Taylor Lorenz

Taylor Lorenz

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Journalist and creator; covers creator economy and internet culture.

Bus Driver Resists AI Surveillance on School Routes
SocialApr 9, 2026

Bus Driver Resists AI Surveillance on School Routes

AI powered cameras are being installed on school buses across the country to surveil the drivers and children on the bus. I spoke to one bus driver in Wichita who’s fighting back against this surveillance tech. https://t.co/IbILY71ldZ

By Taylor Lorenz
AI Backlash Coexists with Massive User Adoption
SocialApr 9, 2026

AI Backlash Coexists with Massive User Adoption

There’s undeniably a broad-based backlash against technology happening, but it’s also true that AI tools are extremely popular and useful for millions of people. ChatGPT alone has almost 100M MAUs in America https://t.co/MUyCGYXkoJ

By Taylor Lorenz
Government Can't Befriend AI Industry While Targeting Its Leader
SocialApr 9, 2026

Government Can't Befriend AI Industry While Targeting Its Leader

"It is inconceivable that the government can have a healthy relationship with the frontier AI industry while attempting to destroy what is arguably the field’s leading company." https://t.co/smnOFB9VWh

By Taylor Lorenz
XAI Powers Grok with Illegal Gas Turbines
SocialApr 8, 2026

XAI Powers Grok with Illegal Gas Turbines

Musk’s AI company, xAI, used unpermitted gas turbines to power the data center behind Grok. Thermal drone footage captured by Floodlight shows the turbines running at a custom-built power plant in Southaven, Mississippi, flouting clean air regulation https://t.co/nsfDYWZ6r7

By Taylor Lorenz
Hundreds of AI Startups Showcase Services at HumanX2026
SocialApr 7, 2026

Hundreds of AI Startups Showcase Services at HumanX2026

Day 2 of #HumanX2026, there are hundreds of AI startups here pitching their services https://t.co/zhwNlSH5Qx

By Taylor Lorenz
Accuser Misreads Transparent Omidyar-Funded Fellowship as Dark Money
SocialApr 7, 2026

Accuser Misreads Transparent Omidyar-Funded Fellowship as Dark Money

The same guy who tried to claim I was accepting “dark money” by taking part in a public non partisan investigative journalism fellowship funded entirely & directly by Pierre Omidyar (who discloses his funding on the website). He has 0...

By Taylor Lorenz
Data Brokers Push Irrelevant Ads to Boost Conversions, Target Did.
SocialApr 5, 2026

Data Brokers Push Irrelevant Ads to Boost Conversions, Target Did.

If you know anything about data brokers/targeting advertising u know that they will give u ads for things they know ur not interested in bc it boosts conversion on the ones you are. Target was doing this to pregnant women...

By Taylor Lorenz
Lawsuit Claims Perplexity’s ‘Incognito’ Sold Chats for Ads
SocialApr 4, 2026

Lawsuit Claims Perplexity’s ‘Incognito’ Sold Chats for Ads

Perplexity’s “Incognito Mode” is a “sham,” -lawsuit says Google, Meta, and Perplexity accused of sharing millions of chats to increase ad revenue. https://t.co/vxnnXugoR4

By Taylor Lorenz
Creators' Rights Claim Masks Push for Economy‑Destroying Laws
SocialApr 2, 2026

Creators' Rights Claim Masks Push for Economy‑Destroying Laws

This "creators bill of rights" is nothing but PR slop when the people involved are also pushing laws like KOSA and repealing Section 230, two policies that would destroy the creator economy as we know it.

By Taylor Lorenz
LA Rents Rise Despite Broader Economic Downturn
SocialApr 2, 2026

LA Rents Rise Despite Broader Economic Downturn

I’m curious how this economic crisis is happening in LA but it’s not affecting rental costs. Rents are still going up and LA doesn’t seem to be getting less expensive. Curious if ppl who know about econ can explain what’s...

By Taylor Lorenz
Newsletter Services Rebrand as Full‑fledged Creator Platforms
SocialApr 2, 2026

Newsletter Services Rebrand as Full‑fledged Creator Platforms

All these newsletter platforms have flipped to calling themselves creator platforms. This is great though and makes sense!

