3,081 tacks
The enshittification of the internet, explained
Cory Doctorow says the internet is getting worse and he has a theory why. In conversation with The National’s Ian Hanomansing, the Canadian author explains his term ‘enshittification’ and the questions it raises about the power of big tech.
How to put text behind your subject in Premiere Pro
Using the Object Mask tool in Premiere Pro.
The Gray Area: How capitalism ate the culture
Kalle Lasn has been trying to jam consumer culture for decades. Now he thinks that was only the beginning. The Gray Area talks with the Adbusters founder about advertising, culture jamming, meme warfare, surveillance capitalism, and why he believes the old left-right political script is dead. Lasn argues that consumer culture is not just shallow or manipulative but part of a system pushing us toward collapse. His answer is bigger than protest and weirder than reform. He wants a cultural revolution that starts with new ideas, new language, and maybe an entirely new politics.
Is the UK falling out of love with social media?
The Guardian reports that social media is losing its ‘social aspect’. As the article notes: “In an age of video posts, people are consuming their feed more as entertainment than as interaction. Matt Navarra, a social media consultant, says it is a case of social media now entering into a mature phase with ‘smarter, safer participation’ where people are ‘less willing to perform for a broad audience’. This concentrates content creation in the hands of creators and influencers, says Navarra, while everyone else plays the role of consumer. ‘The gap between who creates and who consumes is widening and that is reshaping what social media actually is.’”
How China fell for a lobster: What an AI assistant tells us about Beijing's ambition
China’s embrace of artificial intelligence, particularly the open-source AI assistant OpenClaw, has sparked both excitement and concern. Driven by government encouragement, OpenClaw’s popularity surged, with users employing it for tasks like e-commerce and stock trading. However, concerns about costs, security risks, and potential job displacement have led to a cooling of the initial hype and government intervention.
The end of the ‘Dumb Dad’ trope
For decades, sitcom dads followed a very familiar formula. They were clueless. Immature. Often the punchline of the joke. From the bumbling father archetype of Homer Simpson to the emotionally distant patriarch in Red Foreman, TV had a very specific idea of what a “funny dad” looked like. And then came Modern Family's Phil Dunphy. He was something completely different. Instead of making the father figure the butt of every joke, Modern Family made him the heart of the show. At a time when sitcoms relied on cynicism and sarcasm, Phil Dunphy stood out by being genuinely kind, without ever losing what made him funny. And in doing so, he changed what audiences expect from sitcom dads forever.
Fewer UK adults posting on social media, Ofcom finds
Fewer UK adults are actively posting on social media, opting for more private interactions, according to Ofcom’s latest survey. This shift, driven by concerns about online privacy and a desire for “digital self-preservation,” indicates a rise in “passive” social media use. The survey also found increased AI tool usage, particularly among young people, and a growing concern about screentime.
"Cognitive surrender" leads AI users to abandon logical thinking, research finds
Research from the University of Pennsylvania explores “cognitive surrender,” where users uncritically accept AI-generated answers. Experiments using Cognitive Reflection Tests showed that users often accepted faulty AI reasoning, especially when presented confidently.
Power-washing, pool-cleaning and mowing: Why millions are playing games about mundane jobs
Mundane job simulators, like PowerWash Simulator and Lawn Mowing Simulator, are gaining popularity for their relaxing and repetitive gameplay. These games offer a sense of accomplishment and stress relief, appealing to players seeking a low-pressure gaming experience. The genre’s soothing nature has even been linked to positive mental health benefits, making it a unique and valuable addition to the gaming landscape.
How Soderbergh Elevates A (Minor) Scene
Nerdwriter argues that Steven Soderbergh turns even a minor transitional scene in Black Bag into something vivid through precise staging and camera placement. He highlights Soderbergh’s use of slow dolly movements, reframing, focal-length shifts, and real-location depth to establish relationships, tension, and momentum without wasting a shot. The essay’s larger point is that great filmmakers solve small cinematic problems brilliantly, and in a truly great film, no scene is unimportant.
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