I Tried to Go Viral on TikTok vs. Instagram Reels vs. YouTube Shorts for a Week (Worst to Best)
My quest to go viral was a lesson in algorithms. The “worst” and most difficult platform was Instagram Reels. It felt like trying to get noticed at a high-school party full of cool kids; the algorithm seemed to favor already popular accounts, and my videos vanished into the void. The absolute “best” and most successful platform was TikTok. Its algorithm was like a chaotic, democratic talent show. It didn’t care who I was; it just cared about the video, and one of my silly, random videos was suddenly pushed onto the main stage, a thrilling and addictive jolt of unexpected fame.
Ranking Every Major Social Media Platform by Its Effect on My Mental Health (Worst to Best)
My mental health audit of social media had a clear loser. The absolute “worst” for my well-being was Instagram. The endless, perfectly curated highlight reel of everyone’s beautiful lives was a powerful and toxic engine for social comparison and anxiety. The absolute “best” and most positive platform was a niche subreddit for one of my hobbies. It wasn’t a performance; it was a community. The shared passion and supportive conversations made it a genuinely uplifting and connecting experience. One was a glossy, isolating magazine; the other was a cozy, welcoming clubhouse.
I Tried to Explain 10 Modern Memes to My Parents: Their Confusion Ranked (Worst to Best)
My meme-translation session with my parents was a journey into a generation gap. The “worst” and most confusing were the deeply ironic, multi-layered memes that referenced other memes. It was like trying to explain a complex inside joke from a movie they’ve never seen, that is also a sequel to another movie they’ve never seen. The “best” and most successful was the simple “Distracted Boyfriend” meme. The visual story was so clear and universally understood that my dad just laughed and said, “Oh, so it’s just a cartoon.” It was a triumphant moment of cross-generational understanding.
Ranking the Most Cringeworthy and Genuinely Funny Viral Challenges (Worst to Best)
Viral challenges range from the idiotic to the inspired. The absolute “worst” and most cringeworthy are the dangerous, attention-seeking ones, like the Tide Pod challenge. They are a bleak and desperate cry for validation with no redeeming value. The “best” and most genuinely funny and heartwarming was the Ice Bucket Challenge. It was a perfect storm of a silly, shareable activity, a genuine sense of global community, and a powerful, authentic connection to a good cause. One was a symptom of a broken internet; the other was a beautiful example of its connective power.
I Lived for a Week Only Getting My News from TikTok vs. Twitter vs. Facebook (Worst to Best)
My social media news diet was a chaotic experiment. The absolute “worst” and most unreliable source was Facebook. My newsfeed was a toxic, confusing blender of legitimate news, angry opinions from my uncle, and blatant misinformation. It was like trying to get the news from a chaotic, unreliable town square. The “best” and most effective source was a carefully curated Twitter feed. It was a fast, powerful, and real-time wire service that allowed me to get breaking news directly from trusted journalists and primary sources, a powerful signal in a sea of noise.
Ranking the Most Common and Annoying Types of Influencers (Worst to Best)
The world of influencers is a diverse ecosystem. The absolute “worst” and most annoying is the “lifestyle” influencer who peddles a vague, aspirational brand of unattainable perfection, and whose entire feed is just a soulless, seamless advertisement for a dozen different products. The “best” and most valuable influencers are the niche, passionate experts. The person who is a true, unapologetic nerd about a specific topic, like baking or vintage synthesizers, is not an “influencer”; they are a trusted, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful friend who is sharing their passion with the world.
I Compared the Comment Sections of YouTube, Instagram, and Reddit for a Day (Worst to Best)
My journey into the comment sections was a tour of the human soul. The absolute “worst” and most toxic was the YouTube comment section, an anonymous, lawless Wild West of pure, unadulterated chaos, insults, and negativity. The absolute “best” and most thoughtful was a well-moderated, niche subreddit. The comments were often insightful, funny, and part of a genuine, on-topic conversation. It was the difference between a prison riot and a university seminar, a powerful reminder that with good moderation, a comment section can actually be a wonderful place.
