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TikTok Star Charles Gross Doesn’t Want To Be Messy For The Content Anymore
Let’s talk about it.
The Potential Dangers Of The Himbo Food Influencer
Bon Appétit’s dual botulism concerns may make you question who you trust.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
Instagram Sponsored The Met Gala, But Snubbed The Fashion Influencers Who Built Its Platform
In this week's newsletter: IG missed a big opportunity to mint its own creators on a worldwide stage, and imagining how Apple Fitness+ will learn from/come for Peloton.
These 8 TV Shows Are Soooooo Underrated, It's Borderline Criminal
Time to get cozy and binge-watch ready!
Dear Influencers, Always Sign A Contract
In this week's newsletter: These misfortunes revealed how many handshake deals are still taking place between brand and influencer; And an ode to fitness YouTuber Chloe Ting, who said she feels like she's being chased off of the platform.
The OnlyFans Sex Ban — And Then The Reversal — Was A Huge Slap In The Face To Its Creators
In this week's newsletter: OnlyFans missed two opportunities to acknowledge the damage it caused to creators who helped bring them to investors' tables. Plus, Taylor Swift is on TikTok and I am optimistic about it.
Peloton Is Becoming A Surprisingly Good Pipeline To The Influencer Industry
In one part of this week's newsletter: The fitness company is prioritizing personalities first, and it's kind of brilliant, IMO.
It Might Be Time To Retire “What I Eat In A Day” Videos
In one part of this week's newsletter: Why the popular YouTube genre feels more and more antiquated and more harmful than entertaining.
Olympic TikTok Is The Best
In one part of this week's newsletter: Despite all the cynicism I have about social media, Olympians sharing their experiences in Tokyo is one of the best uses of it.
The Tension Between Making Viral Content And The Reality Of Private People Just Trying To Get On With Their Days
In one part of this week's newsletter: We could all unintentionally become the main character of someone else's photo or video. But what if you're having a crummy day?
YouTuber Summer McKeen Missed The Mark In Her Latest YouTube Vlog On Eating Disorders
In one part of this week's newsletter: A young influencer might have shared harmful information with her mostly young fans — and a psychologist and ED specialist gives her thoughts.
The Wildly Viral “Alors On Danse” Dance Is An Elite TikTok Because It’s Effortless And Can’t Be Replicated
In one part of this week's newsletter: the beauty of the simplest TikTok doing 118 million in views (and counting!) in a sea of strategic content pining for your attention.
The NCAA Decision To Finally Allow College Athletes To Profit Off Their Own Likenesses Has Schools Now Actively Recruiting Them As Influencers
In this week's newsletter: How college athletic programs have dramatically embraced new NCAA NIL policy changes, and how TikTok's new feature is a direct threat to Cameo's entire business.
I Am A Fan Of TikToker LeendaDong. However…
In one part of this week's newsletter: I try to parse out why a recent revelation has made me now uncomfortable watching someone who was one of my favorite social media personalities.
Becoming A “Bachelor” Cast Member Is A Direct Pipeline To Becoming An Influencer, But What Is So Wrong With That?
In one part of this week's newsletter: How becoming a successful social media personality is much more likely than “winning” the love of the Bachelor or Bachelorette — so why are we still shaming contestants for openly pursuing it?
The Latest Protest By Black Creators On TikTok Just Might Be The Most Important One Yet
In one part of this week's newsletter: Black dance creators no longer want to see their choreography pilfered on the app for someone else's profitability, and, well, good.
What VidCon Could Become If TikTok Continues To Take It Over
In this week's newsletter: Imagining the future of VidCon if it continues to have TikTok's influence, and how common it's become for creators to take short and long breaks from the internet.
Are Some Of These “Traditional Wife” TikToks Trolling Us?
In one part of this week's newsletter: How über conservative spousal TikToks, however genuine or satirical, have become effective growth hacks.
The Quick Success Of Hailey Bieber’s YouTube Channel Is Both Validating And Invalidating To The Platform’s Biome
In this week's newsletter: How YouTube can pay better homage to the platform's original creators, and how Arielle Charnas is paying homage to her own brand by naming her baby after it.
How We Feel About Bella Poarch Says Everything About Us, As We Still Don’t Know Much About Her
In this week's newsletter: Bella Poarch's dullness is surprising and comforting, and an influencer announced she's taking a break and reassessing if she wants to make her "life available for public consumption."
Some TikToks Are More Creative And Better Produced Than Feature Films
In one part of this week's newsletter: Really, really cool and really, really impressive videos under 60 seconds that should both be a threat and inspiration to Hollywood.
Don’t Meet Your Heroes. It Won’t Make Your Parasocial Relationship More Genuine — It’s Already Real!
