You’re Thinking About Online Trends All Wrong
From pessimism around dating to AI reshaping culture, cyber-ethnographer Ruby J. Thelot tells WIRED why people are putting too much stock into things that go viral.
In recent times, internet trends have evolved, yet not all new terms or subcultural phenomena have enduring mainstream appeal. Former examples include NFTs and Clubhouse audio chat apps, which initially attracted attention before fizzling out. Cyber-ethnographer and media theory researcher Ruby Thelot explains that overestimating trends occurs due to the internet's balkanization, where individuals are on separate "digital islands."
Most seemingly viral phenomena are actually the result of targeted consumption. The lot's upcoming book, In Defense of Being-On-Line, discusses why virality may no longer be a reliable indicator of trend longevity, the misunderstanding of dating burnout, and the significance of prediction markets.
Goodhart's law, a concept introduced by British economist Charles Goodhart, highlights how measures become ineffective when they become targets. In the realm of culture, overestimating virality as a measure can lead to content being designed solely for high engagement without considering inherent value, which is essential for long-term cultural adoption.
The lot's research on dating burnout reveals that while it has garnered media attention, it is merely a misunderstanding of existing issues, such as heteropessimism, which refers to the general malaise experienced by straight women in dating straight men.
Prediction markets, platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket where users bet on various events, have gained traction. While initially perceived as a financial opportunity, the lot suggests that their true value lies in fostering participation and engagement within culture. These markets often bring individuals together in group chats, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared experience. The author argues that the desire for participation, rather than financial gain, is driving people to engage with these platforms.
In the context of AI advancements, Thelot expresses skepticism about its potential to revolutionize culture. She believes that intelligence is not the most critical factor in solving societal issues, which are more often hindered by the need for cooperation, coordination, and alignment towards shared goals. Additionally, the lot warns that the belief in intelligence as a decisive factor may lead to the neglect of other valuable attributes, such as emotional intelligence, bodily intelligence, and artistic intelligence.
This narrowing focus on intelligence, she contends, could have dangerous consequences by dismissing other essential aspects of human potential.
Written by urgent.news from Wired's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
