Inside the strange world of corporate influencers Taylor Lorenz 2024-10-16 | This week on Power User I had Ross Pomerantz aka Corporate Bro on to discuss the weird world of corporate influencing, LinkedIn broetry, and how our relationship to our jobs is changing. We discussed vlogging layoffs to balancing your actual job with day in the life videos, and why more companies are seeking to hire internal corporate influencers. 00:00 Intro 01:03 What's a “corporate influencer”?02:10 The inspiration behind Corporate Bro03:43 From sales to full time content creating04:56 LinkedIn and Instagram 07:30 The rise of “Broetry” on LinkedIn10:20 CEO who posted himself crying on LinkedIn13:13 How LinkedIn is helping users build their personal brands14:32 Your work life vs your personal brand15:29 How companies respond to their employees making content16:48 In-house corporate influencer 17:39 LinkedInhost writers19:20 AI and LinkedIn21:27 LinkedIn’s pivot to video22:26 Is LinkedIn the new X?23:40 Silly Valley News24:38 Ross’ advice for upcoming corporate influencers26:03 Problems with the corporate world currently26:27 Hustle culture and corporate influencing28:14 The decline of job loyalty is good#linkedin #creator #contetncreator #influencer #tiktok #tech #twitter #culture #popculture
Nostalgia accounts are destroying pop culture history Taylor Lorenz 2024-10-07 | I sat down with entertainment writer and critic Coleman Spilde to explore how nostalgia accounts are rewriting pop culture history.00:00 Intro 1:06 The rise of “Nostalgia dealers” on Twitter02:11 Why the X algorithm favors pop culture accounts02:59 How “Nostalgia dealers” profit07:08 How fake pop culture news gains traction09:45 Stans, celeb PR, and pop culture accounts11:42 How harmful are these accounts?13:04 The repercussions 16:10 Pop culture archivists doing the lord's work#popculture #celebs #celenews #twitter #chappellroan #sabrinacarpenter #britneyspears #music
Why Im leaving legacy media Taylor Lorenz 2024-10-01 | I'm excited to announce that I'm leaving legacy media to launch my new independent publication, User Magazine, on Substack, under which I will pursue the type of reporting on the internet that has become increasingly difficult to do in corporate media.SUBSCRIBE HERE: usermag.co00:00 Intro00:17 About User Magazine00:55 My background in independent journalism02:15 Gamergate02:55 Creators dominate online culture coverage03:30 The changing media landscape04:02 Legacy media is built for an old, dead world04:18 My struggle to find a place in the MSM05:12 What I want to do with User Mag05:40 Fake neutrality is over06:00 How to support meUser Mag is founded on the belief that the real story of technology lies with its users. Instead of focusing on corporate earnings and boardroom conflicts, User Mag will cover how people are actually *using* technology. I'll be reporting on the people and movements that are steering tech and internet culture, from weird online phenomena, to under-the-radar trends, to content creators, platform developments, policy initiatives, and the powerful forces that shape our online world. It's about who has power on the internet and how that power is being wielded. User Mag will arrive via email 1-3 times a week, and paid subscribers will have commenting privileges, access to subscriber-only chats, and will receive exclusive, deep-dive analysis pieces among other benefits. It will include a mix of originally reported articles, interviews, and links to what I’m reading and watching online. Please consider buying a yearly subscription at the link below to help me continue my work! 🙏🏻usermag.coI’ll still be doing my weekly tech and online culture news podcast, Power User, available on all platforms. (If you're a brand that would like to advertise on my podcast or collaborate in any way, please reach out on hello@usermag.co!!) usermag.cousermag.cousermag.co
Why every online store sells the same crappy products Taylor Lorenz 2024-09-26 | Anyone who has done online shopping lately may have noticed that they're experiencing deja vu. Amazon, AliExpress, WalMart, Temu, eBay, the TikTok shop, even Etsy all seem to be selling the exact same cheaply made products from China. How did this happen? Have we reached some sort of eCommerce singularity? And what does this say about the future of online shopping? Are we all doomed to have shitty cheap products forever? I talked to New York Magazine's John Herman, who has been investigating this issue, to discuss.
