Kyle Chayka
Kyle Chayka is a staff writer at The New Yorker covering technology and Internet culture. In his column, Infinite Scroll, he has explored why the Internet isn’t fun anymore, examined whether A.I. art steals from artists, and covered TikTok’s role in the vibes revival. Chayka, who first contributed to The New Yorker in 2013, has also written for The New Republic, the New York Times Magazine, and Harper’s, among other publications. His reporting on tourism in Iceland was included in “The Best American Travel Writing 2020.” Chayka’s first nonfiction book, “The Longing for Less,” a history of minimalism, was published in 2020. His second book, “Filterworld,” which explores the impact of digital algorithms on culture, was published in 2024. Chayka began his career in 2010, as a visual-art critic for the Web site Hyperallergic.
ICE and the Smartphone Panopticon
A new wave of digital tools has emerged to help citizens monitor Trump’s crackdown. But internet surveillance can also be used against you.
TextEdit and the Relief of Simple Software
The bare-bones Mac writing app represents a literalist sensibility that is coming back into vogue as A.I. destabilizes our technological interactions.
Will A.I. Trap You in the “Permanent Underclass”?
An online joke reflects a sincere fear about how A.I. automation will upend the labor market and create a new norm of inequality.
The Age of Enshittification
In a new book, the technology critic Cory Doctorow expands on a coinage that has become bleakly relevant, in Silicon Valley and beyond.
The A.I. Bubble Is Coming for Your Browser
Artificial-intelligence startups, like the makers of the “smart” web browser Dia, are being acquired for vast sums. But it’s not yet clear which products can transcend the hype.
Charlie Kirk and Tyler Robinson Came from the Same Warped Online Worlds
The right-wing activist and his alleged assassin were both creatures of a digital ecosystem that rewards viral engagement at all costs.
Why Are Liberals Returning to Elon Musk’s X?
As social media navigates a new sectarian phase, many who fled the platform seem to be coming back.
Is Ghosting Inevitable?
We bemoan the injustice of being left on read. But perhaps missed connection is just a part of being a human on the internet.
How to Survive Your Song Going Viral on TikTok
The band Cafuné had a social-media megahit in 2022 with the endlessly remixed “Tek It.” Now they want to make music that’s less online.
IRL Brain Rot and the Lure of the Labubu
In the chimerical trend that is Labubumatchadubaichocolate, nothing is ever too extra. But those who embrace the aesthetic know that the only way out is further in.
The Revenge of Millennial Cringe
The viral resurgence of the single “Home,” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, reflects a simultaneous disgust at and attraction to an era of unabashed sincerity.
How the Bonds Among Virtual-Reality Furries Saved a Life, in “The Reality of Hope”
A short film follows a friendship in the V.R.-furry community which turns into a radical act of generosity.
The Internet Wants to Check Your I.D.
New safety rules require users to verify their identities before gaining access to sites. This spells the end of the relative anonymity that we’ve come to expect online.
Coldplaygate Is a Reminder That There’s No Escaping Going Viral
A C.E.O.’s affair, caught on jumbotron and spread across social media, demonstrates that mass attention on today’s internet tends to be deeply undesirable.
How Elon Musk’s Chatbot Turned Evil
From the daily newsletter: the politically incorrect A.I. model is influencing government policy.
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Gentle Parenting My Smartphone Addiction
An app called Opal finally succeeded at curbing my time spent on social media through a combination of mild friction, encouragement, and guilt.
Are You Experiencing Posting Ennui?
Sharing casual moments from our lives on social media doesn’t seem to make sense the way it used to.
Donald Trump, Zohran Mamdani, and Posting as Politics
In an era that rewards online authenticity, political leaders are becoming the new influencers-in-chief.
A.I. Is Homogenizing Our Thoughts
Recent studies suggest that tools such as ChatGPT make our brains less active and our writing less original.
ICE and the Smartphone Panopticon
A new wave of digital tools has emerged to help citizens monitor Trump’s crackdown. But internet surveillance can also be used against you.
TextEdit and the Relief of Simple Software
The bare-bones Mac writing app represents a literalist sensibility that is coming back into vogue as A.I. destabilizes our technological interactions.
Will A.I. Trap You in the “Permanent Underclass”?
An online joke reflects a sincere fear about how A.I. automation will upend the labor market and create a new norm of inequality.
The Age of Enshittification
In a new book, the technology critic Cory Doctorow expands on a coinage that has become bleakly relevant, in Silicon Valley and beyond.
The A.I. Bubble Is Coming for Your Browser
Artificial-intelligence startups, like the makers of the “smart” web browser Dia, are being acquired for vast sums. But it’s not yet clear which products can transcend the hype.
Charlie Kirk and Tyler Robinson Came from the Same Warped Online Worlds
The right-wing activist and his alleged assassin were both creatures of a digital ecosystem that rewards viral engagement at all costs.
Why Are Liberals Returning to Elon Musk’s X?
As social media navigates a new sectarian phase, many who fled the platform seem to be coming back.
Is Ghosting Inevitable?
We bemoan the injustice of being left on read. But perhaps missed connection is just a part of being a human on the internet.
How to Survive Your Song Going Viral on TikTok
The band Cafuné had a social-media megahit in 2022 with the endlessly remixed “Tek It.” Now they want to make music that’s less online.
IRL Brain Rot and the Lure of the Labubu
In the chimerical trend that is Labubumatchadubaichocolate, nothing is ever too extra. But those who embrace the aesthetic know that the only way out is further in.
The Revenge of Millennial Cringe
The viral resurgence of the single “Home,” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, reflects a simultaneous disgust at and attraction to an era of unabashed sincerity.
How the Bonds Among Virtual-Reality Furries Saved a Life, in “The Reality of Hope”
A short film follows a friendship in the V.R.-furry community which turns into a radical act of generosity.
The Internet Wants to Check Your I.D.
New safety rules require users to verify their identities before gaining access to sites. This spells the end of the relative anonymity that we’ve come to expect online.
Coldplaygate Is a Reminder That There’s No Escaping Going Viral
A C.E.O.’s affair, caught on jumbotron and spread across social media, demonstrates that mass attention on today’s internet tends to be deeply undesirable.
How Elon Musk’s Chatbot Turned Evil
From the daily newsletter: the politically incorrect A.I. model is influencing government policy.
Gentle Parenting My Smartphone Addiction
An app called Opal finally succeeded at curbing my time spent on social media through a combination of mild friction, encouragement, and guilt.
Are You Experiencing Posting Ennui?
Sharing casual moments from our lives on social media doesn’t seem to make sense the way it used to.
Donald Trump, Zohran Mamdani, and Posting as Politics
In an era that rewards online authenticity, political leaders are becoming the new influencers-in-chief.
A.I. Is Homogenizing Our Thoughts
Recent studies suggest that tools such as ChatGPT make our brains less active and our writing less original.