The hottest Social media Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

The Twitter/X account geolocation feature should be treated with scepticism

Odds and Ends of History • 938 implied HN points • 26 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. The new geolocation feature on Twitter should be viewed with caution. It might not always accurately represent where a user is posting from due to various factors like VPN usage or app store settings.
  2. There have been plenty of examples showing that geolocation can be inaccurate. This means we shouldn't take its findings at face value without further evidence.
  3. Even credible sources like BBC Verify shouldn't immediately trust Twitter's claims without doing their own checks, as things might not be as clear-cut as they seem.

A Fascinating Look at How a Hair Stylist Organizes Their Days

Culture Study • 3116 implied HN points • 27 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Hair stylists often use different business models, like commission or booth rental, which affect how they schedule and manage their time. Depending on the setup, they might have more control over their hours or have to follow strict salon rules.
  2. Clients appreciate personalization in booking. Many stylists prefer texting over online booking as it allows for better communication about appointment lengths and types, leading to fewer misunderstandings.
  3. Taking care of their bodies is important for stylists due to the physical demands of the job. They often need to find ways to prevent injuries and manage stress while providing great service to their clients.

Requiem for a dream

Philosophy bear • 200 implied HN points • 01 Feb 26
đź•ą Technology Social media
  1. AI will flood paid writing platforms with cheap, high-volume content and bot-driven networks, which will undermine subscription economics and make it much harder for human writers to build careers.
  2. Most readers are middlebrow and often can’t or don’t distinguish quality, so AI-optimized, easily digestible 'slop' will capture attention and revenue even if it’s inferior.
  3. Only a few kinds of human work—superstars with parasocial followings, original reporting, deep scholarship, or unique lived experience—are likely to remain viable, while most mid-tier writers will be squeezed out.

The Substack Email Settings Edition

Why is this interesting? • 8385 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
đź•ą Technology Social media
  1. Check your email settings in Substack if you're not receiving newsletters. Sometimes the settings can change without you realizing it.
  2. Substack's 'smart notifications' can lead to confusion and missed emails. It can send app notifications but not the actual emails from writers.
  3. If you experience issues with Substack emails, switching the notification settings to 'Only in email' can help you start receiving them again.

How a Kidfluencer Became an OnlyFans Star

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 264 implied HN points • 21 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. A former child social-media star moved to OnlyFans soon after turning 18, posting sexualized photos and offering nudes behind paywalls.
  2. She was raised and promoted by a hands-on, controversial mother, which has fueled public concern that her childhood career involved exploitation.
  3. She frames the move as her choice and a way to stay relevant, and she uses VIP tiers and tipping to monetize erotic content.
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The Phone Is Addicted to You

The Algorithmic Bridge • 828 implied HN points • 28 Nov 25
đź•ą Technology Social media
  1. We often think we're addicted to our phones, but many people are actually trying to escape from them. It's common to hide our phones or limit our app usage, showing that we seek peace from constant distractions.
  2. Technology is designed to keep us engaged, and it adapts to our efforts to pull away. Instead of being the users, we might be seen as a source of energy for our devices, feeding their need for our attention.
  3. Recognizing this dynamic can change how we feel about our phone habits. By understanding that our phones can be dependent on us, we can shift our mindset and gain the power to change our behaviors.

The Coldplay Couple Did Something Bad. The Internet Did Something Worse.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3023 implied HN points • 20 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Public shaming has changed from a community correction tool to a way for people to watch and enjoy others' misfortunes. It's become more of a spectacle than a way to maintain social norms.
  2. An incident at a Coldplay concert went viral when a couple was caught on camera, leading to intense scrutiny and speculation about their personal lives. Everything escalated quickly online.
  3. The identities of the couple, both married to other people, were discovered and shared widely. This shows how fast and invasive the internet can be when it comes to privacy.

Goodbye to the Age of the Book

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 565 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Reading long books has declined in cultural importance, with fewer people reading for pleasure and fewer whole books assigned in schools.
  2. Digital snippets on smartphones and oral formats like podcasts, YouTube, TikTok, and audiobooks are replacing deep reading as the dominant way people consume information.
  3. Even so, long books still offer unique depth and remain well worth the time for those who seek it.

Tech's newest evil main character

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 3314 implied HN points • 07 Jul 25
đź•ą Technology Social media
  1. Shaun Maguire, a major figure in Silicon Valley, is promoting dangerous anti-Muslim ideas. His tweets reflect a troubling trend of hate in tech.
  2. Silicon Valley is increasingly merging its interests with defense and military technologies. This is a shift towards a new era of tech that supports ongoing conflict.
  3. Venture capitalists like Maguire are shaping a future that prioritizes profit over ethics, leading to a world defined by endless war.