The business of scanning kids faces is booming Taylor Lorenz 2024-09-19 | Age verification technology is becoming increasingly commonplace as lawmakers seek to enact deeply concerning restrictions in the name of “child safety.” My WaPo colleague, reporter Drew Harwell, joins to discuss the threats to our freedom of speech, expression, and privacy this new software unlocks.00:00 Intro00:13 Why age verification tools are becoming more commonplace00:55 The rise of age verification tools in tech02:20 How age verification tech actually works02:48 Age verification IRL04:14 Is age verification accurate?06:03 Discrimination08:19 The platforms most affected09:24 Age regulation on the open web11:19 The myth of kids online safety14:30 The dangers of age verification tech15:56 The hypocrisy of lawmakers 16:49 Data privacy risks18:21 The moral panic around kids and online safety20:52 Beyond social media23:43 Pornhub 25:55 China 27:47 People fighting back
Why is Instagram Reels so unhinged? Taylor Lorenz 2024-09-13 | You can spend hours carefully curating your algorithms on TikTok and YouTube, But there’s one place where the algorithm doesn’t seem to care about what you want to see: Instagram Reels. Business Insider’s Katie Notopoulos joins me to dive deep into the strangest corners of IG Reels and unpack how the platform became the weirdest place on the internet.00:00 Intro00:15 The weird world of Instagram Reels01:16 The current user experience of Instagram Reels02:34 “Fringe and Cringe” content on Reels03:24 Why “Normie” content dominates the Reels algorithm05:48 Why the Reels algorithm feels more reactive07:56 Meta’s push to showcase more small creators on Reels09:40 How Reels unique algorithm effects the evolution of Instagram11:30 The concept of the “mythical reel pull”12:09 The toxic comment section of instagram reels13:47 Meta’s lack luster moderation system14:40 The future of Instagram Reels15:41 Instagram’s monetization policies #instagram #memes #commentary #podcast #reels #meta #zuckerberg
Brazils ban on X is 9/11 for stan accounts Taylor Lorenz 2024-09-07 | Elon Musk’s social media network X has been officially banned in Brazil. Internet culture reporter Ryan Broderick and I discuss stan culture, the impact Brazil has on the internet as we know it, and the effects of suddenly losing tens of millions of voices online.00:00 Intro00:50 How Elon’s feud with Brazil began01:57 Brazil’s X ban is a huge loss for Elon02:39 How Brazil’s X user’s differ from others03:44 Brazil’s stan culture explained05:11 How the entertainment industry feels about this ban05:55 The cons of losing pop culture's most diligent archivists06:38 Orkut: Google’s myspace “killer”, explained07:32 What is “Zuera” and how it relates to the Brazilian internet08:33 Why Brazil is not embracing Threads09:38 And why BlueSky is so popular in Brazil10:47 Will BlueSky be Brazil’s permanent new home?13:20 Why Threads will never be Twitter’s true successor 16:32 Google and YouTube’s role in Brazilian internet culture17:41 How long will this ban last?19:09 How this ban will impact Brazilian politics#elon #elonmusk #brazil #ladygaga #popculture #music #fandom #fanart #timotheechalamet #brazilian #twitter #youtube #influencer #politics #lgbtq
Are there too many summer trends? Taylor Lorenz 2024-08-30 | We're all familiar with the "song of the summer," but lately there's been a rush to declare "the summer" everything. Drink of the summer, drug of the summer, shoe of the summer, the list goes on. Casey Lewis joined me to discuss the summer's biggest trends and why everything has been declared “of the summer.”Later, Zach and I chat about the latest headlines, including Hasan Piker’s removal from the DNC, fridgescaping, what a Chick-fil-A streaming service could look like, and why everyone in DC is mad at food vlogger Keith Lee.00:00 Intro02:10 Brat Summer, Butter Yellow, and Sabrina Carpenter03:23 Identifying “real” and “fake” trends04:58 The drink of the summer05:51 The most surprising trend of the summer06:21 The top shoe trends of the summer07:17 The rise of “(Blank) Girl” Summer08:14 Social media's role in summer trends10:07 Are micro trends dead?12:00 Nasty by Tinashe and other trends that flew under the radar14:01 Predicting Fall trends16:09 Snapchat still being popular amongst teens17:43 Hasan Piker kicked out of the DNC19:05 The rise of “Fridgescaping”20:38 Chick Fil A launches a streaming service23:10 Keith Lee vs The D.C. Food Scene#summer2024 #summer #trends #commentary #hotgirlsummer #brat #bratsummer #sabrinacarpenter #charlixcx #memes #clothing #shopping #culture #fashion #lifestyle #food
