Technology

Feeling Herd

What I learned from a steer named Chico

The Rule of Thumb That Can Save You Money on Gas

The key to coping with high gas prices is better driving habits.

The Myth of the ‘First TikTok War’

The world is viewing the Russian invasion of Ukraine with startling intimacy on social media. But how or whether this matters remains unclear.

The Information War Isn’t Over Yet

The online fight between Russia and Ukraine has already surprised propaganda experts. It may only get more chaotic.

The Ugly, Embarrassing Spectacle of ‘Milling’ Around Online

What we’re doing when we make erratic posts about Ukraine

‘Netwar’ Could Be Even Worse Than Cyberwar

A risk first described almost 30 years ago is now mature.

What Americans Should Do to Prepare for Russian Cyberattacks

Russians have elevated patriotic hacking to an “art form.” Americans may feel the effects.

I Can’t Stop Watching a Livestream of Kyiv

My home is in danger, and I’m thousands of miles away. This small, strange window is helping me cope.

Silicon Valley Is Coming for Your Chocolate

One day, cocoa might come from a petri dish.

Am I Being Love Bombed? Are You?

Since the beginning of the year, love bombing has been everywhere. What makes the term so appealing?

Do You Want a Boring Floor Lamp or an Ugly Floor Lamp?

The internet has everything—except the one thing I need.

Sports Betting Is Ruining More Than Your Bank Account

The betting apps now legal in much of the country are about to sap the Super Bowl of the very thing that makes it so special.

Podcasts Are No Longer Private Conversations

Keeping track of all the garbage aired in audio can be a full-time job, and the stakes are getting higher.

Facebook Has a Superuser-Supremacy Problem

Most public activity on the platform comes from a tiny, hyperactive group of abusive users. Facebook relies on them to decide what everyone sees.

Slime and SpongeBob Can’t Fix the NFL’s Image Problem

A partnership with Nickelodeon is the league’s latest attempt to grow its fan base—and whitewash the brutality of football.

Beware the FOMO Bullies of Technology

Are we living through a replay of the ’90s, when most people just didn’t get “this internet thing”?

The Internet Is Just Investment Banking Now

The internet has always financialized our lives. Web3 just makes that explicit.

The Crypto Backlash Is Booming

Web3 is making some people very rich. It’s making other people very angry.

Celebrities and NFTs Are a Match Made in Hell

Somehow, star endorsements have found a new low.

How the Snowflakes Won

The soft, sad freaks on an unprofitable website claimed victory in the battle for the internet’s soul and defined the worldview of a generation.