TheFutureParty
A Community-based Media Company
Popular TikTok creator Sabrina Brier is upending the publishing industry by releasing her first book as a celebrity-filled audiobook… except there’s no book you can physically or digitally purchase. Why It Hits: Taking a cue from the soaring popularity of podcasts, Brier’s “book” aims to cash in on the demand for more audio-first content. While it’s doubtful […]
The growing popularity of a new tool called Graze, a platform that allows people to build and soon monetize feeds on Bluesky, is showing users and investors the new possibilities of internet curation. Why It Hits: As decentralized social media platforms take off in popularity, the ability to customize the experience could mint a new kind of influencer. Behind […]
People have started noticing that digital creators — especially those on TikTok — have adopted a unique style of speaking that’s being dubbed “influencer voice.” Why It Hits: Shifting dialects have been a part of American media for over a century (mid-Atlantic accent in movies from the 1940s, anyone?), but the prevalence across social media may be […]
MrBeast is joining a consortium of investors in submitting an all-cash bid to acquire TikTok’s US operations before President Trump’s 75-day extension on the app’s ban ends. The Big Picture: The race is on to see who will land the most coveted social media platform in the world (if China really does allow a sale). Whoever can curry […]
As TikTok’s fate in the US hangs in the balance with Donald Trump back at the Resolute Desk, every American social platform is racing to remake its image in the troubled platform. The Top Notification: President Trump is already making some hard-to-keep promises on reinstating TikTok, including the US potentially taking a 50% stake in the app. […]
Duolingo is seeing a surge in new users because of people deciding to learn Mandarin, so they can better enjoy the Chinese equivalent of Instagram, RedNote (Xiaohongshu in Chinese). Why It Hits: Politicians on both sides of the aisle regret having passed the divest-or-ban TikTok law, learning the hard way that a majority of Americans aren’t happy […]
With TikTok’s US expiration date approaching, there’s a mad rush to eulogize it, purchase it, find alternatives, or extend its American life. Why It Hits: The dust is far from settled on what TikTok’s fate will be. But whatever happens, social media is definitely entering a new era, which will once again reshape online life. Behind […]
A decentralized movement is happening on the outskirts of social media: Mastodon’s CEO is transferring ownership of the social platform to a new nonprofit, and a new initiative aims to protect the infrastructure that Bluesky is built on from the whims of billionaire owners. The Big Picture: Amid X’s transformation under Elon Musk and existential changes happening […]
TikTok started making its case against the US government’s divest-or-ban law in front of the Supreme Court on Friday… and so far, it seems that the Justices are siding with upholding the law. That means TikTok could really be gone on January 19th when the law takes effect. Why It Hits: We don’t need to make the […]
Meta announced that it’s swapping out its third-party fact-checkers with a community-notes model over the next few months in hopes of fighting back against alleged bias and censorship. The Big Picture: Meta is once again changing with the tide. After nearly a decade of trying to thwart extremism, hateful speech, and misinformation on its platforms, the company has decided that […]