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Infinite Scroll

Kyle Chayka on the people and platforms that are shaping digital culture.

ICE and the Smartphone Panopticon

ICE and the Smartphone Panopticon

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

TextEdit and the Relief of Simple Software

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”?

Will A.I. Trap You in the “Permanent Underclass”?

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

The Age of Enshittification

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

The A.I. Bubble Is Coming for Your Browser

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

Charlie Kirk and Tyler Robinson Came from the Same Warped Online Worlds

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?

Why Are Liberals Returning to Elon Musk’s X?

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?

Is Ghosting Inevitable?

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

How to Survive Your Song Going Viral on TikTok

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

IRL Brain Rot and the Lure of the Labubu

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.