Please Like Me

I Tried CleanTok's Much-Adored Product, The Pink Stuff

Is the Pink Stuff cleaning product I see all over TikTok worth the hype, or are creators overexaggerating?

Pocharapon Neammanee

A guest is seen wearing a black and green jacket, white top, red beret and red boots outside the Collina Strada show during New York Fashion Week on February 10, 2023 in New York City.

MSCHF’s Big Red Boots Are Inescapable On Your Feeds

The viral shoes were created by art collective MSCHF, which also launched the counterfeit Nike “Satan Shoe” with Lil Nas X in 2021.

This Social Media Etiquette Quiz Will Reveal If You've Been The Villain All Along

Is it OK to follow your friend's ex? Speak your truth and find out.

Alexa Lee

I Made Galentine’s Day Drink Recipes And Only One Of My Friends Said It Was Gross

Valentine’s Day is not just for lovers anymore, according to my TikTok and Pinterest.

Things we tried on while testing Snapchat's AR shoppable filters.

Here’s What I Tried On While Shopping At The Snapchat AR Store

This week, social media made me do this.

After Winning “Jeopardy” Three Times This Month, Yogesh Raut Declared The Beloved Show “Not Good” And Fans Are Absolutely Furious At Him

Professional smart people are fighting about public displays of intelligence.

I Can’t Believe This Candle Is Made Of Butter

The recession has us out here making candles we can eat.

It Was A Big Week For Asian Diaspora Media

Michelle Yeoh getting her flowers, the Single's Inferno finale, Blackpink at Coachella — a trifecta of greatness.

The Indie Author Who Faked Her Own Death Shook The Online Book Community With A Truly Wild Plot Twist

Beware the consequences of creating drama in a space full of fiction writers.

Lori Loughlin Has Finally Filmed An Olivia Jade Video For The First Time Since She Went To Prison For Getting Her Daughter Into USC

Reintroducing Lori Loughlin!

Here Are A Bunch Of Things That My Algorithms Have Convinced Me To Want Or Gift This Holiday Season

This week, social media made me do this.

TikTok’s Scarf Guy Is The Latest In Viral Fashion Dupe Finds

This week, social media made me do this.

People Have Raised Serious Concerns About The AI Art App That’s All Over Your Instagram Feed

There’s a debate about data, intellectual property, and identity brewing in regard to an app that charges you $8 to turn your selfies into art.

TikTok Goths Say The Weird Dancing In Netflix's “Wednesday” Is Authentic

“Y’all, it’s Wednesday Addams. It’s not Addison Rae, alright?”

「ネットで『足』が性的に扱われているのを知らない」大物歌手の「素足投稿」をファンが懸念

歌手テイラー・スウィフトのソーシャルメディアでは、何かと素足が写った投稿が多い。ネットで足の写真が売買されることもある中、あるファンは「私なら、自分の足をSNSに投稿しない」と語った。

I Tried To Host A Dinner Party Based On Social Media

This week, social media made me do this.

Tumblr Is Obsessed With A 1973 Scorsese Movie That Doesn’t Exist

Goncharov is the greatest mafia movie never made.

I Joined Mastodon And All It Took Was My Sanity And Self-Esteem

I tooted, but I didn’t like it.

Katie Notopoulos

Swifties Are Obsessed With The Fact That Taylor Keeps Posting Feet Pics For Free

“I don’t think she knows the way feet are sexualized on the internet these days. Very millennial of her.”

I Tried An Eyeliner Stamp To See If I Could Finally Wear Eyeliner

This week, social media made me do this.

Alley in Bologna, mountainside houses in Positano

Social Media Made Me Go On A Chaotic Italian Vacation, And It Was Heavenly

This week, social media made me do this.

A Mom Who Tweeted About Throwing Out Her Kids’ Halloween Candy Said She Was Accused Of Abuse After It “Escaped The Orbit” Of Her Followers

Meet this week’s Bean Dad.

Halloween Is Here, So We Tried The Costumes That Social Media Told Us To

This week, social media made me do this.

People Aren’t Sure What To Make Of The YouTuber Who Just Ended A Three-Month Hiatus After Canceling Herself

The commentator admitted to lying in old storytime videos and using an appropriated “blaccent.”

