Internet Culture
Vox’s coverage of the latest memes, social media controversies, YouTube drama, and more.
Linguist Gretchen McCulloch says Twitter banter and text-speak are signs of an evolving language — and that’s good.
A face-perfecting app only widens the gap between our digital and real selves.
BTS outsold most of this year’s VMA nominees. Is the new “Best K-pop” category big enough for them?
Game of Thrones turned Bran Stark into a tired geek power fantasy — at its own expense.
The comedian and director talk about tackling the dark corners of the Internet in their new movie Sword of Trust.
Ravelry’s ban on Trump support has proven divisive, but it’s already creating broader change.
Amofah had struggled with mental illness and spoke of his discomfort with internet fame.
These pool floats don’t know they’re having summer fun.
An almost-serious investigation into the money behind the moon hoax theory.
The longtime death row inmate could still face an unprecedented seventh trial — at the hands of the prosecutor who racially discriminated against him.
Instagram has seen a rise in #SoberIsSexy influencers. But are they good for the sober movement?
The platform’s response to a queer Vox journalist’s harassment complaint has sparked backlash and confusion.
There’s no way that hot cartoons are actually the future of fashion advertising. Unless there’s already too much money involved to stop them.
Here’s how going viral changed his life.
Moviegoers will have to prove they bought a movie ticket for their ratings to count.
Charles defended himself against allegations of sexually aggressive behavior toward men.
The feud between two giant stars, explained.
True crime podcasts work to demystify dangerous men. Here’s how to follow their lead on “charming predators.”
“Not everybody wakes up happy,” a man sitting on his bed intones to start the new Burger King ad.
A 2019 profile of Dooce.com founder Heather Armstrong.
20 years into SpongeBob SquarePants, SpongeBob memes are a quirky bridge between “dank” and “wholesome.”
At this point, they should!
The meme combines fandom shipping with art to produce viral magic.
Bran Stark is dominating the Game of Memes.
Wholesomeness once meant sexual chastity. Now it’s progressive — and fashionable.
Prime members get monthly horoscope readings paired with suggestions to spend more money on Amazon products.
A scholar of gaming culture on what went wrong with “gamer” culture.
Jenny Odell’s How to Do Nothing makes the case for keeping your Facebook account, staying on Twitter, checking your email, but doing it all differently, and “not as asked.” (And not as self-help.)
Lots of people think Us’s Jason is a Tether. He probably isn’t.
From BMW’s 1983 magazine hoax to Google’s 2016 Minion disaster to now.
“RIP Harambe” sounds simple — but what if it’s about a lot more than a dead gorilla?
Why a conspiracy theory with an expiration date will endure.
This fan theory-turned-meme isn’t as half-assed as it sounds.
FX is transforming Taika Waititi and Jermaine Clement’s kooky vampire mockumentary from a beloved meme factory into a comedy series.
The show can thank its fangirls for its unexpectedly long life.
The image-based platform has for years been a gold mine for hucksters selling medical misinformation or outright lies.
How this catchy kids’ song went viral and hit the Billboard Hot 100.
The first science-themed Peep diorama contest features several surgeries, a Mastodon, and a landslide.
You forgot Myspace and Myspace forgot you, by losing all your stuff.
Some math-based advice for those still swiping.