Open Thread 389

Astral Codex Ten • 3303 implied HN points • 07 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. This is an open thread where anyone can talk about anything or ask questions. It's a great space for discussion and sharing ideas.
  2. There are highlights about various topics in the comments, like family size's impact on motherhood and discussions on testosterone. They spark interesting conversations.
  3. There’s a new post for subscribers discussing how AI is used in research. It's a mix of useful and tricky information that needs careful thought.

How Tech Metrics Change Your Values and Behaviour

SatPost by Trung Phan • 223 implied HN points • 24 Jan 26
đź•ą Technology Social media
  1. External metrics like scores, ratings, and likes can come to define your values and make you chase numbers instead of what truly matters to you.
  2. Metrics are not neutral: they embed the priorities of their designers and tend to flatten rich, qualitative experiences into simple numbers that reward shallow, attention-grabbing behaviour.
  3. You can resist value capture by being intentional—pair or balance indicators, trust anecdotes when metrics feel wrong, limit exposure to harmful scores, and treat platform scoring systems like optional games you can enter or leave.

Political Psychology Links, 1/4/2026

In My Tribe • 288 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Many young women shifted politically left after about 2010, a change linked to rising anxiety, depression, loneliness, and the breakdown of stabilizing institutions like marriage, motherhood, and religion.
  2. Oxytocin’s effects on social behavior are highly context-dependent: it can promote bonding and trust within a group but also increase envy, gloating, defensiveness toward outsiders, and stronger in-group conformity.
  3. Social media causes context collapse that pushes people into bland, PR-safe selves and makes sincerity risky, while rising inequality and perceived loss of status fuel resentment that simple economic redistribution may not fully solve.

What do you think you're hiding?

Passing Time • 234 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🎾 Sports Social media
  1. If you’re going to hide your Strava map, don’t post the activity publicly — either make the whole post private or don’t post at all.
  2. Hiding a map usually signals either risky or trespassing behavior, or that you’re gatekeeping secret spots; owning mistakes can help others and hiding them doesn’t erase anything.
  3. Posting photos while hiding maps to flex secret locations is selfish and harms the community; if you truly want to protect a place, keep the entire activity private or don’t record it.

In Defense of Brooklyn Beckham

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 213 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Brooklyn repeatedly tries different high-profile careers—photography, cooking, wine collecting, modeling—but those efforts often fall flat and get mocked online.
  2. He alleges his famous parents have meddled in his life, even sending his siblings to attack him on social media and treating his wedding like an Instagram opportunity.
  3. Despite the ridicule, he appears to have accepted public humiliation to create distance from his family, which has generated sympathy.

When Algorithms Come to Your Neighborhood

The Honest Broker • 7513 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
đź•ą Technology Social media
  1. Nextdoor can be useful for getting local alerts, especially in emergencies. However, it might not always provide timely information when you need it.
  2. Many users ignore alerts from apps like Nextdoor because they often send old or irrelevant notifications. This can create a false sense of security and put people at risk.
  3. It's important to question whether the information we receive from neighborhood platforms is reliable. If we learn to overlook their messages, we could miss crucial updates.

Odds and ends

Disaffected Newsletter • 1418 implied HN points • 24 Apr 24
🎙 Podcasts Social media
  1. Many fans of content creators develop a strong emotional connection and may feel betrayed if they disagree on issues. It's important to recognize this tendency and keep your reactions in check.
  2. Younger generations often struggle with basic writing skills, making it harder for them to communicate clearly. This gap shows how education has changed over time.
  3. Copyright law is often misunderstood, especially with platforms like YouTube enforcing their own rules. Many people don’t realize that fair use allows for commentary and critique without violating copyright.

Europe’s Censors Put a Price on Dissent

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 602 implied HN points • 07 Dec 25
đź•ą Technology Social media
  1. The EU fined X €120 million under the Digital Services Act, signalling a new phase of enforcing rules on online speech. This is being read as an example of regulators using financial penalties to police platforms.
  2. Officials cited lack of transparency, advertising rule breaches, and deceptive design as the reasons for the penalty, but many view the move as aimed at suppressing perspectives that haven’t been vetted by governments or mainstream institutions. The message to platforms is clear: hosting the “wrong” kind of speech now carries measurable risk.
  3. The €120 million fine is small compared with past multi‑billion euro penalties against big tech, which suggests the bloc has been slow to act but is beginning to monetise enforcement. Even a relatively modest fine creates a precedent that could push platforms to preemptively limit contentious speech.

The great silent majority of American basicness

Garbage Day • 3341 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The rise of the Stanley Quencher cup as a popular item is a result of savvy marketing and internet buzz
  2. Short-form videos like TikTok are influencing the way content is created and shared online
  3. The concept of monoculture in media is evolving, with Spotify playlists reflecting carefully constructed branding rather than true diversity

This Week in Marketing: The New Age of Influencers vs. AI’s Irish Exit from Ads.

The Social Juice • 63 implied HN points • 22 Feb 26
đź’Ľ Business Social media
  1. Creator marketing is shifting — traditional influencers are losing ground while platforms and brands push subscriptions, gifting programs, and creator-first monetization. Brands will need better tracking and UGC management to prove real impact.
  2. AI is upending advertising and trust as companies struggle with moderation and harmful or hallucinated content; some firms are even dropping ads to protect credibility. Regulators and platforms are racing to limit or control AI-generated content and its monetization.
  3. The platform and ad ecosystem is being reshaped by major tech moves — Meta, Google, TikTok and others are rolling out new AI tools, ad products, and policy changes that shift attention and ad dollars. Marketers must adapt to new formats, measurement tools, and growing regulatory scrutiny.

Why is Mark Zuckerberg vice-signaling?

Read Max • 7376 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Mark Zuckerberg is changing how Facebook moderates content to align with current political views, saying they will reduce censorship for more free expression.
  2. His new image, including a gold chain and different style choices, hints at a shift towards more conservative values, which could attract a different kind of employee.
  3. Zuckerberg seems to be learning from Elon Musk by taking a more outspoken and partisan approach, which may help him gain support and defend against criticism.

vgr: The Twitter Years (2007-22)

Breaking Smart • 54 implied HN points • 15 Feb 26
đź•ą Technology Social media
  1. A personal Twitter archive was turned into an LLM-friendly online book that collects top threads and hundreds of single tweets, with print and ebook versions planned.
  2. The project deliberately avoids embedding others' tweets, using links and footnotes instead, accepting that serializing Twitter's nonlinear conversations is lossy but more practical and legally safer.
  3. Building the book required bespoke scripting and heavy data cleaning, and using Claude Code sped up the technical work; this is part of a broader effort to create a queryable archival self that can serve as a prosthetic memory.

Living in the Lie

Unpopular Front • 243 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Endless public lying and the pressure to pretend it’s true are deeply demoralizing and can be more oppressive than overt terror.
  2. Small, persistent acts of living in the truth—like self‑organized groups or local associations—can build an independent social sphere that undermines attempts to atomize society.
  3. Avoid getting stuck in propaganda spaces when you don’t have to and instead seek or create other forums where people meet and act together, because voluntary associations turn isolated individuals into a visible, shared power.

Facebook Has an Animal Torture Empire

Webworm with David Farrier • 2496 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
đź“° News Social media
  1. Animals are being tortured on Facebook, with hundreds of thousands of accounts engaging with the content.
  2. Facebook's algorithm plays a significant role in serving disturbing content to users, leading to increased engagement.
  3. Despite efforts to report and remove the content, issues of animal abuse videos on Facebook are still prevalent and widely accessible.

Instagram blocked teens from searching LGBTQ-related content for months

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 7464 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Instagram temporarily blocked teens from searching LGBTQ-related hashtags due to content restrictions meant for 'sensitive content'.
  2. Meta admitted the restrictions on LGBTQ terms were a mistake and emphasized the need for all communities to feel safe on its platforms.
  3. LGBTQ teens rely on social media for connection and support, and limiting access to their content can isolate them during critical times of self-discovery.

The Great Creator Reset

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 7106 implied HN points • 18 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. The shutdown of TikTok could lead to many creators losing their platforms overnight. This has a much larger impact than when Vine shut down a few years ago.
  2. TikTok has been a key space for progressive voices and activism. Its ban might shift the online conversation more towards conservative viewpoints, as many progressive creators will struggle to find similar support elsewhere.
  3. With TikTok gone, right-wing creators are likely to gain more visibility and influence on other platforms. This change could permanently alter the digital landscape and how people engage with different ideas.

What Prevents & What Drives Gendered Ideological Polarisation?

