the slop era

“SEO Is Dead. Say Hello to GEO ,” by John Herrman for New York ($). The arcane art of search optimization shapes much of what you see on the internet: It’s why food blogs are so damn wordy, for instance, and why news outlets have long pulled little stunts like this. But now that AI is eating search whole, whether through chatbots or Google’s “overv... See more

the attention economy erodes trust. It rewards the most dramatic claims, the most outrageous behavior, the most compelling narratives regardless of their relationship to truth or long-term consequences.

The internet is (mostly) a machine for light things.

The modern makers’ machine does not want you to create heavy things. It runs on the internet—powered by social media, fueled by mass appeal, and addicted to speed. It thrives on spikes, scrolls, and screenshots. It resists weight and avoids friction. It does not care for patience, deliberation, o... See more

Which is to say: the Internet and increasing access to entertainment means we hit the “too much stuff” problem by another name. And that name? The mid. The average. The uninteresting. The fine. That’s why “end of animated movie music” and “chicken alfredo boomerang music” and “retail store radio music” and “Reels music” have become shorthands for v... See more

I love TikTok but you have to actively train the algorithm to get a delightful FYP, especially in your first few weeks. The app only registers your attention duration: the longer you watch something, the more similar content it will show you, so follow certain users in certain categories you like, yes, but you also have to be ruthless with swiping ... See more

Really appreciated this spicy LinkedIn post from Chris Davis (CEO and heir to the New Balance empire) on their recent collab with Amine.

"Never hear of Aminé? That's not the point. Tapping into the “creator economy” is an increasingly utilized tactic by brands to ignite commercial return. But is that the right approach?

If you are a brand that "spon... See more

“If your stuff’s not performing well ... you might be aware that the algorithm is doing some shenanigans to tank your views or likes,” explained Kate, but that awareness doesn’t always translate into frustration with the platform. “There’s this doubt that creeps in about your own work, what you should be doing,” she shared.