By Taylor Lorenz
Critic Calls Musk's AI Platform Unethical Yet Used
SocialApr 2, 2026

Critic Calls Musk's AI Platform Unethical Yet Used

So then why are you using Elon Musk’s AI platform? If you care so much about harmful AI downstream effects of AI, the type of harmful effects I report on btw, why are u a personal user of the most...

By Taylor Lorenz
Critics of AI Journalist Hypocritically Use Musk's Platform
SocialApr 2, 2026

Critics of AI Journalist Hypocritically Use Musk's Platform

The only thing “agonizingly unserious” is anyone using Elon Musk’s AI platform day in and day out trying to claim they have the moral high ground on a high profile journalist known for reporting critically on AI, who occasionally uses...

By Taylor Lorenz
Products Prioritize Engagement, Not Malice; Users Can Reduce Their Power
SocialApr 1, 2026

Products Prioritize Engagement, Not Malice; Users Can Reduce Their Power

This stuff is so stupid. EVERY consumer/media product is designed to maximize DAUs and time spent. Same w Netflix, Spotify, the NYT app, it’s not nefarious to make a product that delivers content ppl want. If you want these companies...

By Taylor Lorenz
Curated Feeds May Be Even More Addictive than Algorithms
SocialMar 31, 2026

Curated Feeds May Be Even More Addictive than Algorithms

Bsky user raises a good point: per "social media addiction" proponents' claims, wouldn’t a platform like BS, where there is no content-recommendation algo & users can tailor their feeds to contain precisely the ppl and types of posts they want...

By Taylor Lorenz
Meta Unaccountable; Article Misrepresents
SocialMar 31, 2026

Meta Unaccountable; Article Misrepresents

Meta was not remotely "held accountable" for harming teens this framing is deranged and this piece also completely misrepresents how big tobacco was actually regulated. I'm gonna lose my mind

By Taylor Lorenz
Critics Ignore Fediverse, Push Regulation of Big‑tech Platforms
SocialMar 31, 2026

Critics Ignore Fediverse, Push Regulation of Big‑tech Platforms

It's so revealing how the loudest voices ranting/raving about the "harms" of social media spend ZERO time engaging w the Fediverse at all. They want u to think that big tech's model of social media is the only one so...

By Taylor Lorenz
Most Users Remain Clueless About Platform Mechanics and Metrics
SocialMar 31, 2026

Most Users Remain Clueless About Platform Mechanics and Metrics

A lot of people continue to get on here and reveal they have absolutely zero understanding of how online media platforms work or how metrics are calculated online. It’s illuminating

By Taylor Lorenz
Labeling AI Terms as Slurs Fuels Harmful Anthropomorphism
SocialMar 30, 2026

Labeling AI Terms as Slurs Fuels Harmful Anthropomorphism

I actually made a whole video about this whole robot racism stuff and spoke to researchers. Ironically treating words like clanker as a slur contributes to the anthropomorphism of AI, which is a bad thing https://t.co/aoJdfAJOzs

By Taylor Lorenz
Caroline Kwan Exposes TikTok Smear Attacks on Women
SocialMar 30, 2026

Caroline Kwan Exposes TikTok Smear Attacks on Women

.@carolinekwan joined the podcast this week to chat about Chappell Roan, TikTok smear campaigns, and eternal hate campaigns against women https://t.co/vYf98TYZF2

By Taylor Lorenz
Data Centers Require Strict Location Oversight to Curb Noise
SocialMar 30, 2026

Data Centers Require Strict Location Oversight to Curb Noise

We need a lot more oversight over where these data centers end up. The noise pollution is something I hear about constantly from people who live nearby https://t.co/AAY0Gh3woV

By Taylor Lorenz
Attempting to Outshine a Top Influencer Exposes Media Ignorance
SocialMar 29, 2026

Attempting to Outshine a Top Influencer Exposes Media Ignorance

Trying to dunk on one of the most massive and relevant political influencers of our time and revealing you have no idea how internet media works

By Taylor Lorenz
New Censorship Laws Will Amplify Surveillance and Big‑tech Dominance
SocialMar 28, 2026

New Censorship Laws Will Amplify Surveillance and Big‑tech Dominance

Exactly what she said, and the tech landscape is about to get a billion times worse as we enact mass surveillance and censorship laws that crush competition and allow big tech to consolidate even more power under the guise of...