Inside the DNCs influencer extravaganza Taylor Lorenz 2024-08-24 | This week I was in Chicago along with hundreds of content creators for the Democratic National Convention. YouTube star Keith Edwards, who was also there, joins me to chat about the Democrats’ influencer strategy, what it’s like inside a creator boat party and meme lounge, and how the 2024 election has become one big battle for the internet.00:00 Intro00:36 Night 1 of The 2024 DNC01:20 What being a democratic content creator entails02:10 An overview of Keith’s content02:58 The importance of social media in the Harris campaign04:01 How Influencers have been catered to during this years DNC05:35 Are the dems only giving credentials to “friendly” creators? 09:25 The freedom The DNC gave creators regarding content10:37 Why the Democrats embracing the creator economy could be risky13:07 Are memes hurting or helping the Harris campaign?14:47 The Harris campaign’s stance on tech16:17 How the Harris campaign can reach more voters online19:58 The lack of liberal spaces in social media21:17 Meta’s restrictions on political content22:57 Should platforms continue to suppress political posts?#tech #onlineculture #internet #memes #dnc #kamala #brat #bratsummer #politics #internetculture #news #influencer #creatoreconomy
Can Elon and Twitter save Trump? Taylor Lorenz 2024-08-16 | This week, Trump returned to X/Twitter/whatever you want to call it. Editor-in-Chief at the Verge, Nilay Patel, joined me to discuss the long, rambling conversation between Trump and Elon Musk on Twitter spaces. We debate how influential X is in today’s political climate. Later, we explore the broader social media landscape, Kamala’s dicey use of a Dril tweet, the campaign’s broader digital strategy, and how TikTok and YouTube factor into the 2024 race.00:0000:36 Elon outshined on his own platform03:06 Elon and Trump on immigration06:34 Elon’s concessions to Trump07:39 Trump vs the people who will actually run his admin09:43 Elon’s liberal past?10:48 Trump on audio format vs TV Trump13:57 Trump’s return to Twitter15:32 Twitter’s influence on the 2024 Election18:19 Social media’s crackdown on news18:40 Where does this leave our political discourse online?21:21 Why no one can compete with the right-wing media23:48 How social media is shaping campaign strategies25:50 Candidates embrace “online trolling”27:10 Why Kamala HQ embracing the internet is a double edged sword30:05 Will hiring influencers yield success for the DNC?31:54 The Olympics failed partnership with content creators34:20 Does “Big Tech” still support Trump?37:08 Kamala Harris’ relationship with Silicon Valley39:58 Kamala’s stance on the TikTok banFollow me:instagram.com/taylorlorenz instagram.com/poweruserpod tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz Follow Power User on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-user-with-taylor-lorenz/id1733535260 Follow Power User on Spotify:open.spotify.com/show/5iganPXXEoTDB9lIQzY7Fh #tech #technology #news #technews #tiktok #creatoreconomy #ai #memes #meme #brainrot #podcast #artificialintelligence #twitter #youtube #commentary #chat #podcast #celebs #celebrity #celebnews #meta #facebook #titok #trump #trump2024 #elon #elonmusk #musk
MrBeasts Controversies: The Full Breakdown Taylor Lorenz 2024-08-14 | For years, MrBeast has been the king of the internet. The 26-year-old creator has the most subscribed to channel on YouTube, millions of young fans, and a new streaming deal with Amazon. But after a string of controversies, his empire might be faltering. How did all of this happen, and what does a potential MrBeast downfall mean for the creator world? I talked to digital culture reporter Steven Asarch, who has been breaking tons of news related to MrBeast for Rolling Stone and Passionfruit, about what went down and how this might impact the broader media landscape. Later, Zach and I break down the latest headlines including why everyone is posting about a minion nailed to a cross, Kick streamer Adin Ross giving Trump a cyber truck and potentially violating election law, the Google antitrust suit, Tim Walz mania, and more! 00:00 Intro 00:51 How MrBeast became famous01:29 How the backlash began01:50 The Ava “Kris” Tyson allegations02:30 The aftermath of the allegations04:06 DogPack404's illegal lottery claims04:57 The validity of the claims against MrBeast05:45 Current MrBest Employee weighs in06:06 The MrBeast Games controversy07:25 MrBeast vs reality TV08:37 MrBeast's "creator games"09:47 Traditional media vs the creator economy11:55 The alt-right's hand in “cancelling” MrBeast13:59 The long term effects of MrBeast’s controversies16:11 MrBeast’s rabid fandom16:35 Will MrBeast's business collapse?19:02 How this will effect the larger creator economy19:47 Why journalists needs to take the creator economy more seriously21:11 Taylor and Zach chat headlines21:17 Tim Walz mania22:43 Trump's and Adin Ross25:24 Musk interview27:37 Linda Yaccarino's wild video to advertisers28:27 Google antitrust 29:44 AI Minion brain rot invades TikTok#tech #technology #news #technews #tiktok #creatoreconomy #ai #artificialintelligence #twitter #youtube #commentary #chat #podcast #celebs #celebrity #celebnews #ai #meta #facebook
