Social media marketing
fromThe Atlantic
12 hours agoHow Fake People Became Real Influencers
AI influencers are flooding social media, creating a new kind of fatigue where authenticity may no longer matter.
Gen Z isn't rejecting AI outright, but they are reassessing its role in their lives. What we're seeing in the data is a generation that recognizes AI's utility but is increasingly concerned about its long-term impact on learning, trust and career readiness.
I have never been friends with Epstein. Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time, since overlapping in social circles is common in New York City and Palm Beach.
Finder Guy is an adorably chunky, dual-toned blue creature with a rounded head and a perpetual smile. Apple is being fairly tight-lipped about him; he hasn't been officially announced or acknowledged by the company.
"I've spent a lot of time looking at the comment sections on these videos actually, and it does not seem like bots. I clicked on people's profiles, these are real profiles, thousands of followers, no signs of inorganic activity. People just like it."
Lonelygirl15 became a cultural phenomenon, drawing viewers into a narrative that blurred the lines between reality and fiction, ultimately reshaping how audiences interact with online content.
Michelladonna goes around the world to celebrate the cats who live and work in bodegas, corner stores, and repair shops on her show, Shop Cats. The bilingual series launched in 2024 on creator-led production platform Mad Realities, and quickly found an audience drawn to its feline stars and Michelladonna's energy and humor.
The lyrics have a rather annoying quality to them, similar to the way that other songs like "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen, "Fireflies" by Owl City or even "Friday" by Rebecca Black did in their time - songs that gained rapid popularity and, just as quickly, sparked rapid backlash from many due to overexposure to them.
Memes have become the clearest and most direct language of digital culture: condensed fragments of reality that synthesize the complexity of the present and circulate at the same speed as a society surrendered to hyperstimulation. From the Dancing Baby of the 1990s to the endless templates of X, Instagram, or TikTok, memes have evolved from simple ephemeral jokes to veritable systems for decoding the world, semiotic capsules that allow us to process the political, the social, and the intimate.
It's our job to be translators of science so people understand what's happening and why it's so important. It's a global ocean. Just because something's happening in one place, doesn't mean it's not going to have an effect elsewhere in the world.
The rise of TikTok and YouTube has dramatically changed the lives of content creators by turning social media into a legitimate career path rather than just a hobby. These platforms allow ordinary people to build massive audiences without traditional media connections, often through algorithm-driven exposure.
While the main feed is built for discovery and curated content, stories are built for connection. For local businesses like bakeries, cafes and restaurants, this distinction isn't just a technicality; it is a direct line to the consumer's daily routine.
From Gen Z and their TikTok dances to the millennial squares of IG, when we think of social media we think of the younger generations. However, 'older' audiences are also getting involved. From how to remove stains on walls and 'Things I wish I knew in my 20s' to fashion advice and rediscovering their personal style, older gens are increasingly growing their share of voice on social - seeking advice from (as well as giving advice to) the young ones.