Power User with Taylor Lorenz

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:

Would you pay $65,000 to have ChatGPT teach your kids?Support my independent journalism:

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:

Democrats just handed ICE exactly what ICE asked for.[FREE SPEECH FRIDAY]If you value my reporting, please, please support my work

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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[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!!

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:

SUPPORT ME ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz Or buy a paid subscription to my Substack newsletter to support my work!!!!

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!!!!

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!!!!

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!!!!

SUPPORT ME ON PATREON for ad-free and bonus episodes!!! https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz Buy a subscription to my Tech and Online Culture newsletter, User Magazine to support my work!!!!

>SUPPORT ME ON PATREON for ad-free and bonus episodes!!! https://www.patreon.com/c/taylorlorenz           Buy a subscription to my Tech and Online Culture newsletter, User Magazine to support my work!!!!

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!!!!

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!!!!

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!!!!

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!!!!

[PATREON EXCLUSIVE] Subscribe on Patreon to listen to this and other bonus episodes of Power User!! SUPPORT ME ON PATREON.    Buy a subscription to my tech and online culture newsletter, User Magazine to support my work!!!!

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!!!!

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!!!!

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!!!!

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!!!!

>>> FREE SPEECH FRIDAY

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!!!!

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!!!!

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!!!!

SUBSCRIBE TO MY PATREON to listen to the full episode and more bonus content and to ensure that this podcast remains alive. Since Kamala Harris lost the election, there's been an endless debate among the Democrats on how to best reach young people online. Many centrists have claimed liberals need a "Joe Rogan of the left" and by left they usually mean center right. Others have leaned into memes and shitposting like Gavin Newsom. Zohran Mamdani didn't do any of that and he won young voters, and especially young men, in a landslide. His digital strategy leaned into creator-style content and leveraged a ton of influencers, but in a way that felt natural, organic and centered his policies, which were the real engine behind his success. Part of his success was due to Creators For Zohran, an influencer-led coalition aimed at boosting Zohran's messaging online, and Emilia Rowland, Zohran's new media and creator partnerships advisor, who led creator partnerships for Mamdani's campaign. Emilia, along with Aiden Kohn Murphy and Alexis Williams, co-founders of Creators for Zohran, joined me to pull back the curtain on the work they did with Zohran, talk about what made his creator strategy so effective, and discuss how to build relevance and mobilize people in an increasingly fractured online world.Buy a subscription to my Tech and Online Culture newsletter, User Magazine to support my work!!!!

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!!!!

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!!!!

FREE SPEECH FRIDAYSUPPORT ME ON PATREON!!!! Buy a subscription to my Tech and Online Culture newsletter, User Magazine to support my work!!!!

​​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!!!!

FREE SPEECH FRIDAY 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!!!!

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!!!!

FREE SPEECH FRIDAY 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!!!!

SUPPORT ME ON PATREON!!!!!!Buy a subscription to my Tech and Online Culture newsletter, User Magazine, to support my work!!!!