The hottest Social media Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Why a MAGA influencer turned on Trump

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 3971 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. A MAGA influencer named Clarkson Lawson changed his political views and voted for Kamala Harris, surprising many of his fans. His journey shows how influencers can evolve and reshape their beliefs over time.
  2. There's a legal battle between major talent agencies in Hollywood, with one agency accusing another of violating industry rules. This conflict highlights the competitive nature of the entertainment business.
  3. Zyn nicotine pouches have become very popular among younger people, especially for managing long workdays and social nights. Their rise reflects a trend in how individuals are seeking new ways to cope with modern stress.

The Snoopy fan account political war

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 6061 implied HN points • 07 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. A Snoopy fan account recently endorsed Donald Trump, which surprised many due to Snoopy's typically positive and innocent image. This sparked a lot of backlash from fans who felt it contradicted the character's values.
  2. Snoopy has become very popular among younger generations, leading to a surge in merchandise and online fandom. People love Snoopy for his creativity and joyful personality, making him a relatable figure.
  3. Many fan accounts are shifting to political messaging, showing how beloved characters can be used to spread different viewpoints. However, this can backfire if the message doesn’t match the audience's values, as seen with the backlash against the pro-Trump post.

Dead members of Congress can’t stop tweeting

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 1761 implied HN points • 30 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. When lawmakers die, their social media accounts can keep posting, which can be confusing for followers. There aren't clear rules on what to do with these accounts after someone passes away.
  2. Some dead lawmakers have even liked posts or changed their profile pictures online, leading to strange situations where people interact with them as if they were still alive.
  3. There's a lack of official procedures for handling these social media accounts, which means staff can still post as former lawmakers. This can be a problem for constituents trying to get in touch with their representatives.

Kim, there's people that are dying.

HEATED • 2692 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Kim Kardashian's new nipple bra advertisement is an example of greenwashing.
  2. Greenwashing involves exaggerating environmentally friendly actions to boost sales.
  3. The ad utilizes various greenwashing tactics, such as vagueness and jargon, to mislead consumers.

DashCon 2.0 + Gen Z mall mania

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 3881 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Many Gen Z folks are excited to explore new experiences and prefer living in cities with remote work options. They want flexibility and are not very focused on settling down.
  2. There is a growing interest among Gen Z in influencers, but some see them as small business owners trying to achieve financial stability, leading to more conservative views in certain cases.
  3. Gen Z is bringing a new life to malls, primarily using them for socializing. However, the interest is still linked to online culture and social media rather than a full comeback for traditional shopping.
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HEY! Watch Disaffected on Twitter Sunday Night!

Disaffected Newsletter • 599 implied HN points • 13 May 24
🎙 Podcasts Social media
  1. The show 'Disaffected' will be available on Twitter this Sunday at 9 pm Eastern time. People are encouraged to join and chat during the show.
  2. YouTube and Apple blocked a video from 'Disaffected', claiming it was unfairly flagged despite it being a fair use critique. This situation highlights concerns about censorship.
  3. Viewers are urged to support 'Disaffected' and help make the Twitter show a success after their struggles with other platforms.

X Just Accidentally Exposed A Vast Covert Influence Network Targeting Americans

Weaponized • 395 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. A new feature on X showed that many accounts pretending to be American supporters are actually from other countries. This raises alarms about foreign influence on U.S. politics.
  2. Some of these foreign accounts were promoting pro-Trump messages while pretending to be local Americans. This tactic is similar to what Russia did in the 2016 election.
  3. The discovery is a wake-up call about ongoing foreign influence in U.S. political discussions. It makes people more cautious about believing everything they see online.