By Taylor Lorenz
AI Surveillance and ID Laws Threaten Online Speech Freedom
SocialMar 28, 2026

AI Surveillance and ID Laws Threaten Online Speech Freedom

It’s only going to get worse as mass ID verification/AI surveillance laws pass & the govt hunts down and prosecutes more and more ppl for online speech. The anti screen time industrial complex is also extremely lucrative and they’re already...

By Taylor Lorenz
Stop Judging My Screen Time; I’m Overloaded
SocialMar 28, 2026

Stop Judging My Screen Time; I’m Overloaded

Can everyone who complains about my “screen time” please start writing my newsletter, filing my freelance stories, editing my videos and podcast episodes, responding to thousands of email and doing my dozens of meetings every week bc I am burned...

By Taylor Lorenz
Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Masks Censorship Agenda
SocialMar 28, 2026

Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Masks Censorship Agenda

Kat Tenbarge and I discuss the “social media addiction” lawsuit and why the verdict is absolutely not about “holding big tech accountable”, and how media addiction claims are being used to censor annual LGBTQ ppl, immigrants, and all of us....

By Taylor Lorenz
Moral Panic over Social Media Addiction Fuels Meta Lobbying
SocialMar 28, 2026

Moral Panic over Social Media Addiction Fuels Meta Lobbying

Begging people to stop falling for moral panic “social media addiction” slop that is being used to further Meta’s billion dollar lobbying efforts and enact the Heritage Foundation’s tech policy slate. https://t.co/x5sBmiBcQH

By Taylor Lorenz
TikTok Correlates with Mental Health Issues, but No Causation Proven
SocialMar 28, 2026

TikTok Correlates with Mental Health Issues, but No Causation Proven

Key word here: correlates. TikTok usage likely also correlates with wearing baggy jeans. But there have been mountains of peer reviewed studies on social media's affect on mental health, and none have found any meaningful *causal* link. Great piece here:...

By Taylor Lorenz
YouTube Expands ID Age Verification, Limiting Channel Access
SocialMar 28, 2026

YouTube Expands ID Age Verification, Limiting Channel Access

Google/YouTube announced they’d start doing ID verification to comply with state “age verification” laws last August, looks like they’re rolling it out more widely in recent days

By Taylor Lorenz
Exploring the True Roots of Social Media Addiction
SocialMar 27, 2026

Exploring the True Roots of Social Media Addiction

Had a great time back with @nickgillespie chatting about “social media addiction” and what these cases are really about

By Taylor Lorenz
Social Media Addiction Is a Myth, Not a Disease
SocialMar 27, 2026

Social Media Addiction Is a Myth, Not a Disease

“As for social media ‘addiction’ there literally is no such thing. No diagnosis for that. Social media is not remotely the same as alcohol, nicotine, or heroin. There is no such thing as ‘dopamine hits’ which is merely pseudo-science sounding...

By Taylor Lorenz
Far‑right Cites Kids‑safety Laws to Target LGBTQ Online
SocialMar 27, 2026

Far‑right Cites Kids‑safety Laws to Target LGBTQ Online

One thing about the whole “social media addiction” campaign from Heritage and all the other far right fundamentalist groups, is that they’re openly bragging about how they’ll use these “kids online safety” legal precedents/laws to censor LGBTQ ppl off the...

By Taylor Lorenz
Criminalizing “Child Harm” Content Threatens Journalistic Freedom
SocialMar 27, 2026

Criminalizing “Child Harm” Content Threatens Journalistic Freedom

Yup, when you seek to criminalize content that causes “harm to children” you end up with censorship of journalism. I wrote about this last year for The Guardian https://t.co/h4eHZN4IpM

By Taylor Lorenz
Senator Ron Wyden Stands Alone in Targeting Big Tech
SocialMar 27, 2026

Senator Ron Wyden Stands Alone in Targeting Big Tech

Ron Wyden is the only lawmaker in congress who is actually interested in cracking down on big tech it seems

By Taylor Lorenz
Students Shouldn't Be Exposed to Biometric Surveillance in Schools
SocialMar 27, 2026

Students Shouldn't Be Exposed to Biometric Surveillance in Schools

“A review is ongoing about voice and facial recognition, biometric data gathering and surveillance.” Students should not be exposed to surveillance technology in schools. Certain tech can be great for learning, but NOT tech that harvests biometric data, surveils...

