Hello and welcome to #30. Had a bit of a hiatus as I needed to chill and focus on a few things. But I have a week off this week - meandering around and enjoying being able to process information again. A lot has happened.
I remember joking when I started this newsletter that it would be an Elon Musk free zone as much as I could help it. I'll try to keep to that, even though it’s becoming increasingly difficult.
I’ve been spending more time on Discords (Garbage Day, Dirt, SideChannel, Today in Tabs), Tik Tok and Substack (discovery has gotten a lot better) - nothing is forever but I would be sad if Twitter stops and I think it’s unlikely but not impossible, considering reports of App Store pull and the increasingly ridiculous decision-making. Users may be increasing - if you believe his tweets - but I am intrigued to see how revenue will do and indeed, the long term safety and importance of the platform. Considering Twitter Blue (small time, imo) is only on iOS there are probably more reasons to consider his recent actions on that 30% - which literally everyone knows oh and.
As I’ve said for months now, the mass ‘social’ era is coming to an end. Social media sites as we know them are more media and ents. The social part of this all will be smaller, more niche and perhaps nicer too. Think Whatsapp groups, Discords or whatever. I’ve long said communities online cannot scale, I think niche will be the future but Twitter was the apex between media and social, seeing it die would be sad. Twitter wants to become a WeChat, it could do it, who knows. But there are macro trends above it that are probably too powerful to stop.
Now, on to the #content.
1. Is there an online culture peace coming?
Given the above you may think not, but I hope so. We all live in our digital bubbles, but when you step away from it, you realise how actually bubble like it all is. Most people still don’t understand the internet, that includes people who work on the internet too. They use it for shopping, for news, for small time stuff but they aren’t in the culture, not really. That’s why the culture war online has always confused me because I dunno who is fighting, feels like an empty war. This is a short piece on a peace breaking out in these culture wars though, which is hopeful. Side note, I think the generation that are being born now will eventually shun the internet we use. Save this for 2040.
2. When brand impedes growth
One of my favourite substacks - this focuses on fashion but the concept of brand really. In particular on Gucci. It may sound like not something for you, but if there is one thing lux fashion knows how to do, it’s build brands. I think the conflict of lux and scarcity with commercial pressure is one thing to watch. How much growth does any business need anymore?
3. A tweet.
Odds and ends, basic links. Pure linkage.
Drill, one of Twitter’s biggest accounts on Musk and the platform.
I’ve read, listened and watched a lot of Bob Iger, he’s back. Here’s why and how.
Tik Tok ad revenue to exceed Meta and YT by 2027. Lot of ifs and buts, but sure.
YT Shorts coming to TV. If I was a betting man, I’d bet on YouTube.
Interesting thought on some Tech CEO’s hoping Musk succeeds.
Things on Tik Tok that are trending for me.
People in the comments of food videos talking about washing chicken before cooking. Sorry, what?
Meghan Trainor’s song. I made you look, indeed.
The red-beret girl from Matilda, is just awesome. So much UGC from it too. It’s coming to Netflix soon and so it will really get out on the other platforms too. Look at the joy! 👇
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Look at the joy in the hashtag here. It’s wholesome.
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Bonus.
I got to see the new Knives Out: Glass Onion this week and really enjoyed it. It’s a little hammier than the first, a little more in your face and maybe will not be what you’re expecting. There are so many cameos it’s unreal, not only of people either. The clothes are absolutely sublime too. Can I wear what Daniel Craig wears every day? Like, could I actually pull it off? No, sure, but should I try? Also no? A man can dream. It’s a great romp of a film. I’ll watch it again.
There is a scene which I won’t spoil but just reminded me of what’s going on with Musk so watch out for it.
All the spelling and grammatical mistakes in this Substack are on purpose to test you, actually. Well done. You got them all. No, I don’t need to know about them, you have that kudos.
“If I was a betting man, I’d bet on YouTube.”
100% agree.