The Great Gender Divergence • 2751 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Social media
  1. Men and women tend to think alike in close-knit, interdependent, religious communities where conformity is encouraged.
  2. Economic frustration, social media filter bubbles, and cultural entrepreneurs are driving gendered ideological polarisation in economically developed and culturally liberal societies.
  3. Shared cultural production and mixed-gender friendships can help suppress the gender divide.

Is It Okay To Call Jeffrey Epstein An Ephebophile?

Singal-Minded • 703 implied HN points • 17 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Megyn Kelly mentioned that some people believe Jeffrey Epstein was not a pedophile, but rather liked young teens, which caused a lot of discussion. This sparked outrage as many found her comments disturbing and troubling.
  2. The terms 'ephebophile' and 'hebephile' are debated when discussing Epstein's actions. While some people argue about the accurate label, others feel any distinction is irrelevant and still morally wrong.
  3. The controversy highlights how people engage in discussions about sensitive topics online, often leading to arguments about nuanced definitions instead of focusing on the serious issues at hand.

sunday memepool

bad cattitude • 79 implied HN points • 08 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. People are debating whether paying $900 for DRAM is worth it.
  2. Many say it is worth it, even though those purchases are changing familiar cultural touchstones.
  3. The full discussion is behind a paid subscription paywall.

There’s Now a New Way to Grow Your Substack

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 2877 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
đź’Ľ Business Social media
  1. There's a new 'Spreadsheet Directory of Publications' to help writers find collaboration partners. It makes networking easy and fun.
  2. Many creators are looking for ways to work together to grow their subscriber base. Networking can lead to more followers and success.
  3. Creators can also use the new Creator Network by ConvertKit to find others with similar audiences. This can help them reach and engage more subscribers.

New technologies, new totalitarians

Noahpinion • 18882 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
đź•ą Technology Social media
  1. The rise of new technologies like smartphones and social media has presented democracies with a formidable opponent in the form of techno-totalitarian regimes.
  2. China employs a strategy of 'sharp power' to manipulate foreign entities and influence global affairs, utilizing tactics like espionage, social media manipulation, and economic coercion.
  3. China's unique totalitarian approach extends beyond its borders to control the narrative about China, influence the diaspora, and emphasize supremacy of ethnicity over citizenship, posing a new challenge for democracies and liberal principles.

The Bright Forest: Social Media, Trans Activism, and a No-Truth World

The Bigger Picture • 1437 implied HN points • 12 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Recognize the impact of social media on mental health, especially among young people, and the rising trend of seeking authenticity online.
  2. Understand the need to balance our online and offline lives, and the importance of reconnecting with reality and the present moment.
  3. Highlight the significance of gender dynamics online, including the influence of social media on cultural norms and the importance of embracing a balance of masculine and feminine qualities for emotional well-being.

Seven Predictions for Tech in 2025

Big Technology • 7380 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
đź•ą Technology Social media
  1. Some companies might decide that generative AI isn't right for them, leading to at least one big name publicly quitting it in 2025. It's important for businesses to find what works for them.
  2. Social media may start feeling less relevant as platforms focus less on real news and engage more with content they think will grab our attention. This shift could make important global events seem distant.
  3. Brain-computer interface technology could gain more attention in 2025 as it continues to develop, possibly helping people with disabilities. This could spark new conversations around its potential benefits.

Why Write Anything

CRAFT TALK • 5070 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
đź“š Literature Social media
  1. Having a quiet space like a porch can impact your creative process positively.
  2. Social media can be a mixed bag for creativity and connection.
  3. Meaningful writing requires genuine intent and thoughtfulness.

Agents 4 All

DARK FUTURA • 2869 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
đź•ą Technology Social media
  1. AI plays a significant role in tracking and manipulating consumer behaviors to maximize profits for corporations.
  2. The development of full-time AI agents as personal assistants is the next phase of AI innovation, focusing on handling daily tasks and expenditures.
  3. DARPA is exploring the development of human-presenting AI agents for influencing social and behavioral systems, indicating potential dangerous implications.

What Type of Guy is the alleged UHC shooter?

Read Max • 7798 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. The suspect, Luigi Mangione, had a surprising mix of influences, not fitting neatly into typical political categories. His online follows included a variety of personalities from pop science to self-improvement.
  2. His worldview combined elements of skepticism about politics, a belief in technology, and personal self-improvement. It suggests he was more focused on rational discussions than extreme ideologies.
  3. Despite this normal-seeming life, there were underlying issues that could lead to extreme actions. A mental break or personal struggles might have played a big role in his violent actions.