In this week's newsletter: I write about how superfans are often shamed and told to form relationships with people "in real life," but the relationships they have with their faves are very, very real.
Am I Getting Too Old To Write About The New Internet?
In one half of this week's newsletter: I ramble about my newest existential crisis being an aging digital media writer for a young audience and their ever-changing online ecosystem.
I Can’t Imagine The New Netflix Reality Shows About Influencers Will Do Any Good For The Industry’s Reputation
In this week's newsletter: shows about influencers may continue to be two-dimensional, and the already-controversial IG Loop giveaways just reached new toxic heights.
Influencers Getting Vaccinated Are New Targets For Right-Wing Conspiracy Theorists, But Many Are Rising To The Challenge
In this week's newsletter: Instagram influencers are trying to stand up for science, and another round of teen TikTok drama — except it's not as satisfying anymore.
OG Mom Blogger Taza Missed A Huge Opportunity To Get Real In Her New Book
In this week's newsletter: The influencer's highly anticipated first book was sadly disappointing, and a case for Chris Crocker selling the iconic "Leave Britney Alone" video as an NFT.
Will The Real Khloé Kardashian Please Stand Up...For Herself?
In this week’s newsletter: The irony of what that infamous Khloé Kardashian photo represents, and Tabitha Brown’s new brand deal that is so tailored for her.
Who’s To Blame That Black TikTok Creators Are Not The Ones Invited To Perform On Late Night Shows? Everyone.
In this week’s newsletter: Why Addison Rae’s Tonight Show appearance is another tipping point for inequities on TikTok, and a curious look at Rachel Hollis’s latest video rant.
I’m Not Convinced The David Dobrik Scandal Will Change Anything About YouTube Culture
In this week's newsletter: the repetitive and demoralizing culture of trying to hold YouTubers accountable.
The Next Big Thing On Instagram Is Influencers Launching Pay-To-Follow Private Accounts
After growing tired of hosting their brands entirely on Instagram, some influencers have started to diversify.
Is There An Invisible String Between Religious Proselytizing And Influencing? I Asked Some Influencers.
In this week's newsletter: Inspired by this Times op-ed, I ponder — and then I ask influencers to ponder — whether their jobs are a form of secular preaching.
An Early Dad YouTuber Reflected On The Viral Prank Videos That Made Him Famous — And Ones He’s Since Decided To Delete
In this week's newsletter: Nalts, who reached YouTube fame in the mid-aughts, wrote in about how he views his old videos — and people in them who were impacted — differently today.
It's Time To Talk About "Prank" Culture On YouTube
In this week's newsletter: I address a popular kind of content that's built the careers of the platform's biggest creators — but walks a line between entertainment and abuse.
24 Sitcom And Comedy Scenes That Are So Sad That No One Ever Talks About
Bust out the tissues.
The Black Lives Matter Social Media Uprising For George Floyd Paved The Way For Asian Americans To Have Their Online Reckoning
In this week's newsletter: Asian American influencers and online community-builders are confronting difficult identity issues after the recent string of racist attacks.
The With Honors Scandal Is Making It Hard For People To Take The Influencer Industry Seriously
In this week's newsletter: The latest plagiarism accusation revealed the very low and high standards the industry is subjected to, and how I wanted more from the HBO documentary Fake Famous.
A Makeup Artist On TikTok Broke Down After Accidentally Deleting Three Hours Of Footage
In this week's newsletter: The work influencers put in to make something look effortless, and why automated moderation may be cheaper for social media companies to wield, but how it can have detrimental effects on real people (especially people of color).
Amanda Gorman Gained Over 2 Million IG Followers After Reading Her Poem At The Inauguration
In one part of this week's newsletter: How the first national youth poet laureate simply let her work speak for itself — and then the fans followed. Massively.
What Happened At The Capitol Splintered Social Media
In this week's newsletter: Influencers who remained silent in the aftermath of the insurrection felt just as loud as those who acknowledged it. It's a microcosm of the state of the country.
It’s Become A Lot Easier For Famous Internet Teens To Transition Out Of Their Good-Kid Image
In this week's newsletter: Why Amazon sponsoring influencers' effort to give back to delivery drivers is troubling, and how internet stars are able to grow out of their family-friendly image with a lot more ease than traditional celebrities.
The TikTok Sway House Boys’ Latest Charity Is Almost Making A Mockery Of Public Image Rehabilitation Campaigns
In this week's newsletter: Why Josh and Bryce's nice effort to give to the homeless feels predictable and exploitative, and the one reason I think Olivia Jade's Red Table Talk appearance was necessary (to viewers).