Ranking the Best and Worst Internet “Aesthetics” (Cottagecore, Dark Academia, etc.) (Worst to Best)
Internet aesthetics can be a fun source of inspiration or a restrictive costume. The “worst” are the hyper-specific, fleeting “micro-trends” that are impossible to maintain and create a pressure to constantly buy new things. The “best” and most enduring aesthetics are the broader ones, like “Cottagecore.” It’s less of a strict dress code and more of a cozy, aspirational mood board. It’s a gentle, inviting fantasy that you can take inspiration from—by baking a loaf of bread or planting a flower—without having to completely change your life. One is a cage; the other is a daydream.
I Tried to Build a “Personal Brand” on 3 Different Platforms: The Soul-Sucking Ranked (Worst to Best)
My personal branding experiment was a test of my soul. The absolute “worst” and most soul-sucking platform was LinkedIn. The constant pressure to perform a cheerful, professional, and deeply inauthentic version of myself, with its endless humblebrags and empty corporate buzzwords, was exhausting. The “best” and most authentic platform was a simple, personal newsletter. It was a quiet, direct conversation with a small group of people who had actively chosen to listen to what I had to say. One was a loud, fake performance; the other was a quiet, real conversation.
Ranking the Most Common and Frustrating Algorithm Changes That Ruined a Platform (Worst to Best)
An algorithm change can feel like a betrayal. The absolute “worst” and most frustrating was Instagram’s infamous shift from a chronological feed to an algorithmic one, and its later pivot to prioritizing video. It was like being a passionate photographer who had built a beautiful gallery, only to have the owner suddenly decide that the gallery would now only show movies. It was a fundamental, jarring shift that completely broke the user’s trust and changed the entire purpose of the platform overnight.
I Analyzed the Rise and Fall of 5 Different “Creator Houses” (Worst to Best)
My analysis of creator houses revealed a predictable lifecycle. The “worst” and most doomed were the ones that were clearly just a business arrangement from the start, a transparent attempt to manufacture a “friend group” for content. The inevitable, public flameout of drama and backstabbing felt like the final, predictable season of a bad reality show. The “best” and most successful ones, at least for a time, were the ones that started with a group of genuine, real-life friends. The content was a natural byproduct of their authentic chemistry, not the other way around.
Ranking the Most Important and Overlooked Rules of Internet Etiquette (Worst to Best)
The internet has its own unspoken rules. The most overlooked but important is to not “at” someone into a massive, ongoing argument. It’s the digital equivalent of dragging a random stranger off the street and into the middle of your heated family fight. The absolute most important and foundational rule of internet etiquette, however, is to remember that there is a real, flawed, and feeling human being on the other side of the screen. It’s a simple, powerful, and tragically forgotten truth that would solve about 90% of the internet’s problems.
I Tried to Have a Civil Debate in a Political Facebook Group (Worst to Best)
My attempt at a civil debate in a political Facebook group was a fool’s errand. The “worst” part of the experience was the realization that no one was there to debate; they were there to fight. It was like trying to have a calm, rational game of chess in the middle of a screaming, chaotic riot. Every single one of my carefully considered points was met with a barrage of personal insults, logical fallacies, and angry, all-caps memes. It was a powerful and immediate lesson that some conversations are simply not worth having.
Ranking the Best and Worst Celebrity Social Media Accounts (Worst to Best)
A celebrity’s social media is a window into their world. The absolute “worst” are the overly polished, soulless accounts that are clearly run by a social media manager. They are the digital equivalent of a glossy, lifeless, and deeply boring magazine ad. The absolute “best” and most entertaining celebrity accounts are the ones that are genuinely, authentically, and often weirdly run by the celebrity themselves. They are a hilarious, unfiltered, and sometimes chaotic glimpse into a real person’s brain, which is infinitely more compelling than any curated press release.
