Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Taylor Lorenz @taylorlorenz.bsky.social · 15h

"Haidt’s thesis is broader than just 'new thing bad.' In The Anxious Generation and his public commentary you find a dismissal of young people as a thinking, feeling group: they are anxious because of phones, they empathize with Gaza because of phones."

now is not the time to ban phones

why Jonathan Haidt sucks

howtodothingswithmemes.substack.com

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Reposted by Taylor Lorenz

Kat Tenbarge @kattenbarge.bsky.social · 1d

Yes! These tech monopolies are definitely a part of the problem, and a lot of the legislation aimed at the internet right now will empower them to further crush competitors and consolidate power

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Kat Tenbarge @kattenbarge.bsky.social · 1d

I think people take for granted the ability to post freely on the internet. Our ability to do so is endangered. Social media isn't going away but the powers that be are hyper focused on making it an echo chamber

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Taylor Lorenz @taylorlorenz.bsky.social · 1d

Charlie Kirk’s death has led to unprecedented levels of thirst trapping from men on Christian Reels

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Taylor Lorenz @taylorlorenz.bsky.social · 1d

😷🤝 solidarity always and forever

Kendry Bird of the Endless (she/her) @kendrybird.bsky.social · 1d

Every time I see @taylorlorenz.bsky.social rocking up to an event in a mask, I feel so much solidarity and hope. It IS possible to live a full and busy life while masking. The only reason so many folks can't is because they're now the only ones masking in public, and it's less safe.

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Kendry Bird of the Endless (she/her) @kendrybird.bsky.social · 1d

Every time I see @taylorlorenz.bsky.social rocking up to an event in a mask, I feel so much solidarity and hope. It IS possible to live a full and busy life while masking. The only reason so many folks can't is because they're now the only ones masking in public, and it's less safe.

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WIRED @wired.com · 4d

For years, white nationalist influencer Nick Fuentes was too extreme even for MAGA. Now he's working his way into the mainstream—and has a plan for his secret followers to seize the levers of power.

Nick Fuentes’ Plan to Conquer America

For years, influencer Nick Fuentes was too extreme even for MAGA. Now he's working his way into the mainstream—and has a plan for his secret followers to seize the levers of power.

wrd.cm

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Mark Bray @mark-bray.bsky.social · 3d

I’ve received multiple death threats + doxing (including my home address) directly following harassment from Turning Point USA, Jack Posobiec, Andy NGO, + Fox News which called me an antifa ‘financier.’

I have been forced to move my classes online.

If journalists want to talk, DM me or reply here.

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Not A TikTok @notatiktok.bsky.social · 5d

Excellent interview @taylorlorenz.bsky.social. VPNs are our last line of defense against internet censorship. It was only a matter of time before the censors come after us.

youtu.be/IoXafCNjl54?...

The Shocking Plan to Kill Online Privacy: A VPN Ban Will Break the Web

YouTube video by Taylor Lorenz

youtu.be

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devilcereal.bsky.social @devilcereal.bsky.social · 5d

Great breakdown on the current VPN situation with @taylorlorenz.bsky.social
.Note the politicization of saftey features with AV laws will ramp up,if they can't block VPNs they will argue any non AV chat platform is evading laws etc,a game of compliance is never about saftey youtu.be/IoXafCNjl54?...

The Shocking Plan to Kill Online Privacy: A VPN Ban Will Break the Web

YouTube video by Taylor Lorenz

youtu.be

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Reposted by Taylor Lorenz

Esotouric's Secret Los Angeles @esotouric.bsky.social · 5d

South Bay folks, close your windows and mask up. If you're driving, set air to recycle. The Chevron refinery in El Segundo just blew up.

citizen.com/-OacL7_yVyF5...

Massive Fire After Explosion at Refinery in Manhattan Beach

El Segundo - The refinery involved in the blast has been identified as Chevron Products Company in El Segundo.

citizen.com

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Taylor Lorenz @taylorlorenz.bsky.social · 5d

It is scary to think what AI is doing to feed my stalker’s delusions. This is a man who has hired photographers to surveil me, shows up at events I am at, impersonates my friends and family members online to gather info, believes I’m sending him secret messages through my writing

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Taylor Lorenz @taylorlorenz.bsky.social · 5d

Someone gave my psychotic stalker an invite to Sora and he’s already making AI videos of me. Thankful that Sora has the option to block and delete unapproved content with my image. This is a dangerous man who runs hundreds (yes hundreds) of accounts dedicated to me.