I Can No Longer Tell When I’m Watching Sponcon On TikTok — And It’s Both Impressive And Distressing
In this week's newsletter: Stephanie asks an expert about the legitimacy of these giving sprees, and I (Tanya) attempt to draw a line in evolving TikTok ads.
A Teen Influencer Who’s Deaf Says Social Media Has A Ways To Go When It Comes To Accessibility
In this week's newsletter: How Scarlet Waters used TikTok, an app built on music and bytes, to make people soberly aware about deafness, and why I think more influencers than not are running their own fan accounts.
The Mormon Influencer Backlash To "The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City" Is A Fascinating Peek At A Side Of Them We Rarely See
In this week's newsletter: Influencers in Utah rant and argue about whether the Bravo hit is a "real" representation of their religion, and a nudge to everyone else to once again raise alarm bells about the ongoing pandemic.
Influencer Pastor Carl Lentz Has Been Fired From The Hip Megachurch That Made Him Famous. Could His Career...Be Resurrected?
In this week's newsletter: I ponder what the hypepriest will do after Hillsong, and belatedly, why the "I voted" selfie has felt both more and less impactful than ever this year.
A Wet Blanket PSA On Fun Viral Content That Does Not Appear To Be Super COVID-Safe
In this week's newsletter: Influencers are pushing Christmas up even earlier this year — but it may not be a bad idea, and I (Tanya) party-poop on some fun TikToks because of Third Wave COVID.
This Major Travel Influencer Family Is Adjusting To ~The New Normal~...But Is It Enough?
This week's newsletter: @TheBucketListFamily pivots their once-controversial annual giveaway — kind of — to the current climate, and why influencers denouncing that they're influencers is a disservice to both them and their followers.
I Want The Target Bride From The Viral TikTok To Be Real, But I Don’t Think She Is
In this week's newsletter: Why a viral thing can still be good, even if it’s fake.
On TikTok, Sexism Prevails But Spon Is Evolving
This week's newsletter: Why the hate for Bella Poarch is steeped in something all too familiar, and why the latest e.l.f. Cosmetics spon campaign is too much branding, even in America.
I Want More From These Influencer Cover Stories
This week's newsletter: why Charli and Dixie D'Amelio's Seventeen cover story left me wondering more about them than I was learning — and a brief PSA for fashion influencers (TYING A FLANNEL AROUND YOUR WAIST IS NOT FALL FASHION).
If Colleges Are Recruiting Influencers, I Think They Should Be Paying Student-Athletes — The Original College Influencer
The reports of universities uniquely paying students to be brand ambassadors made me think about the controversy of schools not paying college athletes.
Gucci Has Been Sharing TikTokers’ Content About Gucci. Is This An Ad?
Is Gucci making fun of itself for profit?
A Woman Who Parodies Influencers Has Kind Of Become An Influencer Herself
Also in this week's newsletter: Charli D'Amelio's recent Dunkin' collaboration, and why America runs on predictable brand deals.
Arielle Charnas Opens Her First Store And It's Perfectly Curated For Quarantine
It seems like Arielle wants to signal that she is taking the coronavirus seriously — and wants her store to be a one-stop shop for staying at home.
I Think I Like This New TikTok House And I’m Trying To Process Why
One part of this week's newsletter: Why all of the TikTok houses have turned me off to the concept, but why I've taken to the House Nobody Asked For.
This Is Instagram Reels In A Nutshell, In All Its Manicured Chaos
This week's newsletter: The main difference between Reels and TikTok (spoiler: it's the influencers), and popular fashion whistle-blowing account @Diet_Prada drew its own major backlash this week.
Cat Internet Is Making A Comeback, Except Gen Z’ers Aren’t As “Lolcats” About It
This week's newsletter: A cat that's been "dancing" to all the viral TikTok challenges gets as many views as the platform's biggest creators.
Influencers Promoting Nordstrom's Sale Need To Adapt To Avoid Appearing Completely Out Of Touch
This week's newsletter: Stephanie breaks down why the "Super Bowl of swipe-ups" is hitting different this year, and I, out of pure generosity, brainstorm a list of ideas for TikTokers and YouTubers to get attention without throwing a party in a pandemic.
A Mom With A Classical Indian Dance Background Has Made Her Teen Famous On TikTok
Also in week's newsletter: When influencers introduce their content by saying “everyone’s been asking,” who is "everyone"?
A Teen Has Become Famous On TikTok Simply For Saying “Whoa” And “Nice” To Other People’s Viral Videos
Also in this week's newsletter: An oil painter has been painting portraits of himself painting portraits of himself painting portraits of himself painting portraits of himself painting portraits of himself...and, for some reason, this chaos is bringing me inner peace.
Are These Viral TikToks Of Extremely Fashionable People In China The Answer To Pandemic Fashion Week?