By Taylor Lorenz
Ending the Open Internet, Not Achieving Accountability.
SocialMar 27, 2026

Ending the Open Internet, Not Achieving Accountability.

"What you won’t get out of this is anything approaching 'accountability.' You’ll get the end of the open internet, cheered on by people who think they’re punishing a bully but are actually handing the bully’s biggest competitors a death sentence."...

By Taylor Lorenz
Essential Tool Maps Global Child‑Safety Verification Laws
SocialMar 26, 2026

Essential Tool Maps Global Child‑Safety Verification Laws

This remains one of the most useful tools for tracking age/ID verification "child safety" laws (ironically made by a top ID verification company). It gives the best comprehensive overview of where things stand in every state and country. Phenomenal work...

By Taylor Lorenz
Kids Use Social Media for Messaging; Laws Threaten It
SocialMar 26, 2026

Kids Use Social Media for Messaging; Laws Threaten It

The primary way kids use social media is to message w each other. This is why Snapchat is so popular among that age group. The ppl behind these laws know that, and their goal is to cut off messaging and...

By Taylor Lorenz
Meta Exploits Addiction Ruling to Craft Surveillance Child‑safety Laws
SocialMar 26, 2026

Meta Exploits Addiction Ruling to Craft Surveillance Child‑safety Laws

Using the Meta “social media addiction” ruling to push mass surveillance“child safety” laws that are effectively written by Meta, that Meta has spent millions lobbying for via “child safety” orgs that claim to “fight big tech.” We live in hell...

By Taylor Lorenz
Same “Harm” Claims Repeat for Every Internet Generation
SocialMar 26, 2026

Same “Harm” Claims Repeat for Every Internet Generation

Reminder that the same people claiming social media is "harming" teenagers today have been making the exact same arguments about every single iteration of the internet for the past 30 years. https://t.co/M3JiOZfY1Y https://t.co/BZxv6k93Zy

By Taylor Lorenz
Privacy Erosion Stems From Missing Data Laws, Not AI Rules
SocialMar 25, 2026

Privacy Erosion Stems From Missing Data Laws, Not AI Rules

She's spot on about surveillance, but these massive invasions of privacy are not solely bc of lack of federal legislation to regulate AI, it's bc of lack of data privacy laws. AI is exacerbating all of this, but all the...

By Taylor Lorenz
Verdict Spurs Censorship, Threatening Small Platforms
SocialMar 25, 2026

Verdict Spurs Censorship, Threatening Small Platforms

This verdict will lead to "a lot more heavy-handed censorship and privacy invasions by platforms to comply with junk science-based jury verdicts and looming legislative threats. Biggest tech players have the ability to weather the storm. Mid- and small-sized platforms...

By Taylor Lorenz
Parents Demand Stricter Social Media Duties, Section 230 Reform
SocialMar 25, 2026

Parents Demand Stricter Social Media Duties, Section 230 Reform

Outside the LA courthouse parents who say social media addiction killed their children outline the policies they want to come as a result of this legal win: - Senate version of KOSA w/ strong duty of care - Reform/repeal Section 230 - Age...

By Taylor Lorenz
Skid Row Content House Poised for Influencer Surge
SocialMar 25, 2026

Skid Row Content House Poised for Influencer Surge

The skid row content house is about to blow up mark my words... influencers are descending on egg god and co.

By Taylor Lorenz
Independent Journalists Expose US Propaganda on Cuba Crisis
SocialMar 24, 2026

Independent Journalists Expose US Propaganda on Cuba Crisis

They're livid that independent media figures like Hasan traveled to Cuba to report directly on what's happening and expose the amount of blatant propaganda in the US media ecosystem. This is why independent media/journalism that challenges MSM narratives is so...

By