Taylor Lorenz’s Power User

Elon Musk has evolved far beyond a billionaire CEO. SUPPORT MY WORK: Buy a paid subscription to my newsletter at usermag.co  Support my work on Patreon for bonus episodes, monthly Q&A livestreams, and more: http://patreon.com/taylorlorenz   According to political theorists Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff, Musk has created an entirely new ideology called “Muskism” — a system where technology companies merge with state power, AI shapes politics, and billionaires become more powerful than governments.In this episode of Free Speech Friday, I sit down with Quinn Slobodian, co-author of the new book Muskism, to break down how Elon Musk’s worldview went from Silicon Valley optimism to tech authoritarianism. We discuss Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, Neuralink, AI censorship, OpenAI, Grok, surveillance, DOGE, data centers, Silicon Valley’s shift toward defense tech, and why Musk’s influence now reaches into every part of society.We also unpack:Elon Musk’s political transformationThe rise of MuskismAI paranoia and “woke AI”Why Silicon Valley is embracing militarizationMusk’s obsession with reproduction and population declineHow SpaceX and Starlink could reshape global powerThe future of AI and surveillance capitalismWhy tech billionaires are becoming impossible to escape

What happens if AI becomes smarter than humans at most jobs?SUPPORT MY WORK: Buy a paid subscription to my newsletter at usermag.co Support my work on Patreon for bonus episodes, monthly Q&A livestreams, and more: http://patreon.com/taylorlorenz Researchers, economists, and top AI executives are increasingly warning about the rise of a “permanent underclass”,  a future where millions of workers lose not just their jobs, but their economic value altogether. In this episode of Power User, I sit down with writer Jasmine Sun to unpack the terrifying idea that artificial intelligence could permanently reshape class, wealth, labor, and power in America.We discuss OpenAI, Anthropic, AGI, automation, white collar layoffs, Silicon Valley ideology, AI job displacement, universal basic income, data center protests, populism, and whether society is prepared for what’s coming next.Could AI destroy upward mobility? Will automation create mass unemployment? Are tech companies being honest about the future they’re building?We cover:The permanent underclass theory explainedWho is actually pushing this ideaOpenAI's shifting stance on job displacementLeading the Future and AI lobbyingWhy AI is different from past tech hypePolicy failures and democratic backlashWhat China is doing differentlyWhat workers should actually do now#AI #Tech #Technology #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #AGI #OpenAI #Anthropic #SiliconValley #TechNews #JobAutomation #AIJobs #TechIndustry  

What’s really driving the growing backlash against AI and Silicon Valley?Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz           ⁠ 🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: ⁠https://www.usermag.co    From burning data centers to celebrating an attack on Sam Altman’s house, the anti‑tech backlash has escalated. In this episode of Free Speech Friday, I sit down with journalist and author Brian Merchant to unpack the rise of anti AI sentiment, the growing anger toward Big Tech, and why public hostility toward companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google keeps escalating.We discuss:Why the AI backlash exploded so quicklyThe connection between AI fear and distrust in capitalismWhy people are protesting data centersThe rise of anti tech politicsAI doomers and effective altruismSam Altman and Silicon Valley PR failuresWhether AI companies created their own crisisHow automation fears are shaping public opinionWhy people feel powerless against Big TechThe future of AI regulation and resistanceBrian Merchant is the author of Blood in the Machine, a book about the original Luddites and the history of anti technology movements.If you’re interested in AI, ChatGPT, Silicon Valley, automation, tech criticism, labor politics, or the future of the internet, we break down the cultural and political forces shaping the AI era.Subscribe for more interviews and deep dives on AI, internet culture, media, tech, and politics.

Ben Shapiro’s Media Empire Is CollapsingSupport my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz          ⁠ 🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: ⁠https://www.usermag.co   For the last decade, Ben Shapiro and The Daily Wire dominated the digital landscape. From Facebook to chart-topping podcasts, they seemed untouchable. But in 2025, the data tells a different story. With a 90% drop in YouTube views, massive layoffs, and the high-profile exit of CEO Jeremy Boreing, the "Conservative Disney" empire is crashing and burning.The Bulwark's Will Sommer joins me on this week's episode of Power User to dive deep into the rise and fall of Ben Shapiro. We break down the explosive internal feud with Candace Owens, the catastrophic failure of his Hollywood ambitions, how a changing Facebook algorithm killed their traffic overnight, and what his fall reveals about the future of conservative media. We cover:The Daily Wire layoffs and financial struggles.Why Ben Shapiro is losing his audience to creators like Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson.The failure of "Anti-Woke" entertainment and the "Conservative Hollywood" dream.How the death of Charlie Kirk created a massive fracture in the MAGA movement.Why Ben Shapiro is irrelevant to Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

What if everything you've been told about technological progress is a lie?Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz         ⁠ 🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: ⁠https://www.usermag.co       AI is changing society faster than ever, but resistance to technology is not new. For this week's Free Speech Friday I spoke with academic Thomas Dekeyser, author of Techno Negative, about the history of anti-technology movements, from the Luddites smashing machines in the Industrial Revolution to anarchist groups bombing computer companies in the 1980s.We discuss AI, labor automation, surveillance, moral panic, Silicon Valley ideology, tech CEOs, machine breaking, environmental destruction, and why backlash against technology keeps returning throughout history. We also explore whether technological progress actually benefits ordinary people, or mainly serves corporations and power. Sometimes it's not what you think!Topics include:Why anti-AI movements are growingBig Tech and labor exploitationAI moral panic and conspiracy theoriesEnvironmental costs of AISurveillance and controlThe politics of technological progressWhy people resist new technologySilicon Valley and deregulation

The Lie Created To Strip Your Rights OnlineSupport my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz        ⁠ 🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: ⁠https://www.usermag.co      In March, a CNN investigation into a "Global Academy" of 62 million men allegedly drugging and assaulting women broke the internet. But the most viral story of the year was built on a foundation of misleading statistics and bad journalism. Journalist Kat Tenbarge joins me to debunk the "62 Million Men" narrative. We dig into how this story was used to manufacture consent for dangerous new censorship laws and who is actually behind the movement to repeal Section 230.In this video, we cover:Why the "62 million" figure is a misleading traffic stat, not a count of criminals.The connection between CNN’s reporting and far-right Christian nationalist groups like Exodus Cry.How the "Global Academy" branding was manufactured from a single interview quote.The real-world harm of FOSTA-SESTA and why new "safety" bills like KOSA actually endanger victims.How mainstream media organizations lobby against free speech to protect their own business interests.Don't let emotional propaganda dictate tech policy. We look at the systemic failures of the legal system and why villainizing platforms instead of perpetrators is a losing battle for women's rights. If you’ve seen the “62 million men” claim, you need to watch this. 

Should AI be protected by free speech laws?Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz        ⁠ 🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: ⁠https://www.usermag.co      In this episode of Free Speech Friday, I sit down with Corbin K. Barthold, Internet Policy Counsel at Tech Freedom, to discuss one of the most controversial legal papers of the year: "Why the First Amendment Protects Artificial Intelligence."While many are calling for strict AI regulation to prevent "AI psychosis" or the spread of misinformation, Corbin argues that AI outputs are a protected form of expression. If we allow the government to dictate what an LLM can and cannot say, are we inadvertently giving them the power to control our access to information?In this video, we cover:Why AI content qualifies as First Amendment protected speech.The theories the government uses to justify censorship.Analysis of recent tragic cases involving Character AI.Why New York’s S7263 law might be "rank protectionism" for doctors and lawyers.The progressive case for why we should actually want free and open AI.#siliconvalley #tech #technology #internet #ai #artificialintelligence

There’s a hidden social hierarchy on the internetSupport my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz       ⁠ 🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: ⁠https://www.usermag.co     Is your Instagram "low class"? While we like to think of the internet as a universal playground, a new digital class war is emerging. From the way you use filters to the number of emojis in your bio, your digital habits are increasingly signaling your socioeconomic status to the world.In this episode of Power User, I sit down with etymologist and cultural commentator Adam Aleksic to decode the hidden semiotics of "Low Class Instagram." We explore why billionaires keep their accounts private with 200 followers, why the "photo dump" has become a sophisticated narrative tool for elites, and how algorithms are siloing us into class-based bubbles.We break down:The "Puppy Filter" Trap: Why technical illiteracy is the new class signifier.Billionaire Behavior: Why the ultimate luxury is being completely offline.Digital White Flight: Why elite users are fleeing Facebook and Instagram for "curated" spaces like Bluesky vs Substack.AI & Class: How your choice of LLM (Claude vs. ChatGPT) and even your font choice (Serif vs. Sans Serif) reveals your status.The Death of Anonymity: Why the "surveillance state" makes it harder for lower-class users to experiment with their identities.

