The Social Self

The Secret to That Potato-Salad Kickstarter Campaign's Success

Most of the money came from people who gave $35 to $49. 

• Rebecca Chao
• July 24, 2014

Anti-Surveillance Camouflage for Your Face

In a world of increasingly sophisticated facial-recognition technology, a drastic technique can throw the machines off your trail.

• Robinson Meyer
• July 24, 2014

How to Invent a Person Online

Is it possible to be truly anonymous in the digital world?

• Curtis Wallen
• July 23, 2014

Abbey Road's Photographic Echo

A live cam lets you watch tourists recreate the famous album cover—and it tells us something about images in the process.

• Adrienne LaFrance
• July 18, 2014

What Happens When Digital Cities Are Abandoned?

Exploring the pristine ruins of Second Life and other online spaces

• Laura E. Hall
• July 13, 2014

Figuring Out How to Mourn in the Age of Skype

Do religious traditions still provide a good map for grieving?

• Elizabeth Stoker Bruenig
• July 10, 2014

She's Still Dying on Facebook

It’s been five years since my best friend from high school passed away, but her death happens over and over online.

• Julie Buntin
• July 6, 2014

I Sent All My Text Messages in Calligraphy for a Week

And here's what I learned.

• Cristina Vanko
• June 26, 2014

What the New Kids on the Block Taught Me About Social Networks

In the early 1990s, New Kids on the Block fans fed their fascination on Prodigy, as Justin Bieber's do today on the Internet. But while the fandom might be the same, the online world has changed.

• Courtney Klossner
• June 25, 2014

Why People Name Their Machines

Anthropomorphizing devices makes humans feel like machines work for them.

• Adrienne LaFrance
• June 23, 2014