Taylor Lorenz’s Power User

Latest Episodes:

Why online retailers all sell the same crappy products Sep 26, 2024

Show notes

If you do a lot of online shopping, you may be experiencing deja vu. Amazon, AliExpress, WalMart, Temu, eBay, the TikTok shop, even Etsy all seem to be selling the exact same, cheaply made products from China. How did this happen? Have we reached some sort of eCommerce singularity? And what does this say about the future of online shopping? Are we all doomed to have shitty cheap products forever? Taylor is joined by New York Magazines John Herman to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Problem with Age Verification Online Sep 19, 2024

Show notes

Description: Age verification technology is becoming increasingly commonplace as lawmakers seek to enact deeply concerning restrictions in the name of “child safety.” Washington Post technology reporter Drew Harwell joins to discuss the threats to our freedom of speech, expression, and privacy this new software unlocks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why is Instagram Reels so unhinged? Sep 12, 2024

Show notes

You can spend hours carefully curating your algorithms on TikTok and YouTube, But there’s one place where the algorithm doesn’t seem to care about what you want to see: Instagram Reels. Business Insider’s Katie Notopoulos joins Taylor to dive deep into the strangest corners of IG Reels and unpack how the platform became such an unusual place online. Then, Taylor weighs in on the latest news, including Taylor Swift's stance on AI, right wing YouTubers getting paid millions by a Russian propaganda group, why Facebook keeps removing emergency fire alerts, and the new iPhone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brazil's X ban upends stan accounts + political debates take over TikTok Sep 05, 2024

Show notes

Elon Musk’s social media network X has been officially banned in Brazil. Taylor and internet culture reporter Ryan Broderick (Garbage Day) discuss Stan culture, the impact Brazil has on the internet as we know it, and the effects of suddenly losing tens of millions of voices online. Later, as another presidential debate nears, Taylor chats with tech reporter Viola Zhou (Rest of World) about the latest TikTok trend - creators holding political debates of their own, with real cash rewards from their audience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The ultimate summer trend recap + a Chick-fil-A streaming service Aug 29, 2024

Show notes

We've all long been familiar with the concept of a "song of the summer," but lately there's been a rush to declare "the summer" everything. Drink of the summer, drug of the summer, shoe of the summer, the list goes on. Casey Lewis joins Taylor to discuss the summer's emerging trends and why everything has been declared “of the summer.” Later, Taylor weighs in on the latest headlines, including Hasan Piker’s removal from the DNC, the new fridgescaping TikTok trend, what a Chick-fil-A streaming service could look like, and why everyone in DC is upset with food vlogger Keith Lee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Inside the DNC’s influencer extravaganza, from yacht partying to meme lounge Aug 22, 2024

Show notes

This week, Taylor is in Chicago along with hundreds of content creators for the Democratic National Convention. YouTube star Keith Edwards gives the scoop on the Democrats’ influencer strategy, what it’s like inside a creator yacht party and VIP meme lounge, and how the 2024 election has become one big battle for the internet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can Elon and Twitter save Trump? + Kamala plays with fire online Aug 14, 2024

Show notes

This week, Trump returned to X/Twitter/whatever you want to call it. Editor-in-Chief at the Verge, Nilay Patel, joins Taylor to discuss the long and rambling conversation between Trump and Elon Musk on Twitter spaces. They debate how influential X is in today’s political climate. Later, they explore the broader social media landscape, Kamala’s dicey use of a Dril tweet, the campaign’s broader digital strategy, and how TikTok and YouTube factor into the 2024 race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can MrBeast be canceled? + Tim Walz mania and minions on a cross Aug 08, 2024

Show notes

For years now, MrBeast has been the king of the internet. The 26-year-old creator has the most subscribed to channel on YouTube, millions of young fans, and a new streaming deal with Amazon. But now, after a string of controversies, his empire might be crumbling. How did all of this happen, and what does a potential MrBeast downfall mean for the internet? Taylor Lorenz talks to Steven Asarch, a freelance digital culture reporter who’s been covering MrBeast for Rolling Stone and Passionfruit. Later, Taylor breaks down the latest headlines including why everyone is posting about a minion nailed to a cross, Kick streamer Adin Ross gives Trump a cyber truck and potentially violates election laws, the Google antitrust suit, and Tim Walz mania. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Skibidi Toilet the Next Hollywood Blockbuster? Aug 01, 2024

Show notes

The internet lost its mind last week when Taylor broke the news that Michael Bay might be turning Skibidi Toilet -- the bizarre animated YouTube short of a singing head in a toilet -- into a theatrical movie. Taylor talks to Adam Goodman, a Hollywood veteran who founded Invisible Narratives, the behind-the-scenes company responsible for much of Skibidi Toilet's ongoing success. Plus, in headlines: Kamala Harris supporters are hopping on Zoom, Google Docs is the hot new dating app, and a new AI wearable wants to be your new best friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Kamala Harris a political meme stock? Jul 25, 2024

Show notes

Politics and social media were inextricable this week. Joe Biden announced his dropout via X and other social platforms — and after he endorsed Kamala Harris, the media rush to explain Brat memes began. Taylor talks to The Atlantic’s Charlie Warzel about coconut memes, irony pilled posting, and the outcry of a generation frustrated by politics. Then, Taylor and Zach break down this week’s headlines, including a lifestyle influencer suing another lifestyle influencer for copying her aesthetic, a terrifying DHS robot dog, and Marc Andreessen’s hope that AI will save comedy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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