The smartphone freakout is harming children Taylor Lorenz 2024-08-08 | Everywhere you look, powerful people (like author of The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt), are declaring that young people are suffering an unprecedented mental health crisis and that smartphones and social media are to blame. But are smartphones and social media ACTUALLY destroying children's minds? Or is this just another moral panic pushed by the media, opportunistic academics, and well meaning but ill-informed "concerned parents"? I dove deep into the origins of this freak out about technology, pulled actual data and research, spoke to experts, and went deep on the history of moral panics to explain what's really going on here. 00:00 intro00:40 the media pushing smartphone panic1:40 state and federal laws against social media2:20 Jonathan Haidt3:06 Haidt's dubious claims3:20 why Haidt's book resonates4:03 research showing Haidt's claims are false5:14 the flaws in Haidt's data6:30 the Momo hoax of 20197:20 what's actually affecting kids mental health8:15 the concerning laws Haidt is pushing8:44 what life was like before smartphones9:30 why the far right wants to restrict kids smartphone use10:55 how young people actually use social media12:23 THE HISTORY OF TECH MORAL PANICS13:02 landline telephones14:02 novels15:08 newspapers15:18 jazz books 15:30 comic books16:58 television17:46 home computers17:53 walkmans18:03 beepers19:10 video games19:50 the same groups of ppl who push every moral panic20:05 what Haidt and I agree on20:17 why kids are on their phones so much w/ danah boyd20:35 city planning20:46 homework and lack of leisure time21:00 police violence, danger22:09 the economy's role 22:45 what actually helps kids 23:10 what tech companies can do better23:41 how social media is NOT like drugs (research)23:54 social media as a tool24:05 why kids need to learn the tech and media of their day24:42 adolescence is never easy25:26 what we can all doFollow Power User on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-user-with-taylor-lorenz/id1733535260 Follow Power User on Spotify:open.spotify.com/show/5iganPXXEoTDB9lIQzY7Fh * ~ SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE WEEKLY TECH AND ONLINE CULTURE VIDEOS!! ~* Follow me:instagram.com/taylorlorenz instagram.com/poweruserpod tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz #tech #technology #news #technews #elon #elonmusk #twitter #youtube #commentary #chat #podcast #tech #technology #news #technews #tiktok #creatoreconomy #ai #memes #meme #podcast #artificialintelligence #twitter #youtube #commentary #chat #podcast #celebs #celebrity #celebnews #meta #facebook #titok #popculture #influencer #influencers #snark #drama #brat #bratsummer #jonathanhaidt #theanxiousgeneration
Is Skibidi Toilet the next Hollywood blockbuster? Taylor Lorenz 2024-08-02 | Last week I broke the news that Michael Bay is trying to turn Skibidi Toilet into a potential theatrical movie or TV show. He's doing that by working with a company called Invisible Narratives. Invisible Narratives is the behind-the-scenes company responsible for making Skibidi Toilet a household name. This week I talked to Adam Goodman, the Hollywood veteran who founded Invisible Narratives on how Skibidi became one of the most valuable franchises in Hollywood and what it means for the future of entertainment. Later, Zach and I discuss the White dudes for Kamala Zoom, Google Docs and DIY dating apps, and an AI wearable wants to be your new best friend.00:00 Intro01:20 Skibidi Toilet movie when! 02:24 How Adam met DaFuqBoom03:28 Michael Bay’s involvement5:23 Marketing Skibidi Toilet 07:57 Roblox and Minecraft10:03 Traditional media vs non-traditional media11:34 Hollywood’s reaction to the Skibidi Toilet movie14:40 Invisible Narratives origin story 18:00 Hollywood vs the creator economy19:53 How Invisible Narratives works w/ creators22:50 Hollywood's shifting views24:41 News headlines w/ Zach24:50 Senators are working with influencers now26:18 Do journalists need personal brands?28:18 The “White Dudes For Harris” zoom call29:55 Why everyone's ditching dating apps33:25 Introducing “Friend”, the latest AI wearable tech37:43 AI founder's diss track Follow me:instagram.com/taylorlorenz instagram.com/poweruserpod tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz Follow Power User on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-user-with-taylor-lorenz/id1733535260 Follow Power User on Spotify:open.spotify.com/show/5iganPXXEoTDB9lIQzY7Fh #tech #technology #news #technews #tiktok #creatoreconomy #ai #memes #meme #brainrot #podcast #artificialintelligence #twitter #youtube #commentary #chat #podcast #celebs #celebrity #celebnews #meta #facebook #titok #mrbeast #popculture #language #words #etymology #skibiditoilet #skibidi #skibiditoiletmeme #roblox #robloxedit #minecraft #minecraftmemes