[PATREON PREVIEW] Is Geese a Psyop? How the Music Industry Fakes ViralitySubscribe to my Patreon to get this and other bonus Power User podcast episodes!! Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz       ⁠ 🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: ⁠https://www.usermag.co     The Brooklyn band Geese has sparked a massive "industry plant" controversy in 2026 after their album Getting Killed and a sold-out tour led to accusations of being a digital "psyop". While the music has received mainstream praise, fans became suspicious of how the band took over social media feeds almost overnight. This skepticism intensified after an interview at SXSW with Chaotic Good Projects, a marketing agency that uses armies of bots and TikTok accounts to force songs into virality.Kristin Robinson is a journalist at Billboard who broke the story about Geese and Chaotic Good Projects. She joins me to discuss how meme pages are used by the music industry, how record labels manipulate online conversations and flood comment sections with positive messages, and how agencies can sway public perception of performances on SNL or Tiny Desk. As AI-generated music begins to top the iTunes charts, the line between authentic talent and engineered "slop" continues to blur. We discuss the truth behind the Geese situation, the evolution of viral marketing, and how the music industry is changing in the age of automation.We discuss:How viral music campaigns actually workWhy “industry plant” accusations keep happeningHow platforms like TikTok shape what you hearWhether AI artists could be the next big thing

The Billionaire Who Built a Private Surveillance StateSupport my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz       ⁠ 🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: ⁠https://www.usermag.co Sports arenas and concert venues are becoming high-tech surveillance "deep states." In this video, I dive into the explosive Wired report by Noah Shachtman and Robert Silverman that reveals how the owner of a ton of NYC concert venues and sports arenas uses facial recognition and private investigators to track, monitor, and ban anyone he deems an enemy.From tracking trans women at Pride Night to banning lawyers and 14-year-old kids for social media posts, the level of surveillance at MSG, Radio City, and The Sphere is unprecedented. Is this the future of privacy for sports fans and concert-goers? I sat down with Noah Shachtman to discuss the chilling secrets of the new billionaire surveillance machine.Full WIRED story: https://www.wired.com/story/madison-square-garden-jim-dolan-surveillance-machine

AI companies are secretly waging a massive PR campaign targeting women.Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz      ⁠ 🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: ⁠https://www.usermag.co     In the past year, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Meta have launched an aggressive PR campaign to rebrand artificial intelligence for women, especially mothers and teen girls. Suddenly AI isn't an existential threat or a labor displacement machine. It's a "lifestyle accessory," a "creative tool," and your new girly best friend. Kat Tenbarge of Spitfire News joins me to expose the AI "Hot Girl Economy" and how tech giants are using aesthetic trends to Trojan-horse AI into our daily lives. We cover everything from viral Studio Ghibli filters and the AI puppy photo craze, to how startups like Higgsfield are targeting fashion influencers.  We discuss what this "AI girly pop era" is designed to distract you from: extreme labor displacement, massive energy consumption, and the tech industry becoming increasingly intertwined with the US War Machine.SUPPORT POWER USER 💖 Patreon (bonus episodes, monthly Q&As, livestreams): ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz    📬 User Mag Substack: https://usermag.co  🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts ⭐ Please rate and review — it genuinely helps the show get discovered!!!#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #TechNews #ChatGPT #OpenAI #GoogleGemini #WomenInTech #HotGirlEconomy #KatTenbarge #TechIndustry #Pinkwashing #SocialMediaTrends 

Is Silicon Valley actually making progress, or are they just breaking the world for profit? Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz     ⁠ 🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: ⁠https://www.usermag.co     ⁠ In this episode of Free Speech Friday, I’m joined by legal scholar and surveillance expert Albert Fox Cahn to dismantle the "Move Fast and Break Things" ethos that has dominated tech for a decade. From the multibillion-dollar failure of the Metaverse to the "innovation theater" of the Apple Vision Pro, we explore why the most hyped technologies are often the most disastrous.We dive deep into the dark side of home security, revealing how Ring cameras have turned from safety tools into a massive surveillance network for law enforcement, sometimes even recording your most private moments without a warrant. We also tackle the "AI bubble," the myth of police body cameras, and why the "boring" analog solutions are often the safest bet for our future. Albert is the founder of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.) and the author of the new book, Move Slow and Upgrade: The Power of Incremental Innovation.

Iranian LEGO videos mocking the US government are taking over the internet. Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz    ⁠ 🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: ⁠https://www.usermag.co    ⁠ We are living in an era where global internet culture and meme warfare are just as influential as traditional media and LEGOs are being used to create the most effective messaging around the US-Iran war.I sat down with Areeba Fatima, a journalist for Dropsite News, who's been reporting on the team behind "Explosive Media," the group of seemingly Gen Z Iranians producing this viral content.We dive deep into how these LEGO videos are actively reshaping Americans' perceptions of modern warfare, and why this content is uniquely bridging the gap across the American political spectrum. 🔥 EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE: I tracked down and interviewed a member of Explosive Media, the team in Iran behind these viral LEGO videos. To hear directly from the Iranians making these LEGO videos, watch the full bonus interview on my Patreon or Substack.🙏 Patreon: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz⁠    ⁠ 🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: ⁠⁠https://www.usermag.co⁠    ⁠ We discuss: How these viral LEGO videos are actively reshaping how Americans view our war with Iran.The fascinating Telegram history of Explosive Media, revealing they started as young internet natives posting about sports, exams, and movies before the war escalated.Why mainstream liberal accounts and right-wing podcasters in America are both sharing this content by the millions.How this Gen Z team uses AI to bypass sanctions, generate rap songs, and tap directly into global internet culture.The relentless cat-and-mouse game of Explosive Media getting banned from platforms like YouTube and X, only to immediately return.Support Independent Journalism: I currently have zero brand sponsors or advertising partners. My work is solely funded by viewers like you. If you value this content, please consider supporting me so I can keep producing these deep dives🙏 Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz    ⁠ 🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: ⁠https://www.usermag.co    ⁠ 

Are we losing our right to online privacy entirely? Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz   ⁠ 🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: ⁠https://www.usermag.co   ⁠ In this episode of Free Speech Friday, I sat down with Cindy Cohn, former head of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and author of the new book Privacy's Defender. We dive deep into the secret history of the early internet, the terrifying reality of mass online surveillance by the US government, and how "age verification" laws sweeping the US will destroy digital civil liberties for everyone. Cindy explains how the NSA and FBI use massive legal loopholes like Section 702 to secretly access your data for domestic purposes, the massive security dangers of forcing users to upload their IDs to access apps like Discord, and why the fight to protect encryption is more crucial now than ever. If you care about your digital rights, free speech, and the future of the open web, this is a must-watch conversation!!  Topics Covered:The 90s hacker origins of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)How the Bernstein case saved internet encryptionPost-9/11 mass surveillance and the government's data grabWhy the FBI and NSA's use of Section 702 threatens your privacyThe truth about the government buying your personal data from private brokersWhy age verification laws banning users under 16 create massive security risksHow to fight back and become part of the next generation of privacy advocates 