I Was Influenced To Buy Vintage 501 Levi’s Because Of A “Denim Whisperer” And A Mountain Chic Influencer On TikTok

This week, social media made me do this.

A Major Content House In New York City, Ur Mom’s House, Has Splintered

The excitable YouTubers have cut ties after drama, with three of the original members having posted back-and-forth statements about their friendship.

Me, making negroni sbagliato with prosecco. My boss took this photo.

We Tried The Negroni Sbagliato With Prosecco Because Journalism

This week, social media made me do this.

Dunkin’ Customers Are Mad As Hell About “Ridiculous” New Changes To Dunkin’ Rewards That Mean It Costs $50 To Earn One Free Coffee

Coffee isn't the only thing brewing.

Everyone On TikTok Is Obsessed With Thrifting. This Is What Five Young Climate Activists Think Matter More.

TL;DR: Stop thrifting so much and join a local organization to really help with climate change.

NYC's Newest Built-For-Instagram Skyscraper Has A Ton Of Photo Opportunities And Also Huge Crowds

This week, social media made me do this.

The Wives Of Lineworkers Doing Repairs After Hurricane Ian Are Beefing With Florida “Bucket Bunnies”

None of these words are in the Bible.

A Conspiracy Theory About Anal Beads Is Only The Beginning Of A Chess Cheating Allegation

Cheating allegations and anal bead jokes are rocking the chess world.

Hailey Bieber Got Dragged For A Video About “Brownie Glazed Lips” Because She Didn’t Give Credit To People Of Color

“White women, quick question: What would you do if you couldn’t co-opt Black women and Latina women?”

Social Media Made Me Do It: Eat A Butter Board

“Have you heard of a butter board?”

Amber Jamieson

A Depop Seller Offering $5 Absolution Online Created A Mess Of Catholic Discourse

“martin luther gonna post a 95 part tik tok rebuttal where he just points at words that show up on the screen and plays with his hair.”

Film Twitter Loves To Spread Fake News

“I’ve seen the greatest minds of my generation tricked by Jeremy Strong Stuart Little.”

Social Media Made Me Do It: KSI And Logan Paul's Prime Hydration Juice

You might have seen the colorful drinks on your For You page on TikTok, in addition to the maps that fans have been sharing to help each other track down the drink.

Graphic of woman taking selfie, with smaller person yelling in her shadow.

Small Influencers Are Saying They’re Getting Fewer Brand Deals As Recession Panic Escalates

“It definitely feels like if you don't do this, if you don't do that new thing, you fall behind.”

A YA Author’s Success Story Has Been Causing Drama On TikTok

BookTok’s criticism of Alex Aster’s novel Lightlark sparked debate over privilege that devolved into a discussion about the community’s toxicity.

I Went To The Opening Of The First MrBeast Burger Location, And So Did Thousands Of Screaming Fans

This week, social media made me do this.

Tinder’s Unfollowing Spree Is A Reminder Of The Petty And Fun Side Of Tech Twitter

RIP Tinder’s online relationship with the cast of "Modern Family."

How Counterfeit Hauls Killed The Taboo Of The Knock Off And Disrupted Luxury Influencing

Designer replicas can look and feel nearly as good as the originals, so people are wearing them with pride.

Hot Girl Walks Are The Fancy Version Of A Silly Little Walk

This week, social media made me do this.

Sydney Sweeney’s Family Birthday Party Drama Has Fan Accounts In Crisis

“You never really supported Sydney Sweeney.”

Here Are 350 Reasons Not To Get Pregnant

Daily reminder to take your birth control.

Social Media Made Me Do It: Stassie Baby’s Cucumber And Lime Martini

But what about the mint?!?

Christian Meme Pages Are Protesting The New Admins Of A Beloved Account

“Our antennas just go up when we notice something has been corporatized, and we sense people trying to make money off of us."

The Twitter Meme Of Homelander From "The Boys" That We Can’t Escape Has A Shockingly Political Message

The Homelander meme from The Boys that has saturated Twitter for the past six weeks is a lot more powerful in its full context.

Older Women Are The Only Aspirational Lifestyle Influencers I Want Now

“I haven't decided what my purpose is, but I also feel that I want to impart what I've learned.”