Is Kamala Harris a political meme stock? Brat summer explained Taylor Lorenz 2024-07-26 | Politics and social media were inextricable this week. Biden announced his dropout via X and other social platforms — and after he endorsed Kamala Harris, the media rush to explain Brat memes began. Taylor talks to The Atlantic’s Charlie Warzel about coconut memes, irony pilled posting, and the outcry of a generation frustrated by politics.Later, Zach and I break down this week’s headlines, including a lifestyle influencer suing another lifestyle influencer for copying her aesthetic, a terrifying DHS robot dog, and Marc Andreessen’s hope that AI will save comedy.00:00 Intro00:56 Why Twitter won’t die2:16 Why can't progressives quit Twitter?3:33 Is Twitter giving Elon Musk more political power?05:15 Why VC’s like Marc Andreessen all love Trump06:41 How X could change with a Kamala win08:34 Kamala’s digital strategy11:31 The "Hot Ones test" for politics 13:03 Kamala’s “coconut pilled” fan base18:00 Why “Dark Brandon” memes flopped 20:30 Authenticity in political campaigns21:49 Taylor and Zach chat news stories21:57 Influencer sues another Influencer for stealing her aesthetic26:04 Over half of U.S. Adults want to become full time content creators28:03 Marc Andreessen thinks AI can save comedy31:43 Department of Homeland Security hire robot dogs to assist in raids 35:03 CNN trying to understand Brat summer 36:58 Has Kamala jumped the shark?Follow me:instagram.com/taylorlorenz instagram.com/poweruserpod tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz Follow Power User on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-user-with-taylor-lorenz/id1733535260 Follow Power User on Spotify:open.spotify.com/show/5iganPXXEoTDB9lIQzY7Fh #tech #technology #news #technews #tiktok #creatoreconomy #ai #memes #meme #podcast #artificialintelligence #twitter #youtube #commentary #chat #podcast #celebs #celebrity #celebnews #meta #facebook #titok #popculture #influencer #influencers #snark #drama #reddit #kick #live #livestream #trump #trump2024 #RNC #trump24 #GOP #politics #kamala #kamalaharris #brat #bratsummer #charlixcx
The rise of BlueAnon conspiracy theories Taylor Lorenz 2024-07-19 | Since a gunman attacked Donald Trump at a rally, conspiracy theories have flourished on social media: The attack was a false flag, Trump had a gel pack on his ear, Trump went golfing the next day. These are the latest additions to a growing collection of anti-Trump conspiracy theories referred to as "Blue Anon." I discuss the rise of conspiracies from anti Trump influencers with Mike Rothschild, author of "The Storm Is Upon Us: How QAnon Became a Movement, Cult, and Conspiracy Theory of Everything."Later, Zach and I disucuss the shooter's "Demolition Ranch" YouTuber T-shirt, the RNC influencers tasked with making the GOP look cool, and other news of the week. 00:00 Intro01:26 The origin of BlueAnon03:05 The recent rise of BlueAnon post debate04:22 The distrust in media 06:07 BlueAnon's main characters 07:14 How the Trump rally shooting became the tipping point for left wing conspiracy theorists09:31 Parallels between BlueAnon and MAGA10:45 False equivalencies between right vs left wing conspiracies12:14 Why the truth matters 14:20 Don't ignore BlueAnon15:40 IG Threads 16:45 BlueAnon ideology18:50 Can tech companies solve this?20:09 The role of politics and economics in conspiracy movements 22:45 Taylor and Zach break down the news 22:51 Trump shooting Merch23:44 Demolition Ranch apologizes for influencing the Trump shooter25:18 RNC hires right-wing influencers to reach conservative youthFollow me:instagram.com/taylorlorenz instagram.com/poweruserpod tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz Follow Power User on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-user-with-taylor-lorenz/id1733535260 Follow Power User on Spotify:open.spotify.com/show/5iganPXXEoTDB9lIQzY7Fh #tech #technology #news #technews #tiktok #creatoreconomy #ai #memes #meme #podcast #artificialintelligence #twitter #youtube #commentary #chat #podcast #celebs #celebrity #celebnews #meta #facebook #titok #popculture #influencer #influencers #snark #drama #reddit #kick #live #livestream #trump #trump2024 #RNC #trump24 #GOP #politics
The dark reality of Kick livestreaming w/ j aubrey Taylor Lorenz 2024-07-13 | Kick streamers have live-streamed themselves accosting people on the street, s*xu*lly harassing minors, fleeing the scene of a hit and run. It's home to some of the most reprehensible behavior on the internet. This week, I spoke to YouTuber @jaubrey, an expert on the internet’s worst people, about Kick’s race to the bottom. Later, Zach and I chat about Logan Paul suing Coffeezilla, the outpouring of support for Sketch, and some of my recent stories including NATO inviting content creators to this year’s summit and the first full-time content creator running for Senate! 