Skibidi Toilet changed how storytelling works on YouTube. But behind the scenes, things got messy.Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz  ⁠ 🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: ⁠https://www.usermag.co  ⁠ Back in 2023, a creator named Alexey (better known as DaFuqBoom) launched a super weird, viral series about a singing head in a toilet called Skibidi Toilet. It went viral and quickly became one of the most popular online series to ever exist. Over the course of 79 episodes, it evolved into an epic, fan-favorite story about an intergalactic war. Then, Hollywood stepped in. A traditional (or "tra-digital") entertainment company called Invisible Narratives bought the Skibidi Toilet rights. By early 2025, Alexey took a step back to become an executive producer, meaning he was no longer making the daily videos. The studio released a new spin-off series called "Emergence," but fans instantly noticed a massive change.    Now, the Skibidi Toilet fandom community is furious. After a disastrous, leaked call between the studio and popular YouTubers, fans are demanding the original creator take his show back with the hashtag #BringBackBoom. Meanwhile, Skibidi Toilet has become one of the most valuable franchises in Hollywood. Steven Asarch is a journalist who's been covering this controversy. In this video, he joins me to break down what is going on with the Skibidi Toilet franchise, the #BringBackBoom movement's true goals, and answer the biggest question fans are all asking: is Skibidi Toilet officially dead? We cover:How Skibidi Toilet became so popularThe creator’s role and what changedThe studio takeover and what it meansWhy fans are upset and pushing backThe future of internet-created IP

AI Surveillance is taking over our schools. Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz 🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: https://www.usermag.co Kent Myrtle, a Wichita bus driver, has been blowing the whistle on AI-powered cameras being installed on school buses. From Wichita to Massachusetts, school districts are partnering with companies like Samsara and BusPatrol to implement "real-time monitoring" and "hazard detection." But is this actually about safety, or is it a massive privacy violation? We discuss how this footage is being sent to the Amazon Web Services cloud without parental consent. We also look at the "safety" claims, like AI systems mistaking bags of chips for weapons, and how these buses are being turned into roving surveillance machines for law enforcement.

Kyle Chayka is a writer for the New Yorker, and on this week's Power User he joins me to break down the rise of AI fruit slop dramas. Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz      🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: https://www.usermag.co     Millions and millions of TikTok users are tuning into an AI generated short form show called Fruit Love Island. On the show, AI generated fruits kiss, date, fight, and make up. The show has amassed an overnight fan base and spawned a slew of spinoffs including  The Summer I Turned Fruity, The Fruitpire Diaries, Food Is Blind, and Fruit Paternity court.  The world of AI content is being flooded by this bizarre phenomenon, amassing millions of views across TikTok trends 2026. The shows all use a viral content strategy to generate hits in minutes using tools like Object Talk and Leonardo AI. These AI generated videos allow faceless YouTube channels to monetize "attention arbitrage" for massive profit.Beneath these AI videos lies a dark undercurrent of sinister messaging. Because AI storytelling and algorithm psychology prioritize engagement, narratives frequently devolve into misogyny and graphic violence, showing fruit women being berated or fruit babies thrown to their deaths. By stripping away ethics, these social media trends deliver raw stimulation that keeps viewers in a state of stress.  We discuss:The evolution from AI Cat videos to Fruit Paternity Court.How "passive income" hustlers are using ChatGPT to script high-drama storylines involving betrayal and violence.The science of dopamine vs. cortisol and why this content keeps you in a hyper-stimulated stress state.Why brands like Olipop and Slim Jim are jumping into the fruit slop comments.The dark side of the algorithm: How AI content naturally devolves into the "lowest common denominator" of sex and violence.

[SPECIAL BONUS EPISODE]Why the internet is trying to "end" Chappell Roan.Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz     🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: https://www.usermag.co    Twitch streamer and cultural commentator Caroline Kwan joins me to break down the massive viral controversy surrounding Chappell Roan. What started as a passing interaction at a hotel breakfast in Brazil has morphed into a multi-platform smear campaign led by TikTokers, pop stans, and "Blue MAGA" accounts, pushing blatant misinformation.  Caroline and I break down what's really going on, and debunk the claims that Chappell is a "secret heiress" or a "mean girl". We talk about why Chappell specifically is always at the center of this type of vitriol, and dive into the intersection of misogyny, homophobia, and the "death of the diva" in the age of social media.From fake claims to bot amplification to stan wars, the Chappell situation a case study in how bad actors on the internet can create controversy out of almost nothing.In this video, we discuss:The Brazil incident with Jorginho Frello’s stepdaughter.The debunked "rich kid" allegations and fake high school "exposés".Why Chappell Roan cut ties with Wasserman Music and the Epstein connection.The role of bots and "tea" accounts in fueling the outrage.The double standard between female pop stars and male celebrities like Tom Holland or Justin Bieber.#ChappellRoan #celeb #celebrity #celebritynews #pop #popstars #popmusic #oliviarodrigo #PopCulture #SocialMedia #ViralNews 

Everything you've been told about the "social media addiction" trial is wrong. Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/taylorlorenz        🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: https://www.usermag.co       Everyone is celebrating the $400 million fine against Meta and Mark Zuckerberg, but it's a massive win for Big Tech. In this episode of Free Speech Friday, journalist Kat Tenbarge and I debunk a slew of misinformation about the landmark "social media addiction" trials in Los Angeles and New Mexico.The mainstream media is painting this as a victory for child safety, but the legal precedent being set is terrifying. From government agencies using real children's photos as "bait" to entrap predators, to the secret funding behind "grassroots" child safety groups, the reality is so, so much darker than the headlines suggest.We cover:How the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the repeal of Section 230 will lead to mass surveillance and censorship.The disturbing testimony from the LA trial that the media completely ignored.Why Big Tech is actually LOBBYING for age verification and identity tracking.The link between these lawsuits and the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025.If you care about the future of the open internet, free speech, and data privacy, please support my work! I will continue to cover how these laws will impact smaller platforms, LGBTQ content, and our basic right to access information.I also highly suggest this great piece by Mike Masnick on the trials!! Follow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz                      https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0                      https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz 

This show created one of the fastest fandoms ever.Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/taylorlorenz       🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: https://www.usermag.co   Over the past few months, a series born from a niche, self-published Canadian romance novel became one of the biggest cultural phenomenons on the internet. In this episode of Power User, I dive deep into the explosive rise of the Heated Rivalry fandom and why it has the internet in a chokehold.  Fandom expert Allegra Rosenberg and writer Katherine Dee joined me to break down how the "subculture to culture" cycle that made the show a breakout hit. From its underground roots in hockey shipping and Tumblr culture to its overnight success on mainstream platforms like Threads and TikTok, we discuss the history of slash fanfiction, the "Fall Out Boy to Blackhawks" pipeline, and the "generational trauma" of fandom privacy.We discuss the "Gateway Media" effect and how the show brought "normies" into the world of AO3 and shipping. We also discuss the clash between journalistic ethics and fandom privacy and what the show's massive success reveals about the future of media and fandom. Follow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz                     https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0                     https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz 

The Internet Is Being Deleted. Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/taylorlorenz      🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: https://www.usermag.co     We are witnessing a massive, systematic erasure of digital history. From war crime investigations to grassroots activism and historical archives, the "permanent" web is vanishing. In this episode of Free Speech Friday, I break down the escalating censorship from Big Tech and governments that is burning our collective digital archive. Documentation of major historical events, war crimes, police violence, videos documenting things like ICE abductions, but also thousands of photos, websites, and archives that play a crucial role in documenting our cultural and political history are being systematically erased from the web. This sort of mass censorship is escalating, especially as governments and tech platforms seek to remove any content that challenges mainstream media or government approved narratives. In This Episode:The Deletion of Human Rights Data: How YouTube erased 700+ videos from human rights organizations overnight.The "Safety" Smokescreen: How laws like KOSA and the "child safety" narrative are being used to deputize platforms as government censors.The Fall of the Archive: Why Reddit is blocking the Internet Archive and what it means for the future of information.The Shadowban Economy: A look at how Meta and X (formerly Twitter) use algorithmic demotion to make dissent invisible.ICE & Surveillance: The removal of apps like ICEBlock and the crackdown on community-sourced safety data.The Global Free Speech Recession: Arrests for social media posts in the UK and internet shutdowns worldwide.

