All Caught Up: TikTok ban, ChatGPT boyfriends, the Grammys
Are you a Charlotte?
I write to you on the edge of the TikTok ban. Come Sunday, the app will turn completely off in the US, redirecting users at launch to download their data and learn more about the ban.
I feel divided on the ban. I feel jaded about social media and could use less of it. I may be on a progression to analog. However, there are so many ethical, narrative control and freedom of speech issues at hand with this move.
The implications of narrative control feel particularly loaded right now. We all saw what Zuck had to say this week. We're watching the potential consolidation of cultural dialogue into even fewer hands – a shift from TikTok's somewhat democratized virality to platforms where established players already hold the keys. It's another inflection point in our ever-evolving relationship with social platforms, where the power to shape conversation gets reshuffled yet again. The narrative control is slipping, with people joining Xiaohongshu. The veil feels lifted.
Yet there's an interesting wrinkle here for marketers and trend forecasters. Without TikTok's hyper-efficient algorithm serving up cultural moments on a silver platter, we might see a return to more methodical trend analysis. No more lazy reliance on For You Page insights – instead, a necessary pivot back to the granular work of mining multiple platforms, analyzing cross-platform behavior, getting outside and understanding how trends emerge and evolve in different spaces. Maybe we needed this push to get back to the real work of cultural observation.
I opened up the aperture to hear from you via Instagram this week and here’s what you had to say:
If TikTok is banned, where are you going professionally:
Instagram Reels – 40%
YouTube Shorts – 22%
Substack – 38%
Will a TikTok ban impact you professionally? How?
Yes – 38% (this is lower than I thought!)
No – 62%
How will a TikTok ban impact you professionally or personally?
“My fun is gone.”
“More premium brain time reserved for reading.”
“I learn a lot from TikTok and I will miss that.”
“I’ve gotten a few leads from TikTok but mostly when it comes to connecting with other creatives!”
“Reach! The algo pushes content to people who will like it, versus Meta.”
“I will lose the visibility my business gets from TikTok.”
“I have so many bookmarks for my future home, fuck.”
“It will mean Instagram doesn’t have to try as hard to earn our attention, so it might start to suck?”
“It’s not necessarily going to impact me financially, but yes in terms of broad censorship and manipulation of social platforms and the way it will impact the way other platforms operate across the board.”
“Less content about trends and beauty phenomena to report on!”
“Shifting client growth goals.”
“Source and story ideas.”
“How will I spend my evenings?!”
“I will probably be out of a job.”
As a consumer/user, will you miss TikTok?
Yes – 66%
No – 34%
Why?
“It’s far more entertaining.”
“THE COMMENTS! And the connections and coping!”
“I think we should be retreating from this level of hyper-consumerism.”
“Diversity of thought.”
“It brings me so much joy. I love scrolling after work and look forward to it every day. I’ve also found great recommendations there that feel more honest and genuine.”
This week's picks include Disaster Girls, Executive Orders and Continuum Club drama.
Christina’s weekly scroll –
The case for brain rot.
The Switch 2 is official!
Are You A Charlotte? In the first episode of her new podcast, Kristen Davis revisited the pilot episode of SATC (which she is not a fan of!) and shared how she became Charlotte York. Fwiw, I (personally) identify as a Samantha sun / Carrie moon / Charlotte rising.
The TikTok ban inspired user @/ronswon to archive his FYP on a 45-year-old VHS.
WIRED sent reporters to discover who controls the world's wealth for its Money issue. What did they find? Men. Lots of dudes.
Caroline Calloway for Interview Magazine. Caroline is relatable in that I, too, crashed out of New York and retreated to Florida. Anyway…
Biden just issued a 40-page executive order designed to work on software security, cloud, AI, federal network protection, digital identity and more.
Is fashion finally recognizing Heidi Montag as the pop genius she is?
Nikita’s weekly scroll –
I revisit this one from
often. Fourteen signs you are living in a society without a counterculture – woof.Alexandre Assouline has been named the President of Assouline.
Kapital quietly joined LVMH… I better buy those pants I have had an eye on forever.
What does Disaster Girl have to do with the TradWives?
Uh, it seems like this has some drama to do with the Continuum Club. This seems like really bad customer service versus conspiracy.
It’s time to break up with optimizing and live again.
Flaking is an epidemic! I’m trying to get better at not flaking myself. ;/
Any report from Further&Further is always a treat. They go where most researchers won’t – the not-so-sunny places. Dive into Uncomfortable Report by Further&Further.
I’m back on my sports beat! Sports is one of the last bastions of monoculture (besides War cc:
). So it only follows that a ton of capital and attention is flowing into sports right now, with new leagues like Unrivaled, Grand Slam (Track) and now Sean White’s Snow League.GLP-1 makers are missing earnings goals, in part due to inventory issues. I wonder if they’ll pressure the FDA to impose tighter control on compounding pharmacies, thereby ending the DTC weight loss solutions…I personally would love to see it, I hate the ads I get on Instagram and frankly… some of those can be dangerous!
A 28-year-old woman is in love with her Chat-GPT boyfriend.
˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚Little Treat Corner ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
Christina’s weekly report:
READING: ‘Now Is the Time of Monsters’ – enjoy the gift article!
EATING: Chunky macadamia nut cookie!
PLAYING: Still unlocking Miracle Outfits on Infinity Nikki.
OBSESSING: Over my Detox Market order.
RECOMMENDING: You preorder the 2025 issue of Playboy.
TREATING: The aforementioned Detox Market order!
Nikita’s weekly report:
READING: Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll.
EATING: Lots of berries.
PLAYING: Meditations.
OBSESSING: Over maybe taking a trip in May?
RECOMMENDING: Reading a book.
TREATING: A croissant.
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