00:00 Intro01:46 Welcome to Kick03:56 Kick vs. Twitch04:20 Who is Ice Poseidon?05:06 Adin Ross07:05 Meet N3ON 09:21 Cancel-proof influencers09:49 Should we take Kick seriously?12:45 Kick monetization 13:28 Kick's lasting impact13:57 How Kick shapes online culture16:06 The rise of outrage content 17:06 Kick creators spreading to YouTube?17:45 Kick's legacy19:17 Kick vs YouTube prank culture20:27 Taylor and Zach chat headlines21:13 Content creators at the NATO Summit22:12 The first influencer running for congress24:08 Logan Paul sues CoffeeZilla 26:38 Creators rally behind Sketch 28:24 Kids are cyberbullying their teachers on TikTokFollow me:instagram.com/taylorlorenz instagram.com/poweruserpod tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz Follow Power User on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-user-with-taylor-lorenz/id1733535260 Follow Power User on Spotify:open.spotify.com/show/5iganPXXEoTDB9lIQzY7Fh #tech #technology #news #technews #tiktok #creatoreconomy #ai #memes #meme #podcast #artificialintelligence #twitter #youtube #commentary #chat #podcast #celebs #celebrity #celebnews #meta #facebook #titok #popculture #influencer #influencers #snark #drama #reddit #kick #live #livestream
Does social media need warning labels? Taylor Lorenz 2024-07-02 | Caroline Mimbs Nyce, a staff writer at The Atlantic and I chat about the Surgeon General's quest to add warning labels to social media.FYI I was in the middle of editing this and I got sick, so it's kind of janky but I wanted to just upload it because it was getting kinda stale. Sorry there's not a lot of graphics and it's pretty trash editing! Next video will be better!! Follow me:instagram.com/taylorlorenz instagram.com/poweruserpod tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz Follow Power User on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-user-with-taylor-lorenz/id1733535260 Follow Power User on Spotify:open.spotify.com/show/5iganPXXEoTDB9lIQzY7Fh #tech #technology #news #technews #tiktok #creatoreconomy #ai #memes #meme #podcast #artificialintelligence #twitter #youtube #commentary #chat #podcast #celebs #celebrity #celebnews #meta #facebook #titok #popculture #influencer #influencers #snark #drama #reddit
How one influencer took down her snark subreddit Taylor Lorenz 2024-06-29 | For the past several years, influencer Lily Chapman has been plagued by a relentless community of primarily women online. They congregated in a snark subreddit dedicated to mocking and criticizing her. They even contacted her friends and family, and attempted to kill her sponsorship deals. But Lily did something most influencers haven't been able to do: She fought back and won. I spoke to Lily about snaking, how it all went down, Reddit, and what it's like to become the target of an online mob. 00:00 Intro00:09 What are snark subreddits?01:21 Realizing she had a snark page 02:55 How Lily’s relationship with Reddit changed03:42 Debunking the lies posted on the subreddit04:25 How the hate community evolved 06:53 Combatting the hate while pregnant 09:40 Why snark subreddits target women13:05 Disguising hate and misogyny as moral activism15:32 How Lily got the page taken down16:55 Reddit’s lack of accountability 18:32 How do you manage your reputation online?20:52 How Lily's life has changedFollow me:instagram.com/taylorlorenz instagram.com/poweruserpod tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz Follow Power User on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-user-with-taylor-lorenz/id1733535260 Follow Power User on Spotify:open.spotify.com/show/5iganPXXEoTDB9lIQzY7Fh #tech #technology #news #technews #tiktok #creatoreconomy #ai #memes #meme #podcast #artificialintelligence #twitter #youtube #commentary #chat #podcast #celebs #celebrity #celebnews #meta #facebook #titok #popculture #influencer #influencers #snark #drama #reddit
Top Stanford researcher smeared as a CIA censorship supervillain Taylor Lorenz 2024-06-23 | On the internet, a top Stanford researcher has been smeared as a censorship supervillain, whose goal is to silence free speech. People claim she is responsible for deleting 22 million tweets and working for the CIA. None of this is true. It is all part of an elaborate conspiracy cooked up by the far right, which made its ways to the halls of congress. Now, former Stanford Internet Observatory research manager Renée DiResta is speaking out about what it's like to monitor disinformation about yourself, and how anyone can become the subject of these dangerous hate and disinformation campaigns. Later, I talk about my latest story about how Biden is struggling to garner the support of Gen Z influencers, the surgeon general’s campaign to put warning labels on social media, Logan Paul’s Trump interview, TikTok’s new AI-generated ads, and whether content creators are going broke. 00:00 Intro 00:09 What's up next on Power User00:31 Who is Renee DiResta?01:28 The beginnings of the rumor03:50 Why do people think she's a CIA agent? 