Virality Machines and Anti-Capitalist Capitalists
Virality Machines and Anti-Capitalist Capitalists
plus: pot > booze
The Haim sisters dancing is Twitter's favorite new meme; Harry Styles pledges $1 million to Everytown for gun safety; and a “Mean Girls”-inspired TikTok helped a North Carolina student win her school election.
WANT EXCLUSIVE TEXTS FROM THE JONAS BROTHERS? SCRIBER CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN., tubefilter
This startup — which is angling to be “the next generation fan club” — lets creators charge a monthly fee for exclusive content sent via text message. Sounds super interesting, but I do have two questions: 1) Are (presumably young) fans really that willing (or, even, able) to make already-rich celebrities richer? 2) Do people really care about the Jonas Brothers these days?????
THE YOUNG, RICH, ANTI-CAPITALIST CAPITALISTS, recode
There’s a small but growing number of wealthy young people — millennials, mostly, at least for now — seeking a more radical approach to investing. Some call it the seemingly contradictory term “anti-capitalist” investing; others refer to it as “transformative investing.”
AN EATER CRITIC’S NIGHT OUT WITH A TIKTOK FOOD INFLUENCER, eater
Restaurant critic Ryan Sutton published a pretty wild account of what it’s like to dine out with a young TikTok food influencer. In addition to some delicious (sorry) details about what it takes to be a top-tier creator on the platform, he also shares sharp insights into the state of social media today.
What’s especially interesting about our imperfect TikTok world is a loosening of the prevailing aesthetic. Some of the most promoted clips shot on the video app don’t boast the same natural-light-dappled hues as popular Instagram shots. A TikTok video generally has the production value of a senior prom video. It’s rarely a work of art, but it’s undeniably functional.
WE TRACKED WHAT HAPPENS AFTER TIKTOK SONGS GO VIRAL, vox
I’m realizing this letter features a weird amount of Vox Media links. This is not sponsored — if only! — these stories are all just very worth your time, especially this video that expertly explains how the music industry has “shape-shifted” around TikTok.
WHAT DO ZOOMERS LIKE? POT OR SHROOMS, NOT BOOZE, bloomberg
Of people aged 18 to 24, 69% prefer marijuana to alcohol. The top reasons for cannabis use “were relaxation, sleep, emotional release, and fun,” and they cite a desire to be healthier as a top reason to skip drinking.
WHY JONES ROAD IS PAYING CUSTOMERS TO POST TIKTOKS ABOUT ITS PRODUCTS, fastco
Micro-influencers are making thousands of dollars posting about brands like Bobbi Brown’s makeup line Jones Road through Bounty, an app (currently in closed beta) that allows shoppers to monetize reviews and recommendations on TikTok.
One last thought:
