The hottest Social Trends Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

The Loneliest Decades of Our Lives

Culture Study • 4988 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Friendship Community Loneliness Social Trends Aging
  1. Many people experience a drop in friendships during their late 20s to 40s. This period can feel lonely as work and family take up most of our time.
  2. Older adults tend to have more close friends, possibly because they have more time to socialize and engage in community activities. They often bring a practiced understanding of building and maintaining friendships.
  3. Prioritizing friendships can be tough in today's busy world. It's important to recognize this struggle and find ways to make time for friends and community, even amidst life's other demands.

Welcome to Dinner Music

Culture Study • 2154 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Music Media Art Lifestyle Social Trends
  1. Algorithms can make discovering new music really hard. They often push mediocre songs and make us passive listeners, which takes away the joy of finding something special.
  2. Creating playlists can be like telling a story. A good playlist has a flow and evokes feelings, unlike algorithm-generated ones that can feel random and uncreative.
  3. Having more music in your life can improve your mood and spark creativity. It’s important to be intentional about listening and to enjoy music in social settings with friends.

Our Product is Permission

Freddie deBoer • 12407 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Media Social Trends Parenting
  1. Many people today often make excuses for their choices, believing life is too hard to do what's right instead of what's easy. This mindset can lead to unhealthy habits and a lack of personal accountability.
  2. There has been a cultural shift where values like authenticity, artistic integrity, and genuine relationships are being overshadowed by the pursuit of fame and comfort. It’s important to continually challenge ourselves and be open to growth.
  3. The rise of social media has allowed people to embrace slouching standards in lifestyle and behavior, leading to a rejection of former norms like dressing well or valuing hard work. It's crucial to recognize the impact of these changes on our culture.

Internet History Must Always Be an Oral History

Default Wisdom • 240 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Digital Culture Internet History Media Critique Social Trends Technology impact
  1. To really understand Internet history, we need to listen to the people who lived it. Written posts alone don't capture the feelings and context behind what was shared.
  2. There's a cultural divide happening with how people use technology, where some feel overwhelmed and want to log off, while others see more positives in staying connected online.
  3. Many current debates about technology and identity show that no one side has all the answers. Both younger and older generations shape how we talk about things like identity politics.

Men's Hotness Scale

Knowingless • 1742 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Beauty Standards Gender Studies Social Trends Body Image
  1. A study was conducted to rate men's attractiveness based on women's opinions. Similar to a previous study on women, the results were surprising and showed that women's tastes can differ from the male perspective.
  2. The survey involved around 260 images of men’s faces, mostly AI-generated, rated by approximately 100 women. The results revealed that women often rated men's attractiveness lower than men rated women's.
  3. The highest rating for a man was 7.8 out of 10, while the highest for women was 8.4 out of 10. This suggests that women might take personality into account more than men do when judging attractiveness.
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Sundry complaints

Disaffected Newsletter • 1518 implied HN points • 14 Aug 24
🕹 Technology User Experience Interface Design Digital Literacy Social Trends Communication
  1. User interfaces have become harder to understand. Instead of getting better, they are now filled with confusing icons without clear labels.
  2. Each company has its own symbols, making it tough for users to know what actions to take. There's no common language for things like saving or moving to the next step.
  3. People are using softer words for tough topics, avoiding direct terms like 'money.' This change makes conversations about real issues less clear.

The Very Best Culture Study Advice

Culture Study • 3206 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Social Trends Personal Development Media Analysis Community Interaction
  1. Finding joy in your life and embracing aging can lead to personal growth and compassion for others. It's amazing to reflect on how much our lives can improve over generations.
  2. Love can often be found in small, everyday moments rather than in grand stories. It's important to cherish and nurture these simple acts of love.
  3. Sometimes, stepping back from career goals can help realign your priorities and lead to a more fulfilling life. It’s about finding balance between work and personal values.

Desire Digest 004

Many Such Cases • 519 implied HN points • 05 Sep 24
🎭️ Culture Relationships Social Trends Gender Studies Youth culture Sexuality
  1. Many young women are feeling let down by casual sex, with issues like non-consensual choking becoming more common. There seems to be a gap between what some women want and what men think they want.
  2. There's a noticeable trend of Gen Z pushing back against intimate scenes in films. This could be reflecting their real-life attitudes towards relationships and intimacy.
  3. The author is aiming to create a more interactive newsletter experience, involving live discussions and advice columns, making it a more engaging space for readers.