06:12 The right wing media's role07:05 How the spread of misinfo affected Renee 09:01 How platforms like Twitter played a role09:48 How the smear campaign spread to Congress11:46 Why try to bring down the Stanford Internet Observatory?13:20 The research done at Stanford and current state of the Observatory14:01 Filter bubbles15:14 The 2024 election 17:15 Fighting back against online disinformation 19:01 Why you should feed the trolls19:43 Taylor and Producer Zach Mack chat over the news19:48 Taylor's story on influencers turning against Biden 22:28 Trump x Logan Paul24:35 Why the far-right excels on social media 25:54 TikTok's new AI Avatars29:39 Are content creators going broke? 33:35 The surgeon general's BS social media warning planOrder Renee's new book, Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies into Reality: reneediresta.com/books Follow me:instagram.com/taylorlorenz instagram.com/poweruserpod tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz Follow Power User on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-user-with-taylor-lorenz/id1733535260 Follow Power User on Spotify:open.spotify.com/show/5iganPXXEoTDB9lIQzY7Fh #tech #technology #news #technews #tiktok #creatoreconomy #ai #memes #meme #brainrot #podcast #artificialintelligence #twitter #youtube #commentary #chat #podcast #celebs #celebrity #celebnews #meta #facebook #titok #mrbeast #popculture #language #words #etymology
Skibidi rizz gyatt explained by internet etymologist Taylor Lorenz 2024-06-14 | Recently, the term “brain rot” has gone from meaning chronically online, to a fully fledged meme and ironic slang language. Adam Aleksic, a Harvard linguistics graduate known as @etymology_nerd, joins me to break down how the language of the internet is evolving. We talk about coining slang words for clout, emoji evolution, whether men or women have a bigger effect on language, how incel terms went mainstream, and more! Later, Zach and I dive into stories from the week including big announcements from Apple’s WWDC, the shadowy right-wing backers behind a Mr Beast video, BeReals big sale, and a new word to describe AI generated garbage.00:00 - Introduction 01:05 - Who suffers most from brain rot? 01:45 - When did the term 'brain rot' become popularized online?03:18 - Origins of Sigma and maxxing04:52 - Gyatt, Rizz, Skibidi, and Fanum Tax06:31 - How Ohio became the “capital of the internet”08:38 - How the internet shaped modern language10:20 - Algospeak12:21 - Is any of this new?15:20 - Does Gen Alpha actually speak brain rot?16:18 - The race to create new slang for clout18:04 - Emojis role in modern language19:49 - Identifying new slang terms22:42 - Mewing and mogging 23:50 - Men vs women in shaping language26:28 - News rundown starts26:32 - Big Apple announcements from WWDC31:54 - BeReal gets acquired34:58 - MrBeast charity video bankrolled by Charles Koch organization39:29 - Is slop the new spam?Follow me:instagram.com/taylorlorenz instagram.com/poweruserpod tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz Follow Power User on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-user-with-taylor-lorenz/id1733535260 Follow Power User on Spotify:open.spotify.com/show/5iganPXXEoTDB9lIQzY7Fh #tech #technology #news #technews #tiktok #creatoreconomy #ai #memes #meme #brainrot #podcast #artificialintelligence #twitter #youtube #commentary #chat #podcast #celebs #celebrity #celebnews #meta #facebook #titok #mrbeast #popculture #language #words #etymology
Is it ever ok to film strangers in public? Taylor Lorenz 2024-06-07 | Internet culture reporter Rebecca Jennings joined me to discuss the absolute plague of people filming strangers. How did we come to live in this crowdsourced surveillance world and what are ethics of filming people you don't know? We get into all of it. Then, Zach and I chat about the @world_record_egg returning, Trump blowing up on TikTok, and Mr. Beast becoming the most subscribed to YouTube channel. We also break down TikTok’s failed secret deal with the U.S. Government, which included a “kill switch” to shut down the app.03:51 The role of monetization 04:56 The benefits of public filming05:53 Alex From Target 07:21 Legal complications filming strangers for content08:50 What responsibility do TikTok and IG have? 10:43 Is awareness of surveillance culture beneficial?13:22 When is it ok to film people?14:59 Zach and Taylor talk headlines15:04 world_record_egg stands with Palestine18:53 MrBeast becomes the most subscribed to account on YouTube22:01 Donald Trump joins TikTok24:58 Instagram tests new “unstoppable ads” feature27:39 TikTok’s failed secret deal with the U.S. GovernmentFollow me:instagram.com/taylorlorenz instagram.com/poweruserpod tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz Follow Power User on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-user-with-taylor-lorenz/id1733535260 Follow Power User on Spotify:open.spotify.com/show/5iganPXXEoTDB9lIQzY7Fh #tech #technology #news #technews #tiktok #creatoreconomy #ai #artificialintelligence #twitter #youtube #commentary #chat #podcast #celebs #celebrity #celebnews #ai #meta #facebook #titok #trump #politics
Tech billionaires are trying to create and rule their own countries under “Tech Zionism” #tech #ai Taylor Lorenz 2024-06-04 | ...