I Went Down 5 Different Internet “Rabbit Holes”: The Weirdness Ranked (Worst to Best)
My journey down a few internet rabbit holes was a trip to the weirdest corners of the web. The “worst” and most unsettling was the deep, dark, and paranoid conspiracy theory rabbit hole. It was like finding a secret, trapdoor in your house that leads to a strange, alternate reality where nothing is as it seems. The “best” and most wonderfully bizarre was the rabbit hole of a specific, incredibly niche, and wholesome hobby community. It was a beautiful, secret world full of passionate, kind people, a powerful reminder that the internet can connect us in the most unexpected and beautiful ways.
Ranking the Most Common and Dangerous “Challenges” That Went Viral (Worst to Best)
Viral challenges can be fun or fatal. The “worst” and most dangerous are the ones that involve medicine, like the “NyQuil chicken” challenge. It’s not a harmless prank; it’s a game of Russian roulette with your own health for a few seconds of internet fame. The “best” and most harmless challenges are the creative, funny, and skill-based ones, like a silly dance or a trick shot. One is a desperate, dangerous cry for attention; the other is a fun, collaborative, and globally shared moment of harmless, creative fun.
I Compared the Experience of an Anonymous Account vs. My Real Name Account (Worst to Best)
My anonymous vs. real name experiment revealed the power of consequences. The “worst” and most toxic parts of the internet are enabled by anonymity. It’s like wearing a mask at a party; it gives people the freedom to be their cruelest, most unfiltered selves without any fear of real-world repercussions. The “best” and most civil conversations happen when people are using their real names. It’s like being at a work function; you are your reputation, and that simple fact is a powerful, invisible force for basic human decency.
Ranking the Best and Worst Brand Accounts on Twitter (Worst to Best)
A brand’s Twitter can be a powerful tool or a boring brochure. The “worst” are the ones that just post a constant stream of dry, corporate, and soulless press releases and product announcements. The “best” and most legendary brand accounts are the ones that have a genuinely funny, weird, and self-aware personality. The Wendy’s account is a perfect example. It doesn’t talk at its audience; it talks with them, and its sarcastic, witty voice has turned a fast-food chain into a beloved and genuinely entertaining internet character.
I Tried to Get My First 1,000 Followers on a Brand New Instagram Account (Worst to Best)
My quest for 1,000 followers was a lesson in the grind. The “worst” and most demoralizing part was the beginning: the slow, painful, and thankless process of posting into the void, with each post getting a handful of likes from your friends. It felt like shouting into an empty canyon. The “best” and most triumphant moment was when I finally crossed that 1,000-follower threshold. It was a purely psychological but deeply satisfying milestone that felt like I had finally, after a long and arduous journey, been allowed into the “cool kids” club.
Ranking the Most Common and Annoying Types of Comments You Can Receive Online (Worst to Best)
The comment section is a wild place. The most annoying type of comment is the unsolicited, passive-aggressive “advice” that is just a thinly veiled insult. The absolute “worst” and most infuriating comment, however, is the “well, actually…” correction from a pedantic stranger about a minor, irrelevant detail. It’s a comment that is not designed to be helpful; it is designed to be a smug, public performance of their own superior knowledge, and it is a deeply, universally annoying part of being online.
I Compared the “For You Page,” the “Explore Page,” and Reddit’s “r/all” for a Day (Worst to Best)
My day of algorithmic discovery revealed three different internets. The “worst” for my productivity was the TikTok “For You Page,” a ruthlessly efficient, hyper-personalized, and deeply addictive entertainment machine. Reddit’s “r/all” was a chaotic, unfiltered, and often horrifying glimpse into the raw, id-like hive mind of the entire internet. The “best” for genuine discovery was the Instagram “Explore Page,” a beautifully curated and visually stunning magazine of my own niche interests that consistently introduced me to new, inspiring artists and creators.
