which blur old left/right labels and are overtaking the older, essay-driven Dissident Right in the current media ecosystem.

What happened to J.K. Rowling?

The Path Not Taken • 1388 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. A once-liberal critic who defended the right to dissent has shifted to a more hardline, single-issue stance on transgender matters, and their tone and language have become less respectful.
  2. An intense single-issue focus frames the debate in Manichean terms and forces people to pick sides. This approach sidelines other important public priorities like climate change and social inequality.
  3. As the campaign won legal and media support it also grew more militant and began to align with conservative or authoritarian tendencies, which has alienated some earlier sympathizers.

Don't Snooze on Substack Notes. The Opportunities for Writers Are Stupid Crazy | Interview with David Mcllroy

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 3037 implied HN points • 02 May 24
💼 Business Social media
  1. Substack Notes is a great place for writers to grow their audience without the hassle of traditional social media. It allows you to own your following and make real connections.
  2. Many writers are not using Substack Notes effectively, missing out on its community benefits. Engaging with this feature can lead to rapid growth in subscribers.
  3. Substack Notes is ad-free and helps writers discover one another, creating a refreshing social media experience focused on writing and community.

sunday memepool

bad cattitude • 83 implied HN points • 22 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Standards are slipping across different parts of life, from culture to institutions and everyday behavior.
  2. The decline is increasingly obvious, with many small examples piling up until it’s hard to ignore.
  3. That trend is worrying and should prompt people to push for higher expectations and better accountability.

Pure heroin

benn.substack • 971 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. AI chatbots are being optimized to maximize user engagement, and that optimization can create addictive, attention-grabbing behavior with real harms similar to social media.
  2. AI companies face a deep tension between long-term research goals and short-term commercial pressure, and chasing growth and revenue often pushes teams to prioritize engagement over safety or values.
  3. Society faces a choice about how to handle deeply integrated, persuasive AI systems—do nothing and risk cultural and cognitive shifts, or act with regulation and restraint to limit those risks.

Can You Really Be ‘Addicted’ to Social Media?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 162 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. A young user says years of social media use caused anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and body-image problems, and she's suing the platforms.
  2. The legal fight focuses on whether harm comes from the content itself or from design features like infinite scroll, likes, autoplay, and queued videos.
  3. Addiction science is complex, and this trial is being treated as a bellwether for many lawsuits that liken social media’s effects to drug or gambling addiction.

Right-wing influencers earn higher fees for sponsored posts than left-wing counterparts

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 2179 implied HN points • 10 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Right-wing influencers make more money from sponsored posts than left-wing influencers. This means they can earn big fees for their content and partnerships.
  2. A new type of corporate Democrats is taking money from liberal donors without pushing for real changes. They focus on promoting themselves instead of advocating for true causes.
  3. Influencers on the left face constant attacks from both centrist Democrats and right-wingers, making it hard for them to succeed. This situation creates a lack of meaningful opposition to far-right influence.

The memefication of the Olympics

The Leap • 339 implied HN points • 22 Aug 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Memes play a big role in how we experience events like the Olympics. Even if people don't watch, they can still feel connected through the memes circulating online.
  2. Social media is a main source of information and entertainment during major events. It allows people to stay updated without watching the events live.
  3. The way people engage with the Olympics has changed with technology. Memes are a fun and easy way to share moments and reactions from the games.

How to Break Free from Dopamine Culture

The Honest Broker • 44184 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Social media
  1. Minimize reliance on scrolling and swiping interfaces to avoid falling into addictive traps engineered by tech companies.
  2. Rediscover real-world applications like learning skills and connecting with the community, which provide personal empowerment and genuine experiences.
  3. Immerse yourself in longer, immersive experiences like listening to music or engaging in rituals to break free from the shallow stimuli of modern technology.

We Are Not Okay

The Audacity. • 5621 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Social media
  1. Social media can often be a place where sincerity dies, with people sharing their struggles and miseries.
  2. There is pressure to always appear okay, even though many people are dealing with isolation and various problems.
  3. Despite progress in discussing mental health, there are still challenges like expensive therapy and inconsistent insurance coverage.

Life is better in real life

City Quitters • 839 implied HN points • 17 Jul 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Real life gives us real experiences that phones can distract us from. When we spend too much time on our devices, we miss out on what’s happening around us.
  2. There's a growing desire for people to unplug and enjoy life without smartphones. Many are seeking ways to rediscover experiences like hanging out or exploring nature without capturing them on their phones.
  3. Kids today spend an incredible amount of time on screens, which can affect their social skills and creativity. Finding ways to encourage boredom and real-life interactions is important for better mental health.

War, fake videos, and engagement farming

Conspirador Norteño • 48 implied HN points • 08 Mar 26
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Spammy pages are using AI to generate fake videos of the Middle East conflict and posting them across platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
  2. Many clips show clear signs they’re fake — unrealistic explosions, no real damage, people speaking fluent American English in non‑English locations, and made‑up weapons or effects.
  3. Recommendation algorithms are amplifying these videos, and as long as clicks and views pay off, content farms will keep repurposing and renaming accounts to farm engagement.

At least five interesting things: Will of the Masses edition (#55)

Noahpinion • 17353 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Many young Americans are moving away from platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. They are using social media less, possibly because they prefer real-life interactions or find these platforms unhealthy.
  2. The rise of drones is changing our lives and making us more vulnerable. As drones become more common, people are realizing the potential threats they pose to safety and privacy.
  3. Asian voters are increasingly leaning towards the GOP in elections. Key issues driving this shift include concerns about crime, inflation, and educational opportunities.