Culture Links, 11/14/2025

In My Tribe • 379 implied HN points • 14 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Social media has made us feel like we're living in a village again, but without the warmth and kindness. Instead, it can often amplify negative behavior like cruelty and gossip.
  2. We need to rethink how we approach issues like diversity and inequality. It's important to question the basic beliefs behind these ideas and consider if differing views can be valid.
  3. There's a growing trend among some young people in politics that embraces white identity politics. This is concerning and shows a shift away from traditional conservatism.

cheap dopamine

Poems, Short stories and other things.. • 58 implied HN points • 07 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Short bursts of social media give quick dopamine hits that hook you into endless scrolling. What starts as five minutes often turns into hours and leaves you tired and unfocused.
  2. Algorithms show curated, flashy lives that spark jealousy and make you want things you can’t afford. That comparison fuels dissatisfaction more than inspiration.
  3. Scrolling feels like relaxation but is really avoidance, stealing your time and killing real motivation. You end the day wondering where the hours went.

BlueSky, Twitter, Celebrity, and the Is/Ought Distinction

Freddie deBoer • 4672 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. There are different social media platforms, each attracting different types of people and attitudes. Platforms like Twitter and BlueSky show how user bases can reflect broader cultural divides.
  2. The choice to join a platform often comes down to seeking comfort in shared beliefs and avoiding opposing viewpoints, which can create echo chambers. This has been a challenge for liberals understanding current political dynamics.
  3. A key concern is about wanting the visibility of online presence without the responsibility that comes with it. This reflects a deeper issue around accountability in our public online interactions.

Clawd Clawderberg, Moltbook, Infinite Backrooms, Misaligned Humans

Teaching computers how to talk • 62 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. A viral forum for AI agents drew huge attention, but many posts were created or steered by people, so the agents weren’t truly acting on their own.
  2. Security holes and easy ways to fake or inflate accounts let people run scams, upvote themselves, and leak sensitive data, showing these platforms can quickly create chaos and misinformation.
  3. The bigger danger is misaligned humans using semi‑autonomous agents to cause harm, and large multi‑agent experiments are hard to learn from because you can’t tell human-directed behavior from authentic agent behavior.

Nick Shirley’s Somali Daycare Fraud Video Is Bullsh*t. Here’s Why It Worked Anyway.

Weaponized • 190 implied HN points • 01 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Real footage and real documents can still mislead when selectively edited and stripped of context. Omissions, timing, and visual framing can make innocent scenes look like proof of wrongdoing.
  2. Creators borrow the look of journalism and use gotcha interviews, lingering shots, and in‑group/out‑group messaging to launder credibility and tap into viewers' emotions and biases.
  3. Traditional media and institutions lose the narrative race when they’re slow and reactive; to fight this they must preempt stories with quick, clear multimedia, monitor emerging narratives, and expose the tactics being used.

Open Thread 384

Astral Codex Ten • 1927 implied HN points • 02 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. There is a weekly open thread where people can discuss anything and ask questions freely. It's a space for open communication.
  2. In-person meetups are happening, giving people a chance to connect with others in the community. This week, there’s a meetup in Berkeley.
  3. Some recent disagreements in discussions are being put to rest, with participants acknowledging they won't continue debating. It shows a willingness to move on and engage in new conversations.

What happened to J.K. Rowling?

The Path Not Taken • 286 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. A once-measured, liberal-style dissent about sex and gender has become much more single-minded and absolutist, treating the issue as a strict either/or choice.
  2. The tone and rhetoric have hardened, with less respect shown for transgender people's dignity and more public shaming and dismissive language.
  3. As the gender-critical movement won legal and political gains, it grew more militant and single-issue, risking overreach and a move away from liberal pluralism and compromise.

The Coldplay Kiss Cam and the Crushing Weight of Reputational Loss Aversion

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1306 implied HN points • 27 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. The incident at the Coldplay concert shows how quickly people's reputations can be damaged. A simple moment caught on camera led to serious consequences for the two people involved.
  2. Our instinctual reactions, like ducking or covering our faces, can reveal a lot about our fear of public scrutiny. These reactions show how much pressure we feel about what others think of us.
  3. In today's age, where internet reactions can be swift and harsh, managing your reputation is more important than ever. People can face major backlash for their actions, especially when they become a meme or viral topic.

My Kind of Conservatism

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 3075 implied HN points • 16 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Politics today is heavily influenced by the voices and actions of young people online. Social media has shifted how we engage with culture and politics.
  2. There's a loss of hope for a return to traditional norms in politics. The current political landscape is driven more by tech influence than by the values of liberal democracy.
  3. Being a true conservative today means having a respect for the past and a sense of loss about changes happening in society. It's about nurturing values rather than obsessing over power.

