Severin Matusek

Influencers, she argues, do not simply advertise products; they perform a deeper ideological labor, personifying aspirational lifestyles and mediating hegemonic values under the guise of personal authenticity.

A concise but wide-ranging personal history of the internet from—for the first time—the point of view of the user.

A matrix of values vs a singular idea of value.

Unfortunately, advertising has been ingrained into the internet as the basic model for so long and to such an extent that it’s hard to envision online life without the systematic manipulation of attention and all its evils. So we’re bound to wind up here, at the bitter end of “content.” Which is a good excuse to withdraw deeper into books, movies,... See more

It’s not financially responsible to throw our ideas around online for free anymore, but the alternative threatens the spirit of what internet community is supposed to be about.

Delivering real utility outside the crypto bubble means matching the user experience consumers and businesses already get from traditional solutions. And yes, that requires building a bridge between old and new rails—often through compromises that look downright irrational to crypto purists.

The belief that the Earth is flat is not in and of itself problematic for most people, since most people will never need to circumnavigate the globe. However, the effects on adherents’ social relationships are problematic. The belief both signals and generates frame shear, the lack of mutual intelligibility, with all except those who share... See more

We’re looking at what’s going on in the world and using words to help people make sense of it. It’s ultimately a service to the reader — here’s what’s happening out there, why it’s important, and what it means for you.