Ranking the Most Important and Overlooked Aspects of Digital Privacy (Worst to Best)
We give away our privacy for free every day. The most overlooked but important aspect of digital privacy is the vast, invisible web of data brokers who are buying and selling your personal information without your knowledge. The absolute “worst” and most dangerous part of our current privacy landscape is the simple, ubiquitous “accept all cookies” button. It’s a deliberately confusing and user-hostile design that tricks us into giving away a huge amount of our personal data in exchange for the simple, immediate convenience of accessing a website.
I Tried to Dox Myself Using Only Publicly Available Information (Worst to Best)
My self-doxxing experiment was a terrifying success. The “worst” and most chilling discovery was how a few, seemingly innocent and disconnected public posts—a photo of my pet, a check-in at a restaurant, a comment in a local Facebook group—could be pieced together like a puzzle by a determined stranger to reveal my full name, my neighborhood, and even my daily routine. The “best” part of the experiment was the immediate and powerful lesson it taught me: the internet does not forget, and our digital breadcrumbs can lead right to our front door.
Ranking the Best and Worst Internet Slang of the Last 5 Years (Worst to Best)
Internet slang evolves at lightning speed. The “worst” is the overly complex, cringeworthy slang that is popular on TikTok for about five minutes and then becomes a permanent, embarrassing timestamp of how uncool you are. The “best” and most enduring internet slang is the kind that is simple, useful, and fills a genuine linguistic gap. A word like “simp” or a concept like “the ick” is so perfectly descriptive of a real, universal human experience that it has transcended its internet origins and become a legitimate and useful part of the modern lexicon.
I Analyzed the Anatomy of 5 Different Viral “Cancel Culture” Moments (Worst to Best)
My “cancel culture” analysis revealed a familiar, terrifying pattern. The “worst” and most dangerous part is the speed and ferocity of the initial, context-free outrage. It’s like a digital flash mob that forms in an instant, based on a single, out-of-context tweet or clip. The “best” and most hopeful part of the cycle is the eventual, slow, and often quiet emergence of nuance and context, but by that point, the damage is often already done. It’s a powerful, modern-day demonstration of the timeless, terrifying power of a mob.
Ranking the Most Common and Frustrating Clickbait Tactics (Worst to Best)
Clickbait is the junk food of the internet. The most common and frustrating tactic is the headline that asks a question but doesn’t answer it in the article. The absolute “worst” and most infuriating clickbait tactic, however, is the multi-page slideshow. The act of forcing you to click “next” thirty-seven times, loading a new ad with each click, just to see a simple list of ten items, is a user-hostile, soul-crushing, and deeply cynical experience that is a perfect symbol of everything that is wrong with the modern internet.
I Tried to Use Only GIFs to Communicate With My Friends for a Day (Worst to Best)
My GIF-only communication day was a hilarious, emotional rollercoaster. The “worst” and most difficult part was trying to have a serious, nuanced conversation. It’s like trying to write a legal contract using only emojis; the tool is just not built for that level of specificity. The “best” and most wonderful part was the rapid-fire, hilarious banter with my closest friends. The ability to find a perfect, obscure GIF that perfectly captures a specific, shared inside joke is a deeply satisfying and uniquely modern form of high-speed, emotional communication.
Ranking the Best and Worst Subreddits for a New User to Discover (Worst to Best)
Reddit is a vast and varied universe. The absolute “worst” subreddits for a new user are the large, unmoderated, and deeply toxic ones that are full of negativity and hate. The absolute “best” and most welcoming subreddits for a newcomer are the ones that are focused on a specific, wholesome, and positive interest, like r/aww, r/MadeMeSmile, or a subreddit for a specific, friendly hobby. They are the bright, sunny, and well-maintained public parks of the Reddit world, and they are the perfect, gentle on-ramp to the chaotic highway of the rest of the site.