TikTok Encouraged Me To Make A Pinterest Board Of My Friend And It’s A Perfect Character Test

This week, social media made me do this.

Bob Odenkirk Followed An Instagram For Foot Pics And His Fans Are Defending Him For It

"This is the triumph of the human spirit."

I Made My Photos “Insta-Worthy” With This One Hack

This week, social media made me do this.

“Love Island” UK Lacked Accountability And Fans Online Were Left To Do The Work

“The issues that people see on Love Island present themselves in real life.”

This K-Pop Idol Left Her Group After Being Accused Of Violence And Finally Spoke Out

“I'm going to try harder to make my future bright.”

furry wearing shirt that says "nazi furries don't exist"

Furries Are Speaking Out Against Attendees Of A Convention With Ties To The Far Right

"This isn't a small problem."

Makeup Trends From Douyin Are Going Viral On TikTok, So I Tried It

Spoiler alert: It did not look like the inspo photos.

The BeReal Notification Went Off During Their Great-Aunt's Funeral And They Had No Choice But To Make Viral Content

⚠️It’s Time To BeALittleTooReal ⚠️

Creators Told Us Their Favorite Internet Rabbit Holes

“I’m obsessed with a Facebook group where we look at ceramic pictures on tombstones.”

The Patio App Is Facebook For Gen Z College Kids

“I don’t think any kid actually uses Facebook now.”

African Influencers Hope Khaby Lame’s Rise Will Mean That Global Success Is Attainable For More Of Them

“When people talk about influencers, I don't believe African creators are mentioned at all, except for Khaby and maybe Elsa.”

These Sisters Started The “He’s A 10 But” Meme Because They Wanted Realistic Dating Standards

“If you get a job as a lifeguard, put on some cologne, and walk on the outside of the sidewalk, you could start out at a half point, be a literal Muppet, and move up to Chris Hemsworth.”

Her Daughter Was Killed In A School Shooting, But Twitter Won’t Give Her A Blue Check For Being An Activist

“I feel like I have to do twice the amount of work versus a Sandy Hook parent.”

TGIF: Did You See These Headlines This Week?

How closely were you following the news this week?

Alexa Lee

“I Don’t Google Anymore. I TikTok.”

“That's not to say that everything a random person on TikTok without credentials is saying is a lie, but you just have to know the difference between knowing that this is true, and thinking, Oh, I should look that up."

A Muslim Podcast Became A Weekly Comfort For Women Around The World

The Digital Sisterhood provides a space where religion, faith, and community can mix with discussions about mental health, love, and the internet.

We Should All Move To Peoria, Illinois, According To TikTok

“My goal is to share an option for queer and BIPOC folks who are looking to put down roots, and who may have never thought homeownership was an attainable goal.”

How The Internet Tricked Me Into Reading A New Book Every Single Day

The key to reading 150 books in six months is to treat the literary world like an internet rabbit hole.

A man in the middle of a well-lit room with his foot up on a pedestal

TikTok Star Charles Gross Doesn’t Want To Be Messy For The Content Anymore

Let’s talk about it.

The Rights And Privacy Of Children Are Due To Take Center Stage In Influencer Culture, And It’s About Time

“Would some of those creators even be there if it wasn't for the kids? The answer's no.”

People Frustrated At Possible Abortion Rights Rollbacks Are Finding Hope On Instagram

“The more visible these stories are, the more we can normalize it so that we can reduce the stigma, reduce the shame.”

Charisma Madarang

All Rise, The TikTok Courtroom Of Amber Heard And Johnny Depp Is Now In Session

People seem to be forgetting that there are two real people in the midst of this who are having to relive the worst parts of their relationship.

Brad Leone surrounded by comments about botulism

The Potential Dangers Of The Himbo Food Influencer

Bon Appétit’s dual botulism concerns may make you question who you trust.

An illustration of three sets of hands holding up phones show different relationship stages.

Is Being Single Not Aesthetic Anymore?

From soft launches to "short king spring," let me introduce you to the long-term relationship aesthetic.

Face-Changing Filters Are No Longer Acceptable

People are freaking out about how much the Shiny Fox filter changes their facial features and makes them unrecognizable.