Why Does The Internet Think Every Famous Person Is A Clone? The Jim Carrey Clone Conspiracy ExplainedSupport my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/taylorlorenz     🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: https://www.usermag.co    After his appearance at the Cesar Awards in Paris, the internet exploded with a bizarre theory: Jim Carrey had been replaced by a clone or body double. TikTok, X, and conspiracy communities are convinced something is off, from his face to his mannerisms. But it's not just him. A week after the Jim Carrey conspiracy went viral, people began claiming Benjamin Netanyahu was a clone or had a body double. Will Sommer is a reporter at The Bulwark and author of the False Flag newsletter. He joins me to break down the Jim Carrey clone conspiracy theories, the rise of celebrity clone conspiracy theories in our culture, how crowdsourced AI driven investigations are fueling them, and what exactly is making half the internet so convinced that major figures in Hollywood, media and politics are secret body doubles.  From Paul McCartney’s “Paul is dead” rumor to Avril Lavigne’s alleged double, to modern TikTok investigations we dive into:How social media fuels conspiracy theoriesWhy aging celebrities trigger these reactionsThe role of AI The psychology behind viral conspiraciesFollow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz      https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0     https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social  https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz 

What is Section 230 and why is everyone trying to kill it?Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz    🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: https://www.usermag.co   In the latest episode of my Section 230 mini-series I’m joined by Mike Masnick, founder of Techdirt and host of the amazing Section 230 podcast Otherwise Objectionable. Mike breaks down how the whole drama around Section 230 began, and how this extremely inconsequential law became vilified by the mainstream media. We also debunk the biggest myths about Section 230 and breaking down how the law actually works, and why removing it would make Big Tech even more powerful.Read Mike's excellent Section 230 myth busting on Techdirt:https://www.techdirt.com/2020/06/23/hello-youve-been-referred-here-because-youre-wrong-about-section-230-communications-decency-act/

BUY COLA CORP APPAREL: https://www.thecolacorporation.com  (None of this is sponsored, I just really want people to support him!!!!) Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz     🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: https://www.usermag.co    What happens when the government doesn't like your t-shirts? Joe, founder of Cola Corporation, has dealt with DMCA takedowns, letters from the LAPD, shipments seized by US Customs and Border Protection, and bans from advertising on virtually every major social platform including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and Etsy.In this episode of Free Speech Friday, I sit down with him to talk about what it's really like to run an independent political clothing brand that challenges power. We talk about fashion and clothing as tools of resistance and the high price of using fashion as a tool for political criticism. Clothing has long been a way to communicate political beliefs, from protest shirts to campaign merch. But in the era of social media platforms, algorithms, and online marketplaces, the boundaries of acceptable expression are constantly being tested.The designs mentioned in this episode:⁠ https://www.thecolacorporation.com/collections/taylor⁠THE FREE SPEECH 1A SWEATER:⁠ https://www.thecolacorporation.com/products/1a-sparks⁠  Topics discussed in this interview include:• The rise of political merchandise online • Social media censorship and advertising bans • Etsy and TikTok removing controversial designs • Police legal threats over a T-shirt slogan • Government seizure of political clothing • The Streisand effect and viral controversy • Free speech and political expression through fashionFollow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz        https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0       https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz   https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social    https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz  

 Is The Nicki Minaj Bot Scandal the Future of Politics?Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz    🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: https://www.usermag.co   The lines between entertainment, celebrity beef, and political propaganda are blurring. A few weeks ago, a POLITICO report sent shockwaves through Stan Twitter and the MAGA internet. The story reported that Nicki Minaj’s sudden pro-Trump pivot was being secretly propped up by an army of tens of thousands of bots. But is this a case of genuine political shifting, or is it the result of "invisible machinery" running beneath the surface of our cultural life?Pop culture commentator Olay Olurinatti joins me to dive deep into the 24-page report from the AI intelligence firm that claims over 18,000 bots were used to amplify Nicki’s conservative messaging. We explore Nicki's history, from her 2012 Mitt Romney praise to her "Black Barbies" resistance era, and unpack what changed and what role the internet, and platform incentives have played. Follow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz       https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0      https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz  https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social   https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz We break down:The "Coordinate Effort" vs. Organic Fandom (The Barbs).The role of Elon Musk’s X aka Twitter in pushing right-wing narratives.The beef between Cardi B’s team and Trump’s digital strategists.How algorithmic preconditioning is shaping the 2026 midterms.How the Right is successfully infiltrating pop culture fandoms.

Are social media algorithms actually destroying the internet? Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz    🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: https://www.usermag.co   In this episode of my Section 230 series, I sit down with Eric Goldman, Associate Dean for Research and Professor at Santa Clara Law, and one of the nation's foremost experts on internet law, to debunk the biggest myths surrounding Section 230 and algorithmic amplification.I hear all the time: platforms should lose their Section 230 protections because they use algorithms. But what actually is an algorithm? Most people don't even understand the basics. Eric and I discuss how even the beloved "reverse chronological order" feed is an algorithm, and why it actually rewards spammers, trolls, and bad actors.We dive deep into how politicians are using the "techlash" to gain power, why censorship has become a bipartisan value, and how companies like Meta actually want Section 230 gone so they can wipe out their smaller competitors. From the dangers of age verification laws to the truth about how algorithms protect us from navigating an internet that functions like a giant folder of Google Drive links, we discuss the real existential threats to the open web, and how arguments about "algorithms" miss the real powers at play. Topics Covered:Why reverse chronological feeds encourage bad contentHow algorithms function as basic editorial choicesWhy Meta/Facebook lobbies to remove Section 230 to build competitive moatsThe bipartisan push for internet censorship and government controlThe devastating impacts of age verification laws and losing youth online spaces

The AI industry just had one of its biggest controversies ever.Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz      🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co      A massive conflict between the Pentagon and leading AI companies like Anthropic and OpenAI has triggered a nationwide debate about how artificial intelligence should be used in warfare and surveillance. What started as a $200 million government contract fight quickly spiraled into a Silicon Valley crisis involving autonomous weapons, mass surveillance, and the future of AI regulation.In this episode of Free Speech Friday, I sit down with The Atlantic's Ross Anderson to uncover the dark truth behind the Pentagon’s push for fully autonomous weapons and mass domestic surveillance. We discuss whether AI models like Claude and ChatGPT should be used for military operations, drone targeting, and intelligence analysis. The controversy intensified when Anthropic reportedly pushed back against certain Pentagon requests while OpenAI later reached a separate agreement with the Department of Defense.We break down exactly how negotiations between Anthropic and the Department of War broke down over using AI to analyze the commercial data of American citizens. From Pete Hegseth going "nuclear" and labeling Anthropic a "supply chain risk", to OpenAI and Sam Altman swooping in at the last minute to claim the government deal, this is the AI drama that broke tech Twitter. Plus, we discuss why Claude experienced a massive subscriber spike while ChatGPT took the military contract.Topics covered in this video include:• The Pentagon AI contract controversy • OpenAI vs Anthropic drama explained • Autonomous weapons and AI warfare • AI surveillance concerns • Silicon Valley reactions to the deal • The future of AI in national security