I Analyzed the Comment-to-Like Ratios on 10 Controversial Posts (Worst to Best)
Analyzing the “ratio” of a post is like listening to the sound of an audience. A post with a huge number of likes and very few comments is the digital equivalent of a roaring, standing ovation. A post that has been “ratioed,” with far more angry comments than likes, is the digital equivalent of a speaker being loudly and unanimously booed off the stage. It’s a simple, brutal, and incredibly effective public barometer of a bad take, a powerful and immediate form of digital feedback that is impossible to ignore.
Ranking the Most Common and Annoying “Fake News” Tropes (Worst to Best)
“Fake news” has a predictable and dangerous playbook. A common and annoying trope is the use of a grainy, out-of-context photo to support a false claim. The absolute “worst” and most effective trope, however, is the headline that is framed as a leading, emotional, and often fear-mongering question. A headline like “Is [thing you should be scared of] putting your family at risk?” is not designed to inform you; it is designed to bypass your logical brain and trigger a powerful, emotional, and shareable reaction. It’s a question that is its own, poisonous answer.
I Compared the Creator Monetization Tools on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram (Worst to Best)
My monetization comparison revealed a huge gap in creator fairness. The “worst” and most opaque is Instagram, where the monetization tools are inconsistent, unpredictable, and seem to favor a select few creators. The absolute “best” and most transparent is YouTube’s Partner Program. The clear, straightforward revenue-sharing model on ad views is a true, scalable, and reliable partnership that has allowed an entire generation of creators to build sustainable, independent careers. One is a mysterious lottery; the other is a real, predictable business model.
Ranking the Best and Worst Internet “Core” Memories We All Share (Worst to Best)
The internet has its own, strange, shared history. The “worst” core memory is the collective, cringeworthy trauma of the “What does the fox say?” video. The “best” and most unifying internet core memory, however, is “The Dress.” The simple, furious, and global debate over whether a dress was blue and black or white and gold was a perfect, beautiful, and delightfully meaningless moment where the entire internet was a single, massive schoolyard, passionately arguing about something that didn’t matter at all. It was a moment of pure, chaotic, and unifying joy.
I Tried to Unfollow Everyone Who Didn’t “Spark Joy” on My Feeds (Worst to Best)
My social media declutter was a mental health game-changer. The “worst” and most difficult part was the initial, awkward guilt of unfollowing an acquaintance or a family member. The “best” and most profound part of the experience, however, was the immediate and dramatic sense of peace and quiet that descended upon my timeline. The act of consciously curating my feed into a space that was genuinely positive, inspiring, and free from comparison was not just a digital declutter; it was a powerful and necessary act of self-care.
Ranking the Most Common and Frustrating Things About Being “Extremely Online” (Worst to Best)
Being “extremely online” is a strange and disorienting state of being. The most frustrating part is the loss of your ability to distinguish between a minor, niche, and ultimately meaningless internet drama and a real, consequential, in-the-real-world problem. Your sense of scale and proportion is completely broken. You find yourself having a strong, passionate opinion about a fight between two YouTubers you’ve never met, and you have to take a step back and remember that the real world still exists, and that most people have no idea what you’re talking about.
I Analyzed the Lifespan of a Meme, from Creation to Death (Worst to Best)
A meme has a life that is nasty, brutish, and short. The “best” part is the beginning: the birth of a new, clever, and genuinely funny format on a niche corner of the internet. The “worst” and most painful part of the lifecycle is the end: the slow, agonizing, and cringeworthy death of the meme, when it is discovered and brutally overused by clueless brands and politicians in a transparent and desperate attempt to seem “relatable.” It’s the moment a cool, underground secret becomes a terrible, mainstream dad joke.
Ranking the Best and Worst Parasocial Relationships Between Creators and Fans (Worst to Best)
A parasocial relationship is a one-way street. The “worst” and most dangerous are the ones where a fan develops a sense of entitlement or obsession, believing they have a real, two-way friendship with a creator they have never met, which can lead to scary, boundary-crossing behavior. The “best” and healthiest parasocial relationships are the ones where the fan understands and respects the boundary, and the creator fosters a positive, welcoming, and non-toxic community around their work. One is a delusion; the other is a healthy and inspiring appreciation of an artist.
I Compared the Live-Streaming Experience on Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok Live (Worst to Best)
My live-stream comparison revealed three different kinds of parties. The “worst” and most chaotic was TikTok Live, which often felt like a low-effort, spammy, and slightly desperate telethon. The “best” and most polished experience for a big, professional broadcast was YouTube Live. The undisputed champion for a true, interactive, and community-focused gaming stream, however, is Twitch. The rich ecosystem of emotes, channel points, and a culture of real-time interaction makes it feel less like a broadcast and more like you are hanging out in the same room with your favorite creator and a thousand of your closest friends.
Ranking the Most Important and Overlooked Moments in Early Internet History (Worst to Best)
The internet’s history is full of pivotal moments. The most overlooked but important, for me, was not the creation of the internet itself, but the creation of the first web browser with a graphical user interface, Mosaic. This single, brilliant innovation was the key that unlocked the internet for everyone. It transformed the internet from a complex, text-based, and intimidating tool for academics into a simple, visual, and accessible universe that a normal person could explore with the simple click of a mouse. It was the moment the internet became the world.
I Tried to Find the Original Source of a Viral Video (Worst to Best)
My viral video archaeology was a journey into a digital hall of mirrors. The “worst” and most impossible videos to trace were the ones that had been screen-recorded, re-uploaded, and compressed a hundred times across a dozen different platforms. It was like trying to find the original source of a third-generation, blurry photocopy. The “best” and most satisfying part of the hunt was the rare, triumphant moment of finally finding the original, high-quality video on some obscure, long-forgotten account, the clean, original source of a global phenomenon. It felt like discovering a lost artifact.
Ranking the Most Common and Annoying Humblebrags on LinkedIn (Worst to Best)
LinkedIn is the kingdom of the humblebrag. A common and annoying one is the post that starts with “I’m so humbled and honored to announce…” The absolute “worst” and most transparently disingenuous humblebrag, however, is the one that is disguised as a moment of fake vulnerability. The long, sanctimonious post about a “failure” that is actually just a setup to announce a massive, triumphant success is a masterclass in performative humility, and it is a deeply, universally annoying part of the LinkedIn experience.
I Compared the “Good Vibes Only” Sections of the Internet vs. the “Doomer” Sections (Worst to Best)
The internet is a place of emotional extremes. The “good vibes only” sections are a bright, colorful, and often toxically positive theme park, where any hint of negativity is immediately shut down. The “doomer” sections are a black-and-white, cynical, and equally toxic film noir, where any hint of hope is met with scorn. The “worst” part is that both are an exhausting and unrealistic performance that denies the complex, messy, and beautiful reality of the human experience, which is a messy, complicated, and beautiful mix of both light and shadow.
Ranking the Best and Worst Apology Videos from Canceled YouTubers (Worst to Best)
The YouTube apology video is a genre unto itself. The absolute “worst” are the ones that are a masterclass in non-apology. The deep, fake sigh, the ukulele, the lack of a specific apology, and the long list of excuses is a transparent, manipulative performance that is often more insulting than the original offense. The “best” and rarest apology videos are the ones that are simple, direct, and take full, unconditional responsibility. They don’t make excuses; they just offer a sincere apology and outline a clear, actionable plan to do better. One is a performance; the other is an act of character.
I Tried to Identify an AI-Generated Image vs. a Real Photograph (Worst to Best)
My AI image detection test was a journey into the uncanny valley. The “best” and easiest AI images to spot were the ones with a single, horrifying, and obvious flaw, like a person with a nightmarish, six-fingered hand. The “worst” and most unsettling part of the experiment was the discovery of how incredibly good AI has become at creating photorealistic landscapes and objects. The line between real and fake is becoming so blurry, so quickly, that it’s a chilling and powerful reminder that we can no longer trust our own eyes.
Ranking the Most Common and Frustrating Tech Support Advice from Strangers Online (Worst to Best)
Getting tech support from a public forum is a risky gamble. The most frustrating advice is the simple, dismissive “it works for me.” The absolute “worst” and most infuriating advice, however, is the confident, condescending, and completely wrong advice that would actually make the problem worse. The person who tells you to “just delete that system file” is not just unhelpful; they are a digital arsonist, and their bad advice can turn a small, frustrating problem into a catastrophic, unrecoverable disaster.
I Analyzed the “Stan Culture” of 5 Different Celebrities (Worst to Best)
“Stan culture” is a world of passionate, tribal devotion. The “worst” and most toxic is the “stan army” that acts as an online attack dog for their favorite artist, launching coordinated harassment campaigns against anyone who dares to offer even the mildest criticism. The “best” and most positive aspect of stan culture, however, is the incredible sense of community and shared joy it can create. The collective, global celebration of a new album release or a big award win can be a beautiful, powerful, and genuinely connecting experience for fans around the world.
Ranking the Best and Worst Uses of GoFundMe and Kickstarter I’ve Ever Seen (Worst to Best)
Crowdfunding can be a powerful tool for good or for pure nonsense. The “worst” and most frivolous use of GoFundMe is the person who is trying to crowdfund their vacation or a new luxury car. The “best” and most beautiful use of these platforms, however, is when they act as a true, life-saving lifeline for someone facing a devastating medical crisis, or when they allow a small, passionate, independent creator to bring a beautiful, creative project to life that would have never been funded by a traditional gatekeeper. One is a digital tip jar; the other is a powerful engine for hope and creativity.
I Compared the Conspiracy Theory Rabbit Holes on YouTube vs. Facebook (Worst to Best)
My journey into the conspiracy theory underbelly revealed two different kinds of poison. The Facebook rabbit hole was the “worst” in that it was a chaotic, social mess of your own friends and family sharing low-quality, easily debunked memes. The YouTube rabbit hole, however, was far more insidious and “better” at its job. The algorithm is a powerful and methodical radicalization engine. It is designed to slowly, patiently, and algorithmically lead you from a single, curious, and seemingly innocent question into a deep, dark, and paranoid alternate reality, one recommended video at a time.
Ranking the Most Important and Overlooked Signs of Online Burnout (Worst to Best)
Online burnout is a modern affliction. The most overlooked but important sign is not a feeling of stress or anxiety, but a feeling of profound, numb apathy. The endless, meaningless scroll no longer brings you joy or anger; it just brings you… nothing. The absolute “worst” and most telling sign of online burnout is when your real, in-the-moment life starts to feel boring and muted compared to the hyper-stimulated, fast-paced world of the internet. It’s a sign that your brain’s dopamine system is completely out of whack, and that it’s time to unplug.
I Tried to Have My “Main Character Moment” and Document It for Social Media (Worst to Best)
My attempt to have a “main character moment” for the internet was a lesson in authenticity. The “worst” and most cringeworthy part was the act of trying to perform a spontaneous, joyful moment for a camera. It was a fake, staged, and deeply inauthentic experience that felt more like work than joy. The “best” and most ironic part was the real, beautiful, and completely undocumented moment of laughter that happened after I finally put my phone away and gave up. It was a powerful reminder that the best moments in life are the ones we’re too busy living to record.
Ranking the Most Powerful and Fleeting Forms of Internet Fame (Worst to Best)
Internet fame is a strange and volatile currency. The absolute “worst” and most fleeting form is the fame that comes from being the main character of a single, viral meme or a funny video. You are the most famous and recognizable person in the world for 24 hours, and then, just as quickly, you are completely and utterly forgotten. The “best” and most powerful form of internet fame is the kind that is built slowly, consistently, and authentically over years, creating a deep, loyal, and lasting community around a specific passion or expertise. One is a flash flood; the other is a river.