Maybe You Missed It, but the Internet ‘Died’ Five Years Ago
A conspiracy theory spreading online says the whole internet is now fake. It’s ridiculous, but possibly not that ridiculous?
Misinformation Is About to Get So Much Worse
A conversation with the former Google CEO Eric Schmidt
The Largest Autocracy on Earth
Facebook is acting like a hostile foreign power; it’s time we treated it that way.
Tucker Carlson Makes a Play for the Barbz
Nicki Minaj fans are defending her vaccine hesitancy, and the right is using it as a recruitment opportunity.
The Al Capone Approach to Anti-vaxxers
The social-media giants are going after vaccine liars and conspiracists for technicalities. Is there a better way to protect the truth?
Americans Have No Idea What the Supply Chain Really Is
Behind shipping delays and soaring prices are workers still at mortal risk of COVID-19.
It Has Come to Subscription Tacos
Even Taco Bell is a tech company now.
Ebooks Are an Abomination
If you hate them, it’s not your fault.
The Third Revolution in Warfare
First there was gunpowder. Then nuclear weapons. Next: artificially intelligent weapons.
How Long Will Twitter Cling to Its Dumbest Feature?
People love to hate the site’s “What’s happening” tab. Why won’t the company just let it go?
People Liked Malls
Amazon appears to have discovered that the fastest, freest shipping is picking stuff up in person.
Pfizer Gang Is Pfinished
Was a fun internet culture around vaccines ever going to last?
The Vaccine Cards Are the Wrong Size
Seriously, why can I not fit this thing in my wallet?
Facebook Cares About Privacy—But Only If You’re an Advertiser
The social giant kicked off researchers studying how political ads can encourage targeted voter suppression, leaving citizens with little insight into how they’re manipulated on the platform.
What Are Stores Even Thinking With All These Emails?
Your inbox is now a shopping mall.
It’s August, and No One Knows What Kind of Summer It Is
For a moment it was hot vax summer; then the vibe sort of shifted.
Left-Wing Activists Are Bringing Back MAGA Twitter
An anonymous social-media account claims to “combat right-wing threats” to democracy, and recently started fundraising through a PAC.
Millennials, What Will It Take for You to Buy Life Insurance?
Start-ups are going to ridiculous lengths to rebrand an industry in desperate need of some younger customers.
Move to Berrien County, Michigan, for the Beaches—And the $15,000
Some of America’s shrinking towns are trying to lure remote workers with cash. It’s not going so great.
To Be Honest With You, No Influencer Has Been Treated More Unfairly Than Donald Trump Jr.
The most furious and oddly compelling of the Trumps is developing a personal brand as a victim of the platform he loves.
Why Are Gamers So Much Better Than Scientists at Catching Fraud?
A pair of recent cheating scandals—one in the “speedrunning” community of gamers, and one in medical research—call attention to an alarming contrast.