How Jeffrey Epstein Shaped the Modern Internet: From 4chan to Facebook Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz     🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co     Since the release of the Epstein files, we've learned a ton about Epstein's role in the early web. From 4chan to World of Warcraft, to Facebook, and online movements like gamergate and #MeToo, Epstein seems to have played a role in it all. So how much of our modern internet was shaped by Epstein? I sat down with Ryan Broderick, author of the Garbage Day newsletter and host of the Panic World podcast,  to uncover how Jeffrey Epstein quietly warped our modern tech landscape.From his early days scrubbing his SEO to his mysterious networking with Silicon Valley elites, Epstein's rise was intertwined with modern platforms, from MySpace to crypto. We discuss: How Epstein paid thousands of dollars a month for SEO services and "hacked" Wikipedia to hide his criminal record after his 2008 arrest.A multi-year editor war over whether Epstein should be included in the notable offender widget on Wikipedia.He actively explored in-game currencies in World of Warcraft and discussed loot boxes.Epstein met with 4chan founder "Moot" the day before the infamous /pol/ board was created.Epstein and Steve Bannon attempted to build a cryptocurrency-funded far-right movement.The political plot motivated by Epstein's extreme fear of the MeToo movement.How Epstein infiltrated Silicon Valley, meeting with billionaires like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and Mark Zuckerberg.Epstein's role in Palantir and his bizarre eugenics ideology, hoping to breed young women and create a race of super babies.How Epstein and his elite peers viewed islands and bunkers as a way to outlast climate change without submitting to government regulation. Follow Ryan:https://garbageday.email https://www.youtube.com/@panicworldpod Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz     🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co     Follow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz      https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0     https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social  https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz

How Section 230 Became a Reproductive Rights IssueSupport my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz    🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co    In this episode of my Section 230 mini series, I break down how anti abortion groups are targeting the internet itself. From the 1873 Comstock Act to modern day efforts to repeal Section 230, there is a long history of using censorship laws to suppress reproductive health information. The fight for reproductive justice and bodily autonomy has always been deeply connected to free speech and open access to information online. I sat down with Sarah Phillips from Fight for the Future to uncover the real, hidden agenda behind the push to repeal Section 230.While politicians constantly frame weakening Section 230 as a way to "hold Big Tech accountable," these efforts actually undermine our right to access vital information related to reproductive justice and abortion online. We dive deep into the history of speech law, and talk about where the fight stands today. Here is what we cover in this episode:How early internet censorship efforts were disguised as protecting kids from indecent material.The devastating impact of SESTA/FOSTA and how it led to mass content takedowns of sex education and LGBTQ+ resources.How the narrative of "tech addiction" is being weaponized to pass restrictive internet laws.How anti-abortion extremists are targeting Section 230 to take down abortion funds and restrict out-of-state travel for care.Why protecting Section 230 is vital for shielding secure messaging apps like Signal and Telegram.Speaking out against Big Tech and challenging institutional power is not lucrative, and these videos are entirely self-funded. If you value this content, please support my work so I can continue making this series!!!Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz    🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co    Follow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz      https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0     https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social  https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz 

The Trump admin publicly bragged about demanding that Apple and Facebook remove ICE watch apps and Facebook groups documenting ICE activity, and Big Tech is complying.Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz   🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co   [FREE SPEECH FRIDAY]Since last year, Meta, Apple, and other big tech platforms have been mass removing content related to ICE. From deleting Facebook groups who criticize ICE agents to removing apps from the app store that allow citizens to report ICE in their neighborhood, it's becoming harder to criticize ICE online. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), is suing the government in order to get these Facebook groups and apps restored. Colin McDonnell, an attorney at FIRE joins me to break down these seminal lawsuits, how they're taking on the government, and why it's so crucial to protect free expression online. We discuss how DOJ and DHS officials, including Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem, successfully pressured Apple and Facebook to remove an ICE-tracking app and a Chicago-based Facebook group with nearly 100,000 members. Colin breaks down why FIRE is suing the government , whether recording law enforcement in public is protected speech or dangerous "doxing" , and the chilling rumors of a secret ICE protester databaseFollow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz     https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0    https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenzhttps://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz

Would you pay $65,000 to have ChatGPT teach your kids?Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz   🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co   404 Media reporter Emmanuel Maiberg joins to discuss the disturbing truth behind Alpha School, an AI-powered private school that has been getting massive hype from mainstream media. While Alpha School promises parents that kids can complete their core education in just two hours a day, leaked internal documents reveal the very chaotic reality behind tech industry buzzwords.Alpha School charges up to $65,000 a year while openly aiming for a "no human in the loop" model to entirely eliminate human teachers. We discuss how their generative AI systems constantly hallucinate, creating illogical lesson plans and tests that treat kids like tech guinea pigs.Even more alarming is the massive data harvesting and surveillance. Alpha School utilizes software that monitors students' screens, web cameras, microphones, and mouse movements, acting essentially as boss-ware for children. We also expose how video recordings of students have been left unsecured in open Google Drive links and how the school's AI scrapes educational material from platforms like IXL and Albert.io, leading to disabled accounts and terms of service violations. Read the 404 Media article: https://www.404media.co/students-are-being-treated-like-guinea-pigs-inside-an-ai-powered-private-school/ Follow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz      https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0     https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social  https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz 

FOSTA/SESTA shows what happens when you "reform" and chip away at Section 230.Welcome back to my Section 230 mini-series, where I break down the most important and misunderstood law about the internet!!Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz   🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co    FOSTA-SESTA was the first major amendment and carve-out to Section 230. While the law claimed to be about "cracking down on big tech" and making the internet "safer for children," the result was the mass deplatforming of sex workers and marginalized people online.Activist and adult industry content creator Siri Dahl joins me to discuss how FOSTA-SESTA forced sex workers into incredibly unsafe environments and increased censorship across the board. We dive into the shutdown of Backpage, Tumblr banning all adult content, and how organizations like Morality in Media are pushing a moral panic that lawmakers (and the left!!) have bought into. We also cover how Big Tech has backed these Section 230 "reform" efforts. If we don't understand the devastating effects of FOSTA-SESTA, we are doomed to repeat them with new bills like the Sunset Section 230 Act or Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). We must protect Section 230 at all costs! Follow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz      https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0     https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social  https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz 

Democrats just handed ICE exactly what ICE asked for.[FREE SPEECH FRIDAY]If you value my reporting, please, please support my work 👇👇👇Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz      Subscribe to my Substack:  https://www.usermag.co   Body cameras were supposed to hold police accountable. So why is police violence still rising? Why are cops almost never convicted using body cam footage? And why are Democrats (the same politicians who just tripled the ICE budget) now demanding that ICE agents wear body cameras?In this episode of Free Speech Friday, I sit down with Alec Karakatsanis, lawyer and author of the fantastic book Copaganda, to uncover the hidden history of police body cameras. While body cams are presented as a technological fix to deeply rooted institutional problems, they actually have the opposite effect.We talk about how the multi-billion dollar police surveillance industry originally struggled to get funding for these cameras, how Steven Spielberg donated money to put cameras on cops, how the narrative completely shifted, and how Big Tech is cashing in.Big Tech interest groups and reactionary non-profits are spending millions to push mass surveillance and censorship laws. My work is 100% self-funded. This series is not backed by any advertisers or tech giants. If you value my reporting, please, please support my work 👇👇👇Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz      Subscribe to my Substack:  https://www.usermag.co   Follow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz         https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0        https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz  https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social    https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz We break down:How the police surveillance industry lobbied for body cameras for years before Ferguson, and why they desperately wanted themThe brilliant marketing switch that rebranded body cams from a police surveillance tool into an "accountability and transparency" reformWhy body camera footage is used every single day to prosecute poor people in courtrooms across America, but almost never used against the policeHow Barack Obama, Eric Holder, and the Democratic Party helped sell this surveillance expansion to liberalsWhy the DOJ's own research shows body cameras do NOT reduce police misconduct or violenceHow ICE agents who killed Alex Preti and René Good were already filming themselves and were celebrated by their bossesThe AI, facial recognition, and predictive policing data being harvested from body cam footage right nowWhy demanding body cams on ICE is a distraction from real accountability and actually gives ICE more money and powerHow Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and Kristi Noem all ended up on the same side of this debateThe parallel between body cam propaganda and Democrat-backed internet surveillance laws