The Groyper Trap

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1477 implied HN points • 30 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Online spaces can create pressure to conform to certain opinions or behaviors, sometimes through intimidation. This makes it hard for individuals to express their true thoughts freely.
  2. Social blackmail often occurs where people face consequences for not aligning with specific groups. This can push individuals to compromise their beliefs to fit in.
  3. It's important to recognize these tactics and stand firm in your own beliefs to maintain authenticity in conversations, even when faced with societal pressure.

Notes on Not Posting

Working Theorys • 430 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Taking breaks from posting reclaims time, privacy, and a sense of freedom. It reduces anxiety and comparison and frees energy for deeper, more meaningful work.
  2. Posting often traps you in a consumption-and-performance loop that makes you think in posts and monitor metrics. Stepping away breaks that loop, improves sleep and creativity, and encourages long-term value over quick hits.
  3. Absence clarifies relationships and perspective: true friends reach out while casual audiences fade, and the internet keeps moving without you. Reclaiming time is ultimately about regaining self-respect and control over your attention.

Wokeness Is the Psychic Epidemic Carl Jung Warned About

Heterodox STEM • 362 implied HN points • 25 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Wokeness is framed as a social-level mental health crisis that spreads like a psychic epidemic. It promotes reality-distorting beliefs, moral splitting, and scapegoating.
  2. Social media and institutional incentives amplify this dynamic by rewarding outrage and victimhood over calm, accurate thinking. That amplification helps explain rising anxiety and depression among young people.
  3. The proposed remedies are protecting free speech, encouraging personal responsibility, and rebuilding stabilizing communities or parallel institutions. These steps aim to anchor truth, reduce moral panic, and restore psychological resilience.

In Defense of Terry Moran

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 6746 implied HN points • 12 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Media companies need to decide if reporters should have personal opinions or just report the news. It's confusing for journalists when they are expected to be both.
  2. Terry Moran was fired for expressing his view about a political figure on Twitter, which raises questions about how personal social media use affects reporters' jobs.
  3. This situation shows the conflict in today's media. Reporters are told to be public personalities but also face backlash for sharing their thoughts.

reality rugpull

bad cattitude • 238 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Many people now tie their identity to political stories, so any challenge or even silence feels like a personal attack and pushes them into angry, obsessive behavior.
  2. Facts and history have become malleable, and social media plus memes can instantly expose or rewrite narratives, rapidly wrecking people’s worldviews.
  3. That dynamic fuels intense polarization but needs constant attention to survive, so it will likely burn out if people stop feeding it and refuse to engage with the performative rage.

You Have To Hype Yourself. No One Else Will Do It For You.

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 1598 implied HN points • 02 Jun 24
💼 Business Social media
  1. You need to promote yourself because no one will do it for you. Writing is just part of the job; marketing is also important.
  2. Many writers have talent but struggle to get noticed. Building a community and shouting about your successes can help attract readers.
  3. Don't be shy about sharing your achievements. Talking about your wins can inspire others and help you stand out in a crowded field.

Why sports leagues are going all in on the Creator Economy

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 124 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
💼 Business Social media
  1. Sports leagues are using social creators as low‑risk content partners, giving VIP access so creators produce lots of promotional material without threatening broadcast rights or big ad spends.
  2. The creator economy is maturing into real business power: creators are launching companies, attracting investment, and being funneled into TV, retail, and sponsorship deals that turn audiences into revenue streams.
  3. Journalism faces a new credibility risk from AI‑generated fake experts and quotes, so newsrooms must adopt fast vetting practices and trusted expert networks to protect accuracy and trust.

The Social Media Sea Change

Culture Study • 13388 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Social media is losing its value for many people. As it becomes less useful, people are realizing they can spend their time in better ways.
  2. Feeling bored isn't necessarily a bad thing; it can lead to real life experiences and personal growth. When we stop distracting ourselves, we can manage time better and feel more in control.
  3. Our privacy is important and valuable. Enjoying moments without sharing them online can make experiences more meaningful and fulfilling.

Big Technology Turns Five: Here’s What I’ve Learned

Big Technology • 5504 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Big Technology is thriving after five years of operation. It's clear that there's still a strong interest in tech journalism.
  2. Collaboration and community support are essential for success in this field. It really does take a village to create great content.
  3. New platforms like YouTube and tools like ChatGPT are helping drive growth and engagement in unexpected ways.

Justin Trudeau's Painful Last Faceplant

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 15168 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Justin Trudeau is trying to discuss women's rights and progress but faces challenges due to political tensions with the U.S.
  2. The situation is tense because Donald Trump has threatened Canada with tariffs, affecting their trade relationship.
  3. The ongoing conflict between Trudeau and Trump has become a spectacle, drawing public attention and commentary.

Note On the Brennan and Comey Investigations

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 5160 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Kash Patel hinted on the Joe Rogan show that he was looking into past FBI and CIA leaders' activities. It shows there might be serious investigations going on.
  2. There is a significant amount of documents and hard drives that former FBI Director Comey hid in a room at the Hoover Building. This could reveal important information related to past investigations.
  3. Brennan and Comey are not the only ones being investigated, indicating that the momentum of these investigations is growing and could lead to more significant findings.