Recently, the culprit has often been the federal government. The Department of Homeland Security is putting out white-nationalist dog whistles on X. President Trump posted a video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. The subtext of every egregious shitpost from the administration is the same: These people are in charge now, and the old rules don't matter. A great deal of what I find myself scrolling past exudes a threatening, almost anarchical aura.
In this cursed timeline of one alarming headline after another, I dream-on a daily basis-of shutting my laptop, plugging in some earphones, and diving headfirst into a steaming container of rotisserie chicken. (I have a whole rotisserie routine of arranging various sauce cups around the bird, which usually includes honey mustard, buffalo sauce, and ahem, Jezebel sauce.) But, alas, a new report by the Wall Street Journal has killed my high.
I am familiar with this feeling. Breadcrumb trails of heat lead to pain that's called minor, pressure that's called surprising. Rooms like this-the salon where my scalp scalds as my curls burn away or the aesthetician's office where I lie as vulnerable as I might in a hospital bed-are drenched in anxiety's musk, scented with antibacterial spray. The women who leave me their warmth are like older sisters, evidence files, guinea pigs, role models, comrades, and competition.
The Rebootings Brian Morrissey delivered the sharpest indictment. He listed the proximate causes editorial drift, scale addiction, poor leadership then dismissed them: He bought this asset 13 years ago and has had more than enough time to figure out a path. Morrissey compared Bezos unfavorably to Elon Musk: Say what you want about Elon Musk, he'd have taken his sleeping bag out a while ago. Bezos, by contrast, acted like he acquired a series of car dealerships after watching some passive income influencer's YouTube videos.
As in so many other areas, the spotlight is on them. A very recent example: in Spain, we know Rocio Lopez well. Known on social media as RoRo, last year she sparked controversy by turning her recipe videos into a veritable ode to class exhibitionism, with a pretense of pleasing her partner, Pablo, that bordered on subservience.
The hardest thing about watching the premiere of this Vanderpump Rules reboot is not to compare it to the original. Version 1 point oh-no-you-didn't gave us a spectacular run of seasons that (after a calamitous dip) rewarded us with #Scandoval, one of the greatest story lines ever to grace our TikTok feeds, meme pages, TV screens, and whatever the hell it is we call Peacock. It's nearly impossible to watch this first episode and not think, Was Jax already a monster?
She tells short stories: vignettes from her past where something silly, difficult or awkward happened, usually just under the three-minute time limit TikTok prefers. Her signature style is to start with a question that you might pose on a first date or at a company bonding off-site: What's the strangest job you've ever had? What's the worst date you've ever been on? What's something you should be embarrassed about that you aren't?
"I'm obsessed with how much I hate her," Joanne tells Noah. Joanne doesn't love that Abby is always talking about hanging out with her beautiful kids and husband - "So she loves her family?" Noah clarifies - but she really hates Abby for cutting the hair on her Felicity American Girl Doll at a middle-school sleepover. Still, despite her bias, Joanne wants to go with Noah to the brit bat - a naming celebration - to support him and judge Abby's life off on the sidelines.
We live in the Influencer Age, where people project themselves as relevant figures to be admired and emulated. We see most of them on Instagram or TikTok, either flaunting their luxurious lifestyle, showing random moments of their day, or sharing something inspirational for their audiences to take in. Recently, LinkedIn has been another platform where supposed thought leaders share insights with fellow professionals.
The film's protagonist, Ed Saxberger ( Willem Dafoe), is a New York poet who quit writing verse decades before but still listens to the greatest hits of yesteryear. That's how he happens to put on a recording of Pound reading his Canto LXXXI: What thou lovest well remains, the rest is dross/What thou lov'st well shall not be reft from thee/What thou lov'st well is thy true heritage.
heartland of beautiful girls. We know this to be true if we are followers-however casually-of something called RushTok, and we know it to be enduringly true because the above sentence was written by Terry Southern in 1963, in " Twirling at Ole Miss," which was published in Esquire and then included in Tom Wolfe's essential 1973 anthology, The New Journalism.
They've been accused of crimes, derided by memes, and the subject of multiple cancellations. Their music video, "It's Everyday Bro," is the 16th most disliked video in the history of YouTube. Clearly, Jake Paul and Logan Paul aren't for everyone. But whatever opinions may be, it's hard not to be impressed by their rise to stardom. Coming from relatively humble means, they've created a massive audience on social media.
Every August, the US Open rolls into Queens with its ever-expanding rituals of consumption. Fans don't just buy in, they perform it: the $23 Honey Deuce held aloft for Instagram, the $40 lobster roll posted before the first serve, the $100 caviar-topped chicken nuggets bought as much for the flex as the flavor. The tennis has never been the cheapest day out, but lately the sticker shock feel less like a barrier than the point.
'While Ava is the face of tomorrow's social media star, she is always today's warning,' the experts explained. 'She's what years of algorithm-chasing, beauty standard obsession, and constant content creation can do to a person. From endless brand trips to Las Vegas to the daily grind of filters and photo shoots, her lifestyle has left its mark. 'Backed by medical research, Ava's appearance is the sum of influencers habits.'
Princess Andre, despite her royal title, leads a surprisingly mundane teenage life filled with influencer-related activities, showcasing the challenges of growing up under public scrutiny.
Older women are increasingly embracing their age and caring less about societal expectations of beauty, as the trend reflects a shift in confidence and self-acceptance.
The Beckham brand represents a contemporary family dynamic where public and private life intertwine, showcasing an image carefully curated through social media for a global audience.
At the core, Labubu and Sydney Sweeney aren't radically new; they're evolutions of age-old marketing patterns. History is repeating itself. Labubu mirrors the Beanie Babies craze of the '90s: collectible, emotionally charged, and driven by hype cycles.
The use of music in Kyle's short is particularly hilarious - stock, YouTuber-esque music underpins every sad moment with jarringly upbeat vibes, creating a juxtaposition that delivers laughs as well as discomfort.
The reimagination of Bible stories through an Americanised lens of fuckboy vlog culture feels like bizarre, sacrilegious gobbledegook, reflecting a blend of AI, influencer culture, and rising conservatism.
Cristiano Ronaldo has built a substantial brand around his football career, leveraging social media effectively to connect with fans and promote his endorsements. His influence spans beyond the pitch, impacting modern sports marketing.
Aspiring comedians once took to the grueling stand-up circuit or jostled for spots in improv academies like Second City. Waheed is part of a new creator generation breaking through via their smartphones.