Are dumb phones actually the solution to our anxieties, or are they a $400 scam built on a moral panic?~~~~~~~~~~My work is 100% self-funded and this series is not backed by any advertisers or tech giants. If you value my reporting, please, please support my channel: Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz     Subscribe to my Substack:  https://www.usermag.co  ~~~~~~~~~~~~Over the past few years, a massive industry has emerged around dumb phones and the concept of logging off. From $400 minimalist dumb phones to influencers selling digital detox courses, logging off has become big business. Schools are banning phones. Politicians are blaming screen time. Media outlets are calling Gen Z “addicted.”But is ditching your smartphone actually the answer? In this video, I sat down with WIRED journalist Elana Klein to unpack the rise of the logging-off movement. We discuss how reasonable concerns over screen time have metastasized into a consumer movement selling $400 minimalist dumb phones for millions in profit. We also dive deep into the anti-smartphone moral panic , which is heavily pushed by reactionary politicians and legacy media. We explore the history of our relationship with the internet, from the tech optimism of the early 2010s and the algorithmic shift in 2016 , to the dangerous reality of school phone bans that are leading to AI surveillance and increased police interactions for students.We also talk about the concept of "smartphone addiction," what it really means, and why your issues with technology are often manifestations of much larger societal problems. Elana's piece: https://www.wired.com/story/dumbphone-owners-have-literally-lost-their-mindsMORE READING:https://www.wired.com/story/the-wired-guide-to-protecting-yourself-from-government-surveillancehttps://www.wired.com/story/guide-protect-data-from-hackers-corporationsFollow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz        https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0       https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz   https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social   https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz   We cover:The history of smartphones and how our relationship to them changedWhy dumb phones are being marketed as luxury wellness productsThe moral panic around teen mental health and smartphones (and why the data is messier than you think)How figures like Tristan Harris and Jonathan Haidt shaped the anti-tech, pro-surveillance narrativeWhy "phone addiction" isn't a real clinical concept, and what you're actually feelingPractical ways to improve your relationship with technology without throwing your phone in a riverWhy the anti-smartphone movement is anti-privacy and pro-surveillanceHow to think about your phone as a tool instead of an enemy

Sen. Ron Wyden speaks about Section 230, internet freedom, free speech, and how Trump is pushing big tech's policies. Big Tech interest groups and reactionary non-profits are spending millions to try to get Section 230 revoked. My work is 100% self-funded. This series is not backed by any advertisers or tech giants. If you value this reporting, please, please support the channel: Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz    Subscribe to my Substack:  https://www.usermag.co Section 230 is one of the most important, and most misunderstood, laws in the history of the internet. In this episode of my Section 230 mini series, I sit down with Senator Ron Wyden, one of the original co authors of Section 230, to break down what the law actually does, why it exists, and what would happen if it were repealed. Section 230 protects user generated content and ensures platforms are not treated as the speaker of everything posted online. Without it, social media platforms, forums, comment sections, Wikipedia, Reddit, and any website that hosted user generated content could be sued out of existence.There is growing political pressure to "reform" aka dismantle Section 230 entirely. If you care about online privacy, free speech, data surveillance, algorithm accountability, Big Tech regulation, or the future of the internet, I hope you'll watch!This is part two of my Section 230 deep dive series taking place every Monday. Follow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz       https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0      https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz  https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social  https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz  We cover:• What Section 230 really says• Why both the left and right are attacking it• Whether repealing 230 would protect kids• The truth about Big Tech and liability• Identity verification and online privacy• Surveillance advertising and algorithm regulation• What free speech online actually means• Why generative AI is not covered by Section 230

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is pushing a bill that would END free speech on the internet, and he has absolutely no idea what he's talking about.[FREE SPEECH FRIDAY]Join the Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz⁠  Subscribe to my Substack:  ⁠https://www.usermag.co⁠  Section 230 is one of the most important laws in the history of the internet. It is often called “the law that created the internet” because it protects websites, forums, blogs, comment sections, Wikipedia, and every platform that hosts user-generated content.But for some reason, actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt wants it gone. Yesterday, he released a video following backlash from his talk last week in congress, where he called on Senators to repeal Section 230.Almost every single thing he said in his response video was factually wrong.For this week's Free Speech Friday episode, I'm debunking Gordon-Levitt's crusade against Section 230 and unpacking how repealing Section 230 would actually mass-censor the internet, wipe out indie platforms, destroy LGBTQ and marginalized online spaces, and hand total monopoly power over to Meta, Google, and powerful billionaires. I also break down the far-right groups like Morality in Media and The Heritage Foundation, which has made Section 230 repeal core to their Project 2025 tech policy agenda. If Section 230 is repealed, the cost of defending user speech could jump from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars per lawsuit. It would wipe out small communities overnight and leave only Big Tech corporations with buildings full of lawyers.Mike Masnick’s brilliant takedown of JGL’s claims on TechDirt: https://www.techdirt.com/2026/02/12/joseph-gordon-levitt-goes-to-washington-dc-gets-section-230-completely-backwards/ Support independent tech journalism!Big Tech interest groups and reactionary non-profits are spending millions to try to get Section 230 revoked. My work is 100% self-funded. This series is not backed by any advertisers or tech giants. If you value this reporting, please, please support the channel: Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz   Subscribe to my Substack:  https://www.usermag.co    Follow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz      https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0     https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz In this video I cover:What Section 230 actually saysThe publisher vs platform mythWhy Section 230 was created after Stratton Oakmont v ProdigyHow FOSTA SESTA changed Section 230Why repeal would increase censorshipHow lawsuits would silence speechWhy big tech companies can survive without 230 but small platforms cannotThe real way to regulate big tech through antitrust and data privacy

White women have long been a core voting bloc for conservatives, so why are right wing media figures suddenly obsessed with attacking them?Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz   🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co   In this episode, Crooked Media Hysteria's Erin Ryan joins me to break down the growing hatred towards white women in MAGA spaces and conservative media. From the massive hate campaigns against Amber Heard and Blake Lively, to smearing women like Renee Good during today's ICE protests in Minneapolis, to so-called "Karens" and accusations of hysteria, to the idea of "toxic empathy," we unpack why white women who step outside their assigned role have become such a powerful political target.We discuss the demonization of "Wine Moms" and "Childless Cat Ladies" in relation to the rise of the trad-wife fantasy. We explore why conservative media is obsessed with controlling white women and why this demographic is trending away from the Republican party. We also examine how these narratives are used to justify regressive policies around reproduction, education, marriage, and bodily autonomy.We discuss why scapegoating white women in particular works, why it’s so effective, and what it reveals about a movement that needs the most privileged women to be silent and compliant.Follow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz      https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0     https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social  https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz  We cover: ➤ The origins of "white woman" as an insult—from both the left and right ➤ Why MAGA is strategically attacking their own voting base ➤ The "toxic empathy" narrative and why caring is now considered dangerous ➤ How this keeps conservative women in line through fear ➤ The connection to attacks on IVF, surrogacy, and reproductive freedom ➤ Why passport bros and the manosphere hate white women specifically ➤ What this reveals about the MAGA vision for women in America