This week's newsletter: Everything I know about those compilation videos sourced from Douyin, China's TikTok, that everyone's going crazy for.
Since She Doesn't Get Anything Out Of It, Kylie Jenner Doesn’t Think To Tag A Black Designer
This week's newsletter: While some have accused Kylie of "refus[ing]" to tag designer Jedidiah Duyile, she may have never even thought to do it.
A Black YouTube Commentator Is Not Surprised People Are More Concerned With Shane Dawson’s Tati Drama Than His Racist Past
This week's newsletter: While Shane Dawson may finally be paying the price for doing blackface, fellow YouTuber Sanders Kennedy pointed out that he's already greatly profited off of doing blackface.
One Woman, Two Social Media Scandals In A Row, And One Tiny, Tiny Step Toward Change
This week's newsletter: The owner of the Cleveland Flea once again angered her local community — this time for trying to sell a $200 e-course teaching white people how to support the BLM movement. This time, however, she seemed to have finally listened to the criticism.
Influencers: It’s A Privilege To Post A Black Square And Then Go Back To Your Usual Content
This week's newsletter: Another reminder to you (and me) of our privilege to insulate ourselves from the national conversation, and we regret to inform you that the Stauffer family is back on YouTube.
Josh Thomas Has Apologised And Says He Is "Super Ashamed" Of His Racial Comments In An Old Video
Thomas' apology comes as he claimed that "finding an experienced actor that's not white is really hard" in Australia, when compared to the States.
This Woman Is Asking Major Brands To “Pull Up” Their Diversity Statistics, And It’s Working
This week's newsletter: Entrepreneur Sharon Chuter created the #PullUpOrShutUp initiative to ask companies who've made public anti-racist proclamations about their internal hiring profiles.
Dear Influencers, It’s OK To Pass The Mic
This week's newsletter: Instagram activist and illustrator Danielle Coke of @ohhappydani sets an example of the power of influence in a time of crisis.
Will Huxley Stauffer’s Story Be The Wake-Up Call That Leads To Protections For Children Of Influencers?
This week's newsletter: The big controversial story this week that's sparking questions like What right does a child have to the profits of their internet-famous parents? And a woman's Instagram account that's grown massively for its beautiful tributes to black Americans who have been killed.
These Controversial Loop Giveaways On Instagram Have Some Things In Common With MLMs
This week's newsletter: Why influencers' massive giveaways sprees to gain fast followers feels so eerily familiar, and Karens acting up during the pandemic has blown up a new Instagram meme page.
Quarantine Has Taught Kids On TikTok How To Be Patient And Adult Influencers How To Apologize
This week's newsletter: How some social media stars are getting better at internalizing criticism — or just better at selling it, and parents running a psychological experiment on their kids for TikTok.
The J.Crew Bankruptcy Has Exposed A Hard Truth About The Influencer Economy
This week's newsletter: Curvy Wife Guy's wife @sassyredlipstick said she'll no longer follow through with her J.Crew promo content, and the unique conflict fans feel over C-list celebrities breaking quarantine orders to get together.
Brands Are Social-Distancing From Misbehaving Influencers
This week's newsletter: The massive #AllInChallenge campaign perfectly matches bored famous rich people and their fans for charity, and the fallout of the @Taza quarantine scandal.
Beauty Influencers Are Adjusting To A More ~Au Naturel~ Look In Quarantine
This week's newsletter: When lifestyle and beauty gurus can no longer get spray tans, injectables, and other beauty upkeep. And one YouTuber believes her skills have become more "respected" during quarantine.
Influencer Brands Are Staying (Scarily) Strong And Are Quickly Pivoting To Quarantine Sponcon
This week's newsletter: The resilience and shamelessness of turning these tough times into a social media marketing campaign, and a PSA about those infamous get-followers-quick "giveaways."
Will The Coronavirus Be The Tipping Point That Makes People See Influencers As The Small Businesses They Are?
This week's newsletter: Discussing the serious responsibilities that come with making social media your business, and a case for trying your adult hand at teen TikTok dances.
If There's Any Constant In Life Anymore, It's Influencers And Celebs Being Cringe Online
This week's newsletter: Kim Kardashian West's opportunistic campaign in the name of COVID-19 relief, and an inside look at one of those infamous "loop" Instagram giveaways to gain followers.
What Place Do Influencers Have In A Pandemic?
This week's newsletter: There is a big debate happening online about what exactly influencers should be posting right now, or if they even should be at all. And home decor porn — it's good for the soul!
Influencers Are Sharing Bad "Tips" And "Information" About COVID-19 On Instagram
In this week's newsletter: Battling the spread of irresponsible and opportunistic messaging, and testing those trendy and expensive preset bundles.