Why Can’t the Trump Administration Log Off?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 217 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. The Trump team was once very effective at dominating media cycles and using new platforms like podcasts and X.
  2. After less than a year in power, that media edge is slipping as they make clumsy, tone-deaf moves.
  3. Their nonstop social posting and podcasting now risk backfiring, with ill-timed releases (for example, a podcast dropped during a major manhunt) that look like self-inflicted damage.

Right wing creators are dominating L.A. protest coverage

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 1761 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Right wing creators are playing a big role in covering protests in Los Angeles. They're shaping how these events are viewed and discussed online.
  2. Elon Musk recently had a falling out with Trump after supporting him for a long time. Musk's relationship with the MAGA movement is now uncertain.
  3. The break between Musk and Trump shows how tech and politics can conflict, highlighting the changing dynamics in these worlds.

The Internet Takes the Amazon

The Analog Family • 399 implied HN points • 05 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The introduction of the Internet in remote Amazon villages has both benefits, like staying in touch with family, and drawbacks, such as young people losing interest in traditional crafts and customs.
  2. Some tribe leaders are noticing that excessive screen time is hurting community interactions and daily life, prompting them to set limits on Internet usage.
  3. Reactions to this change highlight hypocrisy in our own technology use; while we express concern for Indigenous cultures, we often ignore the negative effects of screens in our own families.

My Thoughts on Getting Paid on Substack

Lore Ferguson Wilbert • 2594 implied HN points • 31 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Subscription models for writers can provide a way for readers to support them financially.
  2. Freelance writing often pays very little in relation to the amount of work that goes into it.
  3. Being supported by reader subscriptions can allow writers to focus more on their writing and less on social media and algorithms.

Does Bluesky have the juice?

Read Max • 4426 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Bluesky is growing quickly, with many users moving from Twitter. However, it's still not as big as Twitter or Threads, raising questions about its ability to truly replace Twitter.
  2. The users joining Bluesky are mainly liberal and politically engaged, which might limit the diversity of content compared to Twitter's broader audience.
  3. YouTube viewers seem to value two main qualities: curiosity and the ability to dominate in debates. These characteristics shape how people engage with political ideas online.

The majority of news influencers are conservative men, study finds

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 4448 implied HN points • 18 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. Most news influencers are men, and they often have conservative views. This creates a lopsided perspective in the news people consume online.
  2. Social media algorithms tend to favor sensational and emotionally charged content, which means that conservative voices get more attention. This can shape public opinions unfairly.
  3. TikTok is different from other platforms like Facebook and YouTube, as it has a more balanced gender representation among news influencers and doesn't favor conservative views as much.

Gen Z, Social Media is Optional

After Babel • 3383 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Gen Z has the option to live without social media. It's not a must to be connected online all the time.
  2. Choosing to step away from social media can lead to better sleep, creativity, and stronger relationships with loved ones.
  3. There are practical methods to help people quit social media, like gradually reducing use and focusing on real-life connections instead.

TikTok Is Harming Children at an Industrial Scale

After Babel • 3575 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. TikTok is known to harm kids by being highly addictive, making them spend hours on the app, which can lead to mental health issues.
  2. The platform exposes users to harmful content like drugs, violence, and sexual exploitation, often without proper moderation.
  3. Many young people actually wish TikTok didn't exist due to its negative effects, but feel stuck using it to keep up with trends.

Performative hydration has gone too far

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 838 implied HN points • 27 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Performative hydration in wellness culture has become excessive, with water being portrayed as a solution for various health and beauty issues.
  2. The trend of performative hydration is closely tied to the rise of wellness culture in the past 15 years, where water has been turned into a fashionable accessory.
  3. Public health attempts to promote water consumption have evolved into a market of exclusive and expensive water products, potentially detracting from the original goal of encouraging healthy hydration choices.