🚨 URGENT: Section 230 is under attack and it affects EVERY person who uses the internet. This is part 1 of my deep-dive series exposing the truth about the most important internet law ever created.Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz 🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co Every single time you leave a comment, post a review, or send a message, you are being protected by a law called Section 230, and right now, politicians on both sides of the aisle are trying to destroy it. Section 230 is the legal foundation for the modern internet. It’s why websites can host comments, forums, reviews, group chats, marketplaces, and social platforms without being sued into oblivion. It’s why Wikipedia exists. In this video, I break down what Section 230 actually is, why it was created, and how it shaped the internet as we know it. I uncover the forgotten history of the internet, from the early legal battles of CompuServe and Prodigy to the landmark Zeran v. AOL ruling. I explore why the "Big Tech" narrative is a lie, how repealing Section 230 would actually crush small creators and marginalized communities, and why recent efforts like FOSTA-SESTA have already been a disaster for human rights, marginalized communities, small forums, nonprofits, and independent creators. Despite what politicians and pundits claim, NONE of this is about protecting big tech companies. The fight over Section 230 is about who controls online speech, who gets a voice, and whether the internet remains an open space for all of us, or becomes a tightly controlled AI-surveilled hellscape dominated by censorship and corporate consolidation.This is the first episode in my entirely self-funded and self-produced multi-part series on Section 230. I dive deep into internet history, free expression and the growing push for mass online censorship. If you care about free speech, online communities, privacy, or the future of the internet (which you should!!!), this fight affects YOU, whether you realize it or not.Subscribe for the rest of the series, support my work below, and stay informed about the laws quietly shaping your digital life!Resources: https://www.whatissection230.orghttps://badinternetbills.comhttps://www.stoponlineidchecks.org Support my channel 🙏 My Section 230 educational series is 100% self-funded and self-produced. 🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz 🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co Follow me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz Instagram (alt): https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenzBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social Covered in this video:What is Section 230 How CompuServe and Prodigy created the internet as we know itHow Section 230 protects ordinary users, not corporationsWhy both political parties are lying about this lawThe real reasons politicians want Section 230 goneWhy Big Tech SUPPORTS weakening Section 230How Section 230 protects marginalized communities, sex workers, LGBTQ groups, and reproductive justice activistsWhat you can do RIGHT NOW to fight back

The UK is rapidly becoming one of the most aggressive surveillance states in the democratic world, and many don't even realize it's happening.Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz     🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co    [FREE SPEECH FRIDAY]The UK has officially slid into a dystopian surveillance state, and the rest of the world is next. On this week's Free Speech Friday The Kavernackle joined me to discuss the terrifying reality of the Online Safety Act, the push for mandatory Digital ID, and how the UK is leading the global charge toward authoritarianism and mass surveillance. From banning VPNs to arresting citizens for social media posts, the British government is dismantling privacy under the guise of "safety." We break down how liberals like Keir Starmer are spearheading these mass surveillance programs and why the "Blitz Spirit" mentality has altered the way so many in the UK understand nationalism and privacy. The mass surveillance framework being built in London is coming to the US, as the crackdown on free speech is spreading across the globe.Follow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz      https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0     https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social  https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz  In this video, we cover:The Online Safety Act: How the new laws can force you to scan your face to access basic websites.Why the UK is trying to ban VPNs and remove online anonymity.How "hate speech" laws are weaponized against political dissent and pro-Palestine protests.Why British culture is uniquely susceptible to authoritarian overreach.Why US Democrats are adopting the exact same censorship playbook as Kier Starmer and Tony Blair. UK surveillance lawsOnline Safety Act explainedDigital ID and age verificationFacial recognition onlineVPN bansFree speech crackdownsTech censorshipMass data collection

The MLM industry has rebranded for the TikTok era. Now, instead of hawking LuLaRoe leggings, women are paying $500 for PDFs on how to become micro influencers. Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz   🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co   The "hustle economy" is no longer about selling essential oils or leggings to your neighbors. A new wave of multi-level marketing-style schemes has taken over Instagram and TikTok. Digital courses specifically targeting young mothers with the promise of "passive income" and "financial freedom" by becoming a content creator have become pervasive. In this episode, I sit down with Caroline Moss (founder of "Gee Thanks, Just Bought It") to break down how content creation became the new digital pyramid scheme. We expose the dark reality of the influencer economy, the rise of Faceless Marketing scams, and why so many women are buying $500 PDFs just to turn around and sell that same PDF to someone else.We talk about influencer saturation, the use of ChatGPT to write generic "chaos mama" scripts, the rise of "course core" and the heartbreaking reality that most of these creators are making absolutely zero dollars.  Follow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz     https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0    https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenzhttps://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz Follow Caroline: http://geethanks.substack.com https://www.instagram.com/geethanksjustboughtitpodIn This Video:The evolution of MLMs.Why "Faceless Marketing" is the new trap for introverts.Selling courses about selling courses.The role of ChatGPT in generating low-quality influencer content.Why viral views don't equal a paycheck.The psychology of targeting stay-at-home moms.The origins of the mommy blogger world, Heather Armstrong aka "Dooce"

To listen to the full episode and get other bonus content subscribe to my Patreon or Substack! SUBSCRIBE TO MY PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz    Or, buy a paid subscription to my Substack: https://www.usermag.co For a decade, r/LiveStreamFail (LSF) has been the "beating heart" of Twitch culture, but at what cost? One former reddit moderator went viral recently for posting a wild video addressed to Reddit's CEO, where he talks about the secret power he wielded in his role as moderator of Livestream Fail, a subreddit that catalogs news about the biggest streamers on Twitch for the parasocial fans who follow their every move. But how did the Livestream Fail subreddit emerge, how did it become so influential, and how has its role in online culture evolved? Journalist Steven Asarch joins me to answer these questions. He's been covering the world of Livestream Fail for a decade. From Destiny, to Asmongold, to Hasan Piker, LSF helps Twitch scandals break through on Elon Musk’s X ecosystem. Steven and I discuss how this viral clip culture actually works and how it can be weaponized. We talk about how the subreddit evolved from an "edgelord paradise" centered on Ice Poseidon to a political weapon used against progressive and women creators. Steven explains the subreddit's origins and lore, and we reveal the truth about "clip farming," how billionaires are paying for right-wing rage bait, and how 30-second clips are fueling the alt-right pipeline. Follow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz      https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0     https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social  https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz 

The Internet as we know it is on trial. A major suit claiming social media addiction could give the government unprecedented power.Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz   🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co   A landmark lawsuit in California claims that social media giants like Meta, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat are intentionally designing their platforms to be addictive, causing severe mental health issues in minors. But is this really about protecting children, or is it a backdoor to destroy the free and open web? Experts say this lawsuit would set a dangerous legal precedent that gives the government total authority to regulate, censor, and control online content.I sat down with journalist Liz Nolan Brown to break down the bellwether case that could end Section 230 protections and force Big Tech to work with the government to censor the internet like never before. We discuss the controversial claims of "social media addiction," the lack of scientific evidence linking apps to depression, and why this moral panic is similar to that surrounding the telephone decades ago.Ultimately, this lawsuit is about who controls the internet and whether the government should have the power to control 100% of what we see and read online. Follow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz     https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0    https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenzhttps://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz Topics covered:The "Kagome" lawsuit against Meta, Google, and TikTokDoes social media cause depression and anxiety?The threat to Section 230 and free speechWhy "design defects" are the new legal weaponThe history of moral panics in technology online privacy and surveillancegovernment control of the internet

China is winning the culture war: From "galvanized square steel" to drinking hot water, why is the entire internet suddenly looking more Chinese?Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz  🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co  Over the past year, a massive cultural shift has taken place. From China-maxxing memes to TikTok migrations, Chinese tech, culture, and lifestyle have become aspirational in a way no one could have predicted a decade ago. Twitch streamer and pop culture commentator Caroline Kwan joins me to break down how and why the internet became Chinese. We discuss what these memes actually mean, and why US politicians are panicking. We talk about the TikTok ban, RedNote, Chinese tech dominance, cultural soft power, high speed rail, American decline, surveillance hypocrisy, and why Gen Z no longer believes what they were told.We also talk about why American propaganda on China is collapsing in real time, and what that says about the future of politics, culture, and power in the 21st century.Follow me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz  Instagram (alt): https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz  Topics Covered:"China Maxxing" and "You met me at a very Chinese time" memes.Why Gen Z is moving to Red Note (Xiaohongshu) after the TikTok ban.The contrast between US infrastructure (crumbling) and China (high-speed rail).The truth about the "Made in China" stigma vs. modern quality.Why US anti-China propaganda is backfiring.