Whitney Cummings has lost the plot

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 7733 implied HN points • 01 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Media Comedy Social Trends Entertainment Celebrities
  1. Whitney Cummings made controversial jokes during a live New Year's Eve special that many found inappropriate. People are worried about her spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories.
  2. There was a viral trend of unfollowing Vexbolt on social media, aimed at making him less popular. It's a humorous way for the internet to play with fame but raises questions about its impact on creators.
  3. The photo dump trend replaced traditional year-end recap videos this year. It seems people are looking for simpler ways to share their memories without making complicated edits.

Who Is Responsible for TikTok's Feeder Fetish?

Many Such Cases • 1218 implied HN points • 06 Aug 24
🎭️ Culture Media Body Image Social Trends Food culture
  1. Mukbang videos on TikTok show people eating large amounts of food, which many find entertaining. Watching someone indulge can feel fun and even a bit luxurious.
  2. Some viewers develop a fetish for watching people gain weight, known as feederism. This can involve both the enjoyment of watching someone eat and the transformation of their body.
  3. Not everyone watching these videos has a sexual interest; they may just enjoy the visual of someone eating. This leads to debate about the intention behind such content and its widespread popularity.

Is Dimes Square Cooked?

Residual Thoughts • 158 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Urban life Social Trends Local Food Neighborhoods
  1. Dimes Square seems to be losing its popularity lately. Fewer people are going there, and some places have empty tables.
  2. Data from subway traffic shows a noticeable drop in visits to Dimes Square compared to previous years, especially during the summer months.
  3. Overall, the vibe in Dimes Square has changed, making it feel less 'cool' than before, and some believe it might be fading out.

Inside the CEO shooter standom

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 4418 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Media Pop culture Social Trends Youth culture Online Communities
  1. People have started to view a shooter, who targeted a CEO, as a kind of hero because of frustrations with the healthcare system. Many are expressing support for him online, turning him into a symbol of rebellion against insurance executives.
  2. There's a growing disconnect between mainstream media and the general public. Some believe that media figures, who live in comfort, fail to understand the struggles ordinary people face, leading to misguided narratives about events like this shooting.
  3. Elon Musk’s idea that his platform is a replacement for traditional media may actually create echo chambers. It’s important for people to seek out diverse viewpoints and critically analyze information instead of relying on just one source.

🗽 The America we have, the America we could have

Faster, Please! • 1279 implied HN points • 05 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Public Policy Technological Impact Future Vision Social Trends
  1. Many Americans are supporting new technologies, especially in clean energy and biotechnology. This shows a growing hope for a better future.
  2. Better policies in the past could have made America more successful and advanced by now. Focusing on technology could lead to a wealthier and healthier society.
  3. People are imagining a future where life is longer and filled with more possibilities, like space travel and advanced learning methods. There's excitement about where technology can take us.

The "Deaths of Despair" narrative is wrong

Slow Boring • 7842 implied HN points • 10 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health Social Trends Policy Analysis Political implications Economic Factors
  1. The 'Deaths of Despair' narrative linking declining life expectancy to social and political trends like right-populist politics has fundamental statistical flaws.
  2. The increase in deaths of despair is mainly due to opioid overdoses and differences in pharmaceutical marketing laws between the US and Europe.
  3. Public health outcomes differing between states can be attributed to the implementation (or lack thereof) of paternalistic health policies.

a peek at the Bookbear Express hive mind

bookbear express • 253 implied HN points • 24 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Demographics Social Trends Lifestyle Mental health Education Community
  1. The average age of readers is around 34, with most being 28 years old. It's interesting to see such a young audience participating.
  2. Half of the readers are the oldest siblings, and the distribution of genders is quite balanced, with nearly equal numbers of females and males.
  3. Many readers feel happier than they did five years ago, rating their current happiness at about 6.7 out of 10. This shows positive growth among the community.

The gay-ification of heterosexuality

Disaffected Newsletter • 1099 implied HN points • 15 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture LGBTQ+ Social Trends Sexuality Identity Hedonism
  1. There's a noticeable trend where aspects of gay culture are becoming more common in heterosexual relationships. This includes things like experimental and adventurous approaches to sex.
  2. People are starting to see what was once considered edgy or restricted to the LGBTQ+ community as normal behavior for everyone.
  3. This shift raises questions about how we define sexuality and what is considered acceptable in relationships today.

What if there was a bar where you could bring your laptop?

Skunk Ledger • 102 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Arts Lifestyle Social Trends Entertainment Community
  1. Imagine a bar where you can work on your laptop but with quirky rules, like wearing a dunce cap. It would be a fun twist to regular bar outings.
  2. Think of a communal space with creative features, like a giant blackboard for tabs and a punch bowl for conversation. It encourages social interaction and creativity.
  3. Picture a nostalgic vibe from the early 2010s that inspires unique ideas and projects. It captures a time when people were exploring new trends and connections.

The Saturday Selection, Vol. 32

Why is this interesting? • 120 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Restaurants Media History Social Trends Entertainment
  1. The Rainforest Cafe is still popular and has become a hit on social media despite being around for a long time.
  2. Two bank robbers in Pittsburgh attempted to hide from cameras using lemon juice, which didn't work out as planned.
  3. The launch of Pokemon Go caused a lot of paranoia in U.S. intelligence agencies, showing how digital games can have surprising effects on real-world concerns.

Lyman Stone on the fertility decline

In My Tribe • 425 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Social Trends Cultural values Psychology Education
  1. People are having fewer children because they believe they should. This is influenced by cultural changes rather than just economics.
  2. Declining marriage rates are a big reason for lower actual family sizes compared to desired family sizes. When people marry later or not at all, they tend to have fewer kids.
  3. Education is seen as a factor that leads to lower fertility, but it's complicated. In some cases, better education can lead people to delay marriage and parenthood.

What Was A Millennial?

Castalia • 539 implied HN points • 10 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Identity politics Social Trends Cultural criticism Gender Studies
  1. Millennials challenged traditional ideas of adulthood, believing that fulfillment doesn't require following old initiation rites like military service or parenthood. They made this idea more mainstream, especially through the concept of metrosexuality.
  2. As millennials focused on self-care and personal fulfillment, they experienced challenges in workplaces that valued traditional hierarchies. This shift also led to lower birth rates, as many sought meaning outside of family structures.
  3. The rise of androgyny and gender fluidity was prominent in both millennials and Gen Z, suggesting a future with fewer gender boundaries. However, older generations often felt this led to a loss of clear roles and responsibilities.

The Saturday Selection, Vol. 24

Why is this interesting? • 241 implied HN points • 19 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Sports Entertainment Social Trends Education Media
  1. Recording progress in skills can show how much you improve over time. For example, one person showed that after 2,000 hours of piano practice, he became a great pianist.
  2. It's important to create original work rather than just capturing what others do. Embracing this mindset can lead to greater creativity and success.
  3. Cheating can happen in even the most unexpected places, like in a conker championship, which shows the importance of fair play in competitions.

Festive greetings!

The Rectangle • 84 implied HN points • 27 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Internet culture Social Trends Tech Innovations Lifestyle Holidays
  1. It's a time to enjoy the festive season with good food and relaxation. Take a moment to appreciate the fun and gifts that come with this time of year.
  2. The writer expresses gratitude to their readers for their support throughout the year. It’s always nice to acknowledge and thank those who follow you.
  3. The Rectangle will be taking a short break but will return in January with more content about internet culture and tech. It's good to have breaks to recharge and come back refreshed.

The Saturday Selection, Vol. 30

Why is this interesting? • 60 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Art Fashion Literature Media Social Trends
  1. There's a website that focuses on the growing trend of not just saying 'hello' when messaging. It highlights how our digital communication has changed.
  2. One man shared his story of buying 81 leather jackets and how this habit has affected his life. It's a quirky take on consumerism and addiction.
  3. Tokyo's subway system is now managing one of London's subway lines, taking over from the previous Chinese management. This shows how global partnerships in public transport are evolving.

Make Office Buildings Fun Again

The New Urban Order • 279 implied HN points • 09 Oct 23
💼 Business Real Estate Housing Urban Development Social Trends Innovation
  1. Converting office buildings into co-living spaces can help address social challenges like loneliness and offer more housing options.
  2. Co-living is a shared living model that emphasizes intentional community through communal spaces and activities.
  3. Co-living has the potential to be a source of affordable housing, cater to different demographics like seniors and digital nomads, and could be aligned with co-working spaces for a more integrated urban living experience.

Intermarriage in America Post-Loving v. Virginia

Cremieux Recueil • 253 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Marriage Race Demographics Data Analysis Social Trends
  1. Before Loving v. Virginia in 1967, state laws banning interracial marriage were common in the U.S., stretching back to the 1600s.
  2. Since the legalization of interracial marriage, the rates have increased over time, showing a more mixed ethnoracial composition in America.
  3. Analysis of interracial marriage rates can provide insights into race relations, impact of societal movements like the 'Great Awokening,' and patterns of intermixing across different races and sexes.

Cycles of Radicalization

America in Crisis • 219 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Ideologies Social Trends Historical Analysis
  1. Wokeness and sociopolitical instability are part of larger cycles of radicalization and cultural instability in American society.
  2. The analysis suggests that the social and cultural turmoil of the present time is likely to be temporary, with some new ideas becoming integral to the nation's fabric.
  3. Historical patterns show that previous radical ideologies that did not stand the test of time, while others, like the ideologies of the Abolitionists, became significant parts of American culture.

Is the Future Analog?

The Analog Family • 179 implied HN points • 03 May 23
🎭️ Culture Lifestyle Education Parenting Technology Mental health Social Trends
  1. After the pandemic, many people realized they prefer face-to-face interactions over digital ones. It showed us how important real-world connections are in our lives.
  2. There is a growing need to value 'analog' activities, like going outside and spending time with family, instead of relying on screens. Simple joys can bring happiness, especially after being stuck on devices for so long.
  3. Parents play a key role in guiding children away from screens. It's important to encourage kids to enjoy outdoor activities and connect with others without devices, helping them learn to live without relying on technology.

The Left Should Embrace Meritocracy if Only for the Signal It Sends

I Might Be Wrong • 7 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political parties Elections Meritocracy Social Trends Public Policy
  1. Meritocracy can send a strong positive message about valuing talent and hard work. Embracing this idea can help shift perceptions and improve support for the left.
  2. Amidst growing polarization, the left needs to be cautious of being seen as the party of elites. It’s important to connect with everyday people to avoid being labeled as out of touch.
  3. Using meritocracy as a policy can also yield practical benefits. It encourages fairness and competition, which can strengthen society overall.

Third Worldization

Castalia • 99 implied HN points • 28 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Social Trends Globalization Innovation Cultural Practices Economic Change
  1. Many of today's popular companies like Uber and Airbnb are actually built on ideas that have existed in poorer countries for a long time. These companies are not groundbreaking innovations but rather modern versions of traditional practices.
  2. The gig economy has become more accepted in other parts of the world compared to regions like Europe and America, which has seen pushback from established systems that want to maintain traditional business models.
  3. Innovations often come from immigrants bringing in ideas from their home countries. This means that many disruptive concepts in developed nations actually have roots in the experiences of the 'Third World'.

Artificial intelligence and "big data" cannot replace public opinion polls | #213 - April 10, 2023

G. Elliott Morris's Newsletter • 119 implied HN points • 10 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Polling Public Opinion Data science Political Analysis Social Trends
  1. Artificial intelligence and big data cannot fully replace public opinion polls, as they rely on polls for calibration and may not be as reliable for all groups.
  2. Changes in polling methods, like switching from phone to online surveys, can impact results, highlighting the importance of consistency over time.
  3. Studies show genuine change in attitudes, like increasing racial liberalism, but also caution against biases affecting survey responses.

The End of the Extremely Online Era

The Commonplace • 2 HN points • 23 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Social Trends Digital Culture Community Interaction Content creation Entertainment
  1. Change is inevitable; things can seem static for years and then transform suddenly.
  2. There are concerns with the current internet culture, such as attention spans, social interactions, and authenticity.
  3. A shift away from the extremely online culture is predicted, driven by a desire for real-life connections and authenticity.

Planet of Person Guys

Freddie deBoer • 1 HN point • 18 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Society Literature Criticism Social Trends Online behavior
  1. Contemporary social culture often relies on the notion of Person-Guys, predictable stereotypes that people aspire not to be.
  2. Society evolves, but Person-Guy stereotypes remain stagnant, failing to capture the complexity of individuals' growth and change over time.
  3. Insecurity and projection play a significant role in perpetuating Person-Guy discourse, with individuals projecting their own fears onto these stereotypes.

"chill"

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 14 Jan 16
🎭️ Culture Social Trends Internet culture
  1. The word "chill" has a more complex meaning for millennials, reflecting their struggles with genuine connection and reliance on technology like Tinder.
  2. Moderating large online communities like Reddit can be a challenging and often thankless job, as seen through the experience of a Reddit mod named Liz Crocker.
  3. Twitter's speech guidelines have evolved from a laissez-faire attitude to more stringent rules over time, reflecting the platform's changing approach to user behavior.

it ain't all awful! :)

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 04 Feb 16
🎭️ Culture Social Trends Pop culture Internet culture Media Self-help
  1. Your next best friend might be a robot named Xiaoice by Microsoft, who can even exhibit emotions.
  2. The PUA figure Roosh gained publicity, despite controversial views, leading to more audience for him.
  3. New gay icons on YouTube are everyday people sharing normcore content like Bath & Body Works reviews instead of flashy glamour.