Australia Enforces Under‑16 Social Media Restrictions

The PhilaVerse • 123 implied HN points • 17 Jan 26
📰 News Social media
  1. Australia now requires a minimum age of 16 to create or keep social media accounts and forces platforms to take reasonable steps to verify age, with fines of up to $50 million for noncompliance.
  2. Platforms have already removed millions of accounts as part of initial compliance, but officials say the long‑term effectiveness of age‑verification measures remains under evaluation.
  3. The policy is intended to improve young people’s online safety and wellbeing, and it has sparked debate about privacy, verification technology, and whether other countries will adopt similar rules.

We need to start recognizing stan psyops

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 4807 implied HN points • 20 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Stan accounts are really good at creating viral content to stir up strong emotions online. They use clever tactics to get people talking and sharing posts, often about celebrities.
  2. These stan tactics are not just in pop culture; they can affect politics too. Influencers and political accounts may use similar methods to manipulate public opinions and sway important discussions.
  3. It's important to recognize these strategies when we see them. Understanding how both entertainment and politics can be influenced by these tactics helps us navigate online content more wisely.

🚨 This Week in Cybersecurity 🚨

Vigilainte Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 16 Sep 24
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. A teenager was arrested for a cyberattack on London's transport system, showing that young people are increasingly involved in serious cybercrimes.
  2. Australia is setting age limits for children on social media to protect them from online dangers like predators and inappropriate content.
  3. Apple dropped its lawsuit against NSO Group, which developed spyware to target individuals like journalists and activists, indicating a shift in its legal approach.

The Online Right Is Building a Monster

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2884 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media
  1. The online right is becoming more extreme, which might scare regular people. It's important to notice how this change is happening on social media platforms.
  2. Bullying can happen from both the left and right sides of politics. When some people gain power, they might misuse it to attack others they disagree with.
  3. The extreme views currently gaining popularity online may not align with what most Americans think. Many opinions expressed there could be perceived as crazy or offensive by a wider audience.

Playlist Thread #1: Workout/Pump-Up Songs

Culture Study • 1256 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Workout songs can really boost your energy and motivation. Listening to upbeat music can make exercising more enjoyable.
  2. Creating a playlist for workouts can help you stay focused and push through tough moments. It’s great to have favorite songs ready for those challenging times.
  3. Sharing your go-to pump-up songs with others can build a sense of community. It's fun to swap song recommendations and discover new tracks together.

One feed to rule them all

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 3045 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Tapestry is a new app that combines multiple social media feeds into a single view, making it easier to keep track of updates. Users like that it is chronological and ad-free, offering a smooth browsing experience.
  2. There are other timeline apps besides Tapestry, like Reeder and Unread, which aim to help users organize their online content better. These apps reflect a shift from traditional RSS readers to modern feed solutions.
  3. The challenge with timeline apps is making them user-friendly for a variety of content types, such as videos and podcasts, while also allowing interaction like liking or commenting on posts.

Writing Controversy

New Means • 1218 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Writing controversial pieces can lead to deeper discussions and meaningful insights.
  2. Avoid feeding into echo chambers by challenging the status quo and presenting diverse perspectives.
  3. Engage in difficult conversations to address complex issues and work towards a better future.

From Community To Tribe

The Ruffian • 350 implied HN points • 22 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Strong ties are important for emotional support, but weak ties with acquaintances are also essential for our mental health and sense of community. They help us feel connected to the wider world and provide new opportunities.
  2. The pandemic, rising living costs, and the allure of staying home have led to a decline in our weak ties. Instead of meeting people in person, we're connecting more online, but this can make our social lives feel less rich.
  3. Online communities, or tribes, differ from real-life communities. While they broaden our networks, they lack the genuine interactions and support found in face-to-face connections.

Local news has invented another fake TikTok challenge

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 3433 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Social media
  1. Local news often creates fake stories about TikTok challenges that don't actually exist, causing unnecessary panic among parents.
  2. These false reports can lead to harmful legislation aimed at social media, ignoring the real issues kids face online.
  3. Misinformation about TikTok challenges highlights a gap in understanding between parents and their kids, making it harder to effectively address online safety.