TO LISTEN TO THIS FULL EPISODE, SUBSCRIBE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz   Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz   🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.coLast week, Brooklyn Beckham, the 26 year old son of Victoria and David Beckham, posted a 7 slide essay on Instagram Stories, accusing his parents of controlling his entire life and disrespecting his wife Nicola Peltz. Immediately, he was hit with a tidal wave of backlash.Right wingers have pounced on this drama, with Candace Owens, House in Habit, and others pushing the idea that Nicola Pelz is yet another "Meghan Markle" and that Brooklyn is "Prince Harry 2.0," yet another privileged son being manipulated by an evil woman into betraying his family.Kat Tenbarge joined me to break down what Brooklyn actually said, how tabloids and influencers are distorting the story, why Nicola Peltz was instantly cast as the villain, and what it reveals about how society reacts when men set boundaries with powerful families.We discuss boy mom culture, media manipulation, and why cutting off family still triggers moral panic. We also talk about how PR machines operate, how smear campaigns are constructed, and why the public constantly blames women for men's choices. While this seems like your standard celebrity drama, it actually reveals a lot about how our culture treats men, the normalization of gender-based violence and how propaganda works in the digital age. Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz   🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.coFollow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz                      https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0                      https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz  https://x.com/taylorlorenz  https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social 

[FREE SPEECH FRIDAY]Every single moment that you're online, you're feeding the data harvesting industry. Corporations then sell that data to the government, allowing them to target you for online speech, protesting, and more.Now, the government wants to build a single centralized platform where U.S. spy agencies and the government can easily buy highly private information about millions of people. Documents obtained by The Intercept reveal that the U.S. is seeking to establish a "one stop shop" for the U.S. government to buy American's most sensitive data. This sort of surveillance is a massive threat to free speech and expression. ***** Buy a subscription to my Tech and Online Culture newsletter, User Magazine to support my work!! 🙏 https://www.usermag.co  ***** SUPPORT ME ON PATREON https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz Subscribe to my newsletter: ⁠⁠https://www.usermag.co ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz  https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0  https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social [This episode originally aired in June 2025]

Matt Bernstein, Kat Tenbarge and I dig into what the 2016 nostalgia is really about. Why is everyone suddenly obsessed with 2016? Hyper-saturated Instagram photos are back. The Snapchat puppy filter is everywhere again. Nostalgic edits are flooding TikTok. From the "King Kylie" era to Harambe, it feels like we’re collectively regressing.Support my independent journalism:🙏 Patreon:⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz⁠⁠🗞️ Substack:⁠⁠ https://www.usermag.co⁠⁠But was 2016 really “the last good year”? I wanted to understand why this particular moment looms so large in our cultural memory, so I called up my friends Matt Bernstein and Kat Tenbarge to discuss.Kat is an incredible journalist and the author of Spitfire News, and Matt is an iconic podcast host and content creator. We re-examined the defining moments of 2016, talk about the old days of YouTube, why boomers don't get the nostalgia, and why 2016 has become such a powerful focal point. We unpack what this fixation on 2016 reveals about today's internet, culture, and politics nearly a decade later.Follow me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenzInstagram (alt): https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenzX: https://x.com/taylorlorenzBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.socialIn this video, we cover:The revival of 2016 aesthetics on TikTok.Why people romanticize the pre-Trump/early-Trump era.The impact of 2016 internet humor on today's culture.The rise of the content creator industry. Why it's all Gen Z and Millennials who are getting nostalgic while older generations don't seem to care. 

SUPPORT ME ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz Or buy a paid subscription to my Substack newsletter to support my work!!!! 🙏 https://www.usermag.co For decades, tech billionaires have sold us a shiny future powered by AI. But what if the future they’re building doesn’t include us? A disturbing ideology has quietly come to dominate Silicon Valley: the belief that we need to dispose of the flawed, biological human race in order to give birth to a superior AI intelligence that will ultimately replace us. Tech billionaires are already investing in the technology and infrastructure to make this happen.I dove deep into how these ideas, known as TESCREAL, took hold, who’s funding them, who the power players are in this new movement, how they've been quietly prepping the public to accept this fate for years, how TESCREAL, pro-extinction beliefs are already shaping how the most powerful companies on Earth operate, and how real, human workers are paying the price for all these decisions. If you're feeling uneasy about AI hype, billionaire bunker “prepper” culture, and getting the sense that AI technology is moving way too fast, you have probably seen evidence of these extreme beliefs manifesting in the world already.Follow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0 https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenzhttps://x.com/taylorlorenz https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social

SUPPORT ME ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz     Buy a subscription to my Tech and Online Culture newsletter, User Magazine to support my work!!!! 🙏 https://www.usermag.co        ICE just bought a massively powerful new surveillance system that can monitor every single phone in your neighborhood, track the movements of those devices and their owners over time, and follow you home from work and to other locations.Joe Cox at 404 Media broke the story of these new ICE systems called Tangles and Webloc. He joined me to break down how this new ICE tech works, what these systems do, why the online advertising market is secretly dangerous, and how we can fight back. Follow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz                    https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0                    https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz 

SUPPORT ME ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz            Buy a subscription to my Tech and Online Culture newsletter, User Magazine to support my work!!!! 🙏 https://www.usermag.co       Until recently, Ashley St Clair was a star in the conservative influencer world. She built a large and powerful following by leaning into culture-war rhetoric and boosting MAGA policies. She worked for Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA and gained national attention by publishing an anti trans Children’s book. She was welcomed into the upper echelons of right-wing media and activism, and her proximity to power on the right deepened when she began a relationship with Elon Musk, who she later had a child with.But lately, Ashley’s public posture has begun to shift. After Grok, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, began to flood the internet with nonconsensual deepfake content undressing Ashley and countless other women (and children), she became increasingly outspoken in her criticisms of Musk and unchecked AI development.In her posts, Ashley has also suggested that some of her other earlier views on things like trans rights, have changed.I sat down with Ashley to talk about how she got her start in conservative influencing, Maga 1.0 vs MAGA 2.0, the right wing internet pipeline, Elon Musk, and how her positions on issues like LGBTQ rights, healthcare, and immigration have changed.Follow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz                   https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0                   https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz 

SUPPORT ME ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/taylorlorenz           Buy a subscription to my Tech and Online Culture newsletter, User Magazine to support my work!!!! 🙏 https://www.usermag.co      Every week it feels like Congress cooks up a new bad internet law. This week we're diving deep into the SCREEN Act. Framed as a child safety bill, this law is an insidious trojan horse for mass censorship and surveillance. It's been getting a lot of traction thanks to its backing from extreme far right groups and the religious right, and Democrats are now signing on board claiming the law will protect kids online. In reality, this law could end up forcing you to scan your face to access websites, ban VPNs, and more. To break it all down Michael Stabile, director of public policy at the Free Speech Coalition, joined me. Mike has been fighting these censorship laws on the state level and has been in the rooms in state legislatures where a lot of these debates are taking place. We get nitty gritty into how the SCREEN Act works, what it does, how it came to fruition, what sets it apart from some of these other child safety laws, and why we need to band together to kill it!Follow me:https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz                  https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0                  https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz