Social Media

November 15, 2023

A Social Media Star at 98

On a recent evening in the West Village of Manhattan, Dorothy Wiggins, a petite 98-year-old woman wearing a dark coat and a pink scarf, left her […]
November 8, 2023

Can You Understand Gen Alpha’s Slang?

Are you a “sigma”? Do you have “rizz”? The youngest generation is bamboozling its elders with terms all their own. Do you know what a gyat […]
November 6, 2023

What Is ‘Looksmaxxing’?

“Looksmaxxers” are a booming online community creating new terms for age-old insecurities. Skin-care routines, hair care, a good night’s sleep: These are not cutting-edge suggestions for […]
November 3, 2023

Gen Z Beatles Fans Come Together on TikTok

“Can’t believe it’s 2023 and I get the joy of hearing a new Beatles song for the first time ever,” a 23-year-old says in a video […]
October 27, 2023

Martin and Francesca Scorsese, TikTok’s Dynamic Duo

The acclaimed director’s daughter, a filmmaker herself, has been peppering her feed with videos of her father, showing a rarely seen side of him. Step aside, […]
October 25, 2023

‘Roughing the Princess’: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Fanfic Angers Fans

“Roughing the Princess,” an erotic e-book inspired by an actual relationship, veered too close to reality for many of Taylor Swift’s fans. She’s a beloved blonde […]
October 25, 2023

What Is It About Fan-Made Trailers?

Fan edits — short montages of films and television shows like “Bottoms” and “Succession” set to music — have become a staple of online life. By […]
October 16, 2023

Harvard Cozies Up to #MentalHealth TikTok

As young Americans turn to TikTok for information on mental health, the T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard is building its own team of […]
October 10, 2023

Child Influencers Make Big Money. Who Gets It?

Some of the most popular influencers can amass small fortunes before they’re 18, but there are few legal protections to ensure their earnings remain their own. […]
October 10, 2023

Social Media Changed How Brands Talk to Us, but Are the Jokes Wearing Thin?

For a decade, marketers have found success on social media by roasting customers, and even flirting with them. But with Gen Z, and platforms like TikTok […]