The powerful tech baron seeking to ethnically cleanse San Francisco Taylor Lorenz 2024-05-30 | This week we're going deep on Balaji Srinivasan, the powerful centimillionaire calling for a “tech Zionism” that would see “Grays” loyal to the tech industry take over San Francisco by allying with the police to give themselves privileges as they oppress the “Blues” (progressives).Balaji is one of the most infamous, but lesser-known, figures in Silicon Valley. Journalist Gil Duran, who reports on tech fascism and billionaire extremism, joins me to examine his plans to transform San Francisco into a sovereign state and discuss Balaji’s ideas, background, and why you should take him seriously.02:51 How the rise of crypto culture helped boost Balaji’s prominence 03:49 What is “The Network State”?06:46 Balaji’s dystopian plan for the future of San Francisco 09:29 How the Network State ideology effects current SF politics12:10 What happens to the citizens who don’t “fit in” to Balaji’s plan13:20 The police's role in The Network State concept16:33 Why VC’s are trying to take control of S.F.18:43 America vs. Silicon Valley19:58 The rise of tech founder extremism21:30 The movements toxic relationship with the press25:15 Balaji’s fake support for independent journalism28:20 What Network State success looks like31:28 The California Forever project35:50 The racial and gender undertones of the Network State movement 37:14 “Woke Capital”Follow me:instagram.com/taylorlorenz instagram.com/poweruserpod tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz Follow Power User on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-user-with-taylor-lorenz/id1733535260 Follow Power User on Spotify:open.spotify.com/show/5iganPXXEoTDB9lIQzY7Fh #tech #technology #news #technews #tiktok #creatoreconomy #ai #artificialintelligence #twitter #youtube #commentary #chat #podcast #celebs #celebrity #celebnews #ai #meta #facebook
How AI spam is making Facebook relevant again #tech #technology #podcast Taylor Lorenz 2024-05-24 | ...
How AI spam is creating a zombie internet Taylor Lorenz 2024-05-24 | Have you been on Facebook lately? It’s weirdly overrun with bizarre, AI-generated spam and clickbait. Jason Koebler, co-founder of 404 Media and host of The 404 Media Podcast joins me to talk about how this happened, who’s behind it all, and what it means for a major social platform to become an AI generated wasteland. Later, Zach and I chat about Scarlett Johansson’s accusation that Open AI mimicked her voice, a new video game about influencers risking their lives for content, Belle Delphine’s bathwater, and a baby who’s hyped to go to the Four Seasons Orlando.Follow me:instagram.com/taylorlorenz instagram.com/poweruserpod tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz Follow Power User on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-user-with-taylor-lorenz/id1733535260 Follow Power User on Spotify:open.spotify.com/show/5iganPXXEoTDB9lIQzY7Fh #tech #technology #news #technews #tiktok #creatoreconomy #ai #artificialintelligence #twitter #youtube #commentary #chat #podcast #celebs #celebrity #celebnews #ai #meta #facebook
Are robots eliminating the service industry? #tech #ai #technews #technology #artificialintelligence Taylor Lorenz 2024-05-18 | ...
Is the celebrity blockout working? #tech #technology #celeb #celebrity #politics Taylor Lorenz 2024-05-17 | ...
Is the celeb blocklist working? TikTok creators sue the govt & more! // Power User podcast Taylor Lorenz 2024-05-17 | This week on Power User, TikTok creators sue the U.S. government over free speech concerns, Bumble tells women to get busy, YouTube’s CEO wants creators to win Emmys, and Google’s new AI gives some bad advice.Later, I chatted with Embedded's Kate Lindsay, about the celebrity block lists and whether they're working. 00:26 TikTok Users are suing the U.S. Government over the ban04:11 Bumble apologizes for its “anti-celibacy” ad campaign07:15 YouTube's CEO on why YouTubers should be able to win Emmys09:22 Google’s new Gemini AI system flops on stage13:03 Kate on how Blockout 2024 came to be15:54 Is the blockout actually impacting celebs?17:46 How traditional celebrities and content creators are affected differently18:27 Focusing on celebs vs politicians19:16 Blockout vs other social media social movements21:16 Why big creators haven't spoken out and what it says about them26:46 Why some celebs are still silent Follow me:instagram.com/taylorlorenz instagram.com/poweruserpod tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz Follow Power User on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-user-with-taylor-lorenz/id1733535260 Follow Power User on Spotify:open.spotify.com/show/5iganPXXEoTDB9lIQzY7Fh #tech #technology #news #technews #tiktok #creatoreconomy #ai #artificialintelligence #twitter #youtube #commentary #chat #podcast #celebs #celebrity #celebnews
