“Books are inefficient, and the internet is training us to expect optimized experiences.”
social media
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Last Days of Social Media
“Social media promised connection, but it has delivered exhaustion.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Agony and Ecstasy of being a Viral Trickshot Video Star
“Think you could throw a basketball off a 540ft dam, into a hoop—while blindfolded? Meet the talented and ludicrously patient people putting hours into the internet’s most joyful (and pointless) clips.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
My Brain Finally Broke
“Much of what we see now is fake, and the reality we face is full of horrors. More and more of the world is slipping beyond my comprehension.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Eco-Radical, Singer, Criminal, Cult Leader: Inside Carbon Nation
“Eligio Bishop declared himself a God to a group of dedicated followers he led through Central America, Mexico, and the US before landing in the Atlanta area. Now he’s serving life in prison.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Do Our Dogs Have Something to Tell the World?
“Many owners think so, thanks to the ‘talking buttons’ craze on TikTok and Instagram. Scientists are less convinced.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
What Happened When an Extremely Offline Person Tried TikTok
“In 2016, I went viral for telling people to quit social media. In 2024, I ignored my own advice.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Collapse of Self-Worth in the Digital Age
“Why are we letting algorithms rewrite the rules of art, work, and life?”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Planet TikTok
“The app’s young user base, fragmented content, and amped-up algorithm helped it spread around the world. If the US bans it, what would be lost?”
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Delicate Art of Turning Your Parents Into Content
“Gen Z creators are learning the lessons of Scorsese and Akerman: putting mom and dad in your work brings pathos, complexity, and a certain frisson.”