Film
A Film Made to Be Watched on Instagram Exposes the Tricks of Influencer Culture
The documentary #followme peels back the artifice of social media's popularity economy.
Social Media
Art
In the Hands of Meme-Makers, One Image Has Many Lives
Currently, a broad part of online communication consists of people reinterpreting a shared pool of references. There's no better showcase for this than various subcultures putting their own spins on popular memes.
Art
How One Meme Reveals the Difference in How Humans and AI "See"
As AI technology grows more sophisticated, neural networks can generate pictures people are comfortable looking at. It takes a surreal reject of an image to remind us of how differently a computer perceives the world.
Art
When Tragedy Strikes, Social Media Posts Can Become Invaluable Artifacts
As Notre-Dame burned, there was controversy over people responding by sharing selfies they'd taken at the cathedral. But there may be public value in this practice.
Art
A Nonjudgmental Look at Our Impulse to Share Images
Although social media has amped up the sharing of photos, the urge behind it is nothing new.
Art
How Social Media Profiles Act as Bizarre Digital Gravestones
As more people die but their internet presences linger, we have to find ways to grapple with these documents of who they were.
Art
Viral Meme Culture at the International Center of Photography
Tonight, Jillian Steinhauer will be in conversation with Jason Eppink and Andrew Kuo to discuss memes, GIFs, and digital culture at the ICP.
Comics
A Social Media Mystery
When an artist has one million followers.
Art
The Accidental Social Media Artist Who Can’t Stop Falling
Paige Ginn films herself not only in a state of collapse, but also while getting there.
Art
A City Where Trees Tweet
The 2010s have settled into their own, and now even the trees get their own hashtag campaigns and Twitter handles.
In Brief
Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton's Graphic Design Duel on Twitter
There are so many ways for presidential candidates to spar: in debates, in conversation with the press — and now, on social media!
In Brief
Woman Found Guilty of Criminal Harassment for Instagramming Street Art
Jennifer Pawluck, the Montrealer who was arrested in 2013 for posting a photo of a piece of street art on Instagram, has been convicted of criminal harassment and, on Thursday, was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and 18 months probation.