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Taylor Lorenz @taylorlorenz.bsky.social · 7d

Reminder that if you want to get my newsletter on Patreon instead of Substack, you can sign up here!! :) www.patreon.com/posts/hawk-t...

Hawk Tuah's Twitch pivot, New Face syndrome, Gen Z divorcés, and Sam Altman shoplifting slop | Taylor Lorenz

Get more from Taylor Lorenz on Patreon

www.patreon.com

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Taylor Lorenz @taylorlorenz.bsky.social · 7d

Hawk Tuah's Twitch pivot, New Face syndrome, Gen Z divorcés, Sam Altman shoplifting slop, cockroach spies, brain rot pop, Forbes vs a gun violence activist, how 'I’ve Had It' is going mainstream, and MORE in today's newsletter!

The AI Slop-pocalypse

+ Hawk Tuah's Twitch pivot, New Face syndrome, Gen Z divorcés, Sam Altman shoplifting slop, cockroach spies, brain rot pop, Forbes vs a gun violence activist, and how 'I’ve Had It' is going mainstream

www.usermag.co

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Taylor Lorenz @taylorlorenz.bsky.social · 7d

Jonathan Haidt is posting anti porn slop again www.instagram.com/reel/DO_7Tzv...

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Kit Yates @kityates.bsky.social · 9d

“53% of conservatives say humanity has discovered most or all of what there is to know about math, compared to 40% of liberals.”

Don't know much about history? | YouGov

Americans are likely to say humanity knows most or all of what there is to know about topics such as geography, mathematics, economics, and literature.

today.yougov.com

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Taylor Lorenz @taylorlorenz.bsky.social · 10d

This administration is in the final stages of a deal to hand over control of TikTok to pro-Trump, pro-Israel billionaire investors – and Joe Biden is to blame.

TikTok Is About to Go Full MAGA

This administration is in the final stages of a deal to hand over control of TikTok to pro-Trump, pro-Israel billionaire investors – and Joe Biden is to blame.

zeteo.com

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Reposted by Taylor Lorenz

Bobby Allyn @bobbyallyn.bsky.social · 12d

The TikTok deal & algorithm licensing arrangement are about to get tons of attention. But the algo is just personalized linear algebra. More crucial thing is content moderation — who's doing it, what the rules are, what enforcement looks like. AI slop & disinfo is absolutely rampant on the platform

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Bobby Allyn @bobbyallyn.bsky.social · 12d

Wait! This is a big deal:

Trump's EO says "the divestiture puts the operation of the algorithms and code, as well as content-moderation decisions, under the control of the new joint venture."

Ellison family also in charge of TikTok's content moderation??

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Tyler Kingkade @tktk.bsky.social · 13d

The first time I wrote about Ryan Walters was in 2023 -- he successfully pushed the Tulsa superintendent to resign, after the district told a far-right board member she couldn't lead a prayer at a graduation ceremony

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

How Oklahoma’s schools superintendent became the state’s top culture warrior

Ryan Walters, who called a teachers union a “terrorist organization” and pushed for prayer in public schools, offers a preview of what could be coming in other Republican-led states.

www.nbcnews.com

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Jonathan M. Katz @katz.theracket.news · 13d

Putting aside the researchers' inability to identify acts of state terrorism, the number they're using to justify this subhed is five.

Left-Wing Terrorism Is on the Rise
For the first time in more than 30 years, attacks by the far left outnumber those by the far right.
By Daniel Byman and Riley McCabe

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Wendy Suares @wsuares.bsky.social · 13d

Ryan Walters bolts after announcing on cable news (in our studio) he will be stepping down as Superintendent to become CEO of Teacher Freedom Alliance to “destroy the teacher unions”.

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Taylor Lorenz @taylorlorenz.bsky.social · 13d

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Taylor Lorenz @taylorlorenz.bsky.social · 15d

THANK YOU!!!