The hottest Social media Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

QWERTY and flirty

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 15 Sep 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Algorithms struggle to understand our unique preferences based on quirks and history, often leading to poor recommendations.
  2. Access to obscure information like patents online showcases the principle of public online availability, even if the content may seem irrelevant to most people.
  3. Web series like 'Marble Hornets' demonstrate the potential of low-budget creepy web content, highlighting the creativity of individuals in digital storytelling.

The cyber is so big

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 08 Sep 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Believing in conspiracy theories online is easy, but it can become dangerous when it affects real lives.
  2. Legacy.com, for the deceased, is like having a Facebook profile with similar issues and innovations.
  3. The impact of sexting scandals on teenagers can be devastating, leading to isolation and serious consequences.

Sent from my iPhone

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 02 Sep 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Silicon Valley promotes an ideology of freedom through technology, but many don't feel 'free' after 20 years.
  2. Uber's dominance in public transit impacts cities differently, creating faster options for some and leaving others behind.
  3. Chuck Tingle used a Hugo nomination to advocate for diversity in science fiction, turning the tables on his trolls.
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In it to win it

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 04 Aug 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Silicon Valley has influenced the look of cities through popular app aesthetics like Airbnb and Foursquare.
  2. Facebook's sign-on messages may seem friendly but are actually strategic attempts to access personal data.
  3. Fact-checking websites like Snopes play a crucial role in debunking misinformation on the internet.

IT'S ALIVE!

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 28 Jul 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Virtual reality may not be effectively increasing empathy for refugees as initially claimed in some cases.
  2. Musical.ly, an app popular among teens, allows users to share short clips of themselves lip-syncing to music, leading to some turning it into lucrative careers.
  3. Companies often use cute marketing tactics to appear more friendly and trustworthy, potentially influencing people to share data or use their services.

Now THAT should be a crime.

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 30 Jun 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The power tech platforms hold can be concerning - with companies like Google and Facebook potentially manipulating industries and news traffic.
  2. The digital world is reshaping various industries and behaviors, such as indie games boosting artists' incomes and beauty-rating apps providing a unique support system.
  3. Archiving our digital footprint poses a challenge for future historians due to the vast amount of data being generated and stored.

Far-out

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 16 Jun 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Medium is like the Whole Foods of the internet, trying to improve while making a profit.
  2. WeChat in China serves as a mega-app, combining various online services like Facebook, Uber, and Amazon.
  3. Lonelygirl15 was a pioneer in online fiction before viral phenomena like 9M9H9E9, with potential to become a TV show.

An elegy for the Internet

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 02 Jun 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. New media platforms like Facebook Live are still finding their footing and may evolve to offer better content in the future.
  2. Twitter struggles not only with a problematic product but also with company issues, leaving its future uncertain under current leadership.
  3. Tumblr's Liftblr community sheds light on a subculture of teen shoplifters who see their activities as a form of anti-capitalist activism.

Sick moves brah

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 26 May 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Does Siri believe in God? AI advances could lead to software grappling with faith in the future, raising intriguing questions.
  2. Modern daters on Tinder aren't just looking for hook-ups. Sociologist Jessica Carbino found that 80% of users seek long-term relationships.
  3. The Internet's perception of you may be quite different from how you see yourself. Data collected online can create an eerie portrait that doesn't always match reality.

The *real* future of Facebook-ordered groupthink

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 12 May 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The quest to design AI for flirting indicates a step towards robots capable of love, reflecting human desires.
  2. Snapchat's Evan Spiegel is secretive, but Snapchat's different path hints at a contrast with Facebook's recent issues.
  3. Online videos of police shootings can create long-lasting trauma among young black viewers, impacting their behavior.

Announcing some upcoming changes to Links (... as well as, y'know, some actual links)

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 06 May 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The 'Links' newsletter is transitioning to a weekly schedule on Thursdays, focusing on the best links of the week.
  2. The changes to the newsletter are driven by a mix of reader feedback and the author's evolving life and job demands.
  3. Readers can provide input on the changes or the newsletter's future, and there's an alternative newsletter suggestion for those who prefer daily emails.

Yr a special snowflake

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 05 May 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The best window into American political strife is your Facebook feed, showcasing clashes between different groups and the influence of online mobs.
  2. In the digital age, forgiveness becomes harder with our past actions staying present, raising questions about the 'right to be forgotten.'
  3. Discussion on the evolution and impact of memes, highlighting how they can spread, change, and sometimes even die out.

Maybe people are just shitty. Or maybe it's the Internet's fault.

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 03 May 16
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The definition of "bullying" has expanded so much that it's losing its true meaning of powerful people intimidating the powerless.
  2. Online trolling and cyberbullying can have devastating real-life consequences, like disrupting a family's grieving process.
  3. There are instances of heart-wrenching online harassment, but on a lighter note, there's a young food critic making waves on YouTube.

Nobody panic!!

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 28 Apr 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The hot new trend is making avatars to look like your ex, serving as weird receptacles for affection.
  2. People often misunderstand the News Feed algorithm, thinking it's more sophisticated than it actually is.
  3. The latest mantras for gurus involve being connected, discovered, with RTs not being endorsements.

Walking, talking, phone-unlocking

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 25 Apr 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The Internet reaches even the most remote areas, changing people's perceptions of isolation.
  2. Facebook has evolved from a social network to a centralized hub for various online activities, keeping users engaged within its platform.
  3. Balancing online activities like social media with real-world actions is crucial, as seen in the story of a man who tried to help but ended up in prison.

"Links" Weekend Edition: Feed the trolls

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 22 Apr 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Snapchat's face-swap feature is so disturbing it once featured in an epic poem, reflecting the app's ability to melt faces like warm wax
  2. The internet culture of trolls and online abuse is highlighted in various articles that explore feeding trolls, Victorian teachings on online abuse, and the man behind 8chan
  3. A collection of diverse and intriguing reads on digital culture is provided in a Friday newsletter, offering readers a chance to catch up and unplug

The future's pretty dumb

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 21 Apr 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Facebook may have unintentionally enabled Trump's rise due to the environment it created in Silicon Valley.
  2. Amazon's same-day delivery service is suspiciously unavailable in many black neighborhoods, prompting questions about racial implications.
  3. The current state of chatbots, glitchy and sales-focused, reflects poorly on the potential of future technology.

Real talk:

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 13 Apr 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The secret rules of the Internet are enforced on whims, leading to varying perceptions of censorship and moderation.
  2. Using a flip phone in 2016 can help you engage more with the world and reduce distractions.
  3. Staying in has become the new trend due to the convenience of the Internet, making it unnecessary to leave the house for various activities.

Reader beware

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 12 Apr 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Facebook is still struggling to combat fake news despite efforts to reduce engagement with hoax stories.
  2. Purging dissenters from your Facebook feed can create an echo chamber effect, leading to a lack of diverse perspectives.
  3. Binge-watching for a world record can be a draining and disorienting experience.

just bein nosy

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 08 Apr 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Facebook wants users to share more personal information, but people are becoming more cautious about what they post online
  2. The newsletter takes a different form on Fridays, providing an ebook or direct links for catch-up and unplugging
  3. Readers can vote to help the newsletter in a Webby nomination for email newsletters

Like it's 1990

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 06 Apr 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The Great EVE War was a massive conflict in a video game involving 50,000 players over two years, feeling strangely real to participants.
  2. PRIME, a new app, is showing promise in helping with schizophrenia based on positive results observed during early patient testing.
  3. There's a talent agency representing Internet-famous dogs, with one noteworthy pooch named Dory yet to be offered a job.

😒

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 01 Apr 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The author expresses frustration with brand pranks on April Fools' Day, calling them insipid and unfunny.
  2. The newsletter includes a compilation of interesting reads on digital culture shared in the form of an ebook.
  3. Readers can share the newsletter with others and provide feedback or ask questions by replying to it.

Who knew

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 30 Mar 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Being a Bangladeshi 'like' farmer entails physically clicking fake Facebook likes. The job might not be as bad as portrayed in the media.
  2. The Internet lacks democracy, but there's a proposal to introduce direct online voting to enhance democratic participation.
  3. Virtual Reality, beyond its entertainment value, has the potential to be used for inflicting torture and pain.

c u soon

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 24 Mar 16
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Life in the aftermath of a viral death can be unsettling, with media attention sometimes overshadowing helping those affected.
  2. Computers are being taught humor through New Yorker cartoons with trial and error, algorithms, and human input.
  3. Celebrities' online personas can shift over time, like J.K. Rowling transitioning from beloved author to attention-grabbing Twitter presence.

"Links" Weekend Edition: What's shakin', bacon?

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 18 Mar 16
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Scientific minds have identified textual cues that indicate someone is drunk, like saying 'pong' or 'Friday.'
  2. The newsletter's weekend edition includes some unique reads and an opportunity to catch up on digital culture through an ebook.
  3. Readers are encouraged to share the newsletter with friends or enemies if they like or dislike it, respectively.

You're the robot

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 16 Mar 16
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Life as a hot girl online can be surprisingly good for a nerdy guy in real life, showing the importance of physical appearance in the virtual world.
  2. Faking happiness on social media, like Facebook, can actually help cope with depression by turning the fake into reality and the mental version into a facade.
  3. The trend of self-quantification raises significant psychological and philosophical questions about tracking and defining the self.

Newfangled fads

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 15 Mar 16
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Twitter's saddest celebrity, Melissa Broder, faces criticism for potentially romanticizing anxiety.
  2. The identity politics of 4chan's 'beta males' are complex, going beyond being simply under-sexed and anti-feminist.
  3. The Internet's petri dish for 'erotic audio' is described as collaborative, anonymous, and surprisingly not terrible.