Social Media Therapists Can Resemble Cult Leaders

Therapists on Instagram and TikTok have greatly increased access to mental health advice, but opened the door to cultlike relationships without providing actual care.

Left, Ashley and Ryan Kennedy; Right, screenshot of Venmo payment

Romance Is An Online Game Now And The Internet Is The Playing Field

From Discord to Venmo, here are some of the ways people have tried to find love.

Julia Fox In A Headscarf Is Cool But Muslim Women In Hijabs Do It Better, Thanks

The backlash against Vogue France's “yes to the headscarf” caption sparked an outpouring of trending photos of hijabis in fashion by major influencers.

two screenshots, one with the words "crunchy mom's new year's resolutions."

The "Crunchy Mom" Conspiracy Has Been Revealed. She's Just A Crunchy Mom.

“But the thing about my crunchiness is that I’m also pragmatic."

Katie Notopoulos

People Are So Mad About Chinese Americans Competing For China’s Olympic Team While There Are Entire White Men On The Team Too

“Cry ab it.”

Lifestyle Influencers Are Going Dark With Their Content, But How Long Is This Trend Going To Last?

The low exposure aesthetic is tipped to be a big trend for 2022, but I can’t see anything.

Caleb From West Elm Is Bad At Dating But Probably Didn't Deserve Being Pushed Through The TikTok Meat Grinder

We haven't fully grasped exactly what the power of a TikTok mob, fueled by a For You page, can do.

Katie Notopoulos

Unfollowing Everyone Is The Biggest Instagram Power Move

Some refer to it as entering their Reputation era, and this week YouTube star Emma Chamberlain embraced it.

My Favorite Parts Of The 2021 Internet

In this week's newsletter: 🎶I ain't never been with a baddie 🎶, Vodka and Scotch TikTok, and Viola Davis and her love of boomer memes.

Amber Jamieson

TikTok Wants You To Come Dine With Them, But Who Wants To Order Cold Pesto Eggs?

In this week's newsletter: how TikTok is bringing food trends to a delivery app near you, and at close look at a new book on the influencer economy.

The Three Most Charming Sisters On TikTok

In this week's newsletter: the trio of young Muslim sisters who've gained millions of followers with their hilarious and wholesome humor.

The Growth Of Influencers Has Impacted The Photography Industry In A Major Way

In this week's newsletter: the mutual aid between influencers and photographers.

Why Is Kim Kardashian Of All People Doing A Classic Instagram Giveaway?

In this week's newsletter: Kim's confusing alignment with a social media practice that's stained with controversy and a shoutout to a fantastic TikTok account for a bird conservation organization.

A Sponsored Disaster Is A Sponsor Disaster

In this week's newsletter: How the Travis Scott x BetterHelp partnership could have better served those in need of therapy, instead of it reading like a big promotional opportunity. (And how fun some influencers made the NYC marathon!)

Aesthetic YouTubers Are Now Turning Entire Vlogs Into Ads

In one part of this week's newsletter: Content and commercials are getting prettier, but the line discerning them is getting blurrier.

Young People, Especially Young Women, Are Reporting Concerning Medical And Behavioral Changes Due To Social Media, And I Hope We’re Paying Attention

In part one of this week's newsletter: Why people are already dismissing a Wall Street Journal article about teens developing severe tics after watching numerous TikToks from influencers diagnosed with Tourette syndrome.

A Viral TikTok Can Be The First Step Of Real Policy Changes — But It Is Only A First Step

In one-part of this week's newsletter: Anna Sacks used a tongue-in-cheek "unboxing" video to galvanize people to tag @Coach and put pressure on the company to speak to its questionable practices. But she reminds us that social media activism is only a starting point.

A TikToker Has Some Comprehensive Theories About Mormonism And Instagram Influencers

In one-part of this week's newsletter: Emily Kim delivers an epic thesis about piety and a certain kind of lifestyle influencer in under three minutes.

A Small YouTube Account Believes A Much Larger Channel Is Gaming The System To Successfully Pull Down Videos That Criticize It

In this week's newsletter: Prank channel Nelk Boys has used "copyright" to successfully pull down a video about them twice, and how one man running a popular Peloton TikTok account has done the marketing work for the company.