Sublime

Elusive Hot Girls are sharply intelligent, enigmatic (with a dizzying hot girl aura), and impossible to pin down. They always have the best stuff, and are widely compelling because they communicate with a strong sense of self. While they appear to be “undefined” to others, they are incredibly well-known to themselves. They have a dynamic range of... See more

I sum up people like Mauskopf with the term “quiet influencer.” These are people who aren’t trying to draw attention to themselves but can find a following online because of their ability to listen and absorb information. When they do share, it’s to educate, inform, or entertain others, not to build up their egos.

Either way, the consequences are what people think of you. While that used to be none of our business, now we have numerical, public-facing proof. As Joseph writes, “When author and British Vogue contributor Stephanie Yeboah hard-launched her boyfriend on social media, she lost hundreds of followers.”

But over time, my second brain became a mausoleum. A dusty collection of old selves, old interests, old compulsions, piled on top of each other like geological strata. Instead of accelerating my thinking, it began to replace it. Instead of aiding memory, it froze my curiosity into static categories.

A few more years and my mind wasn’t suited for much else. I was anorexic and had no friends; I was absolutely killing it online. I had developed all these health issues and begun posting hospital selfies, crying selfies, depressive bathtub selfies. I was sick and sad. I’m fangirling, a girl said when she recognized me on the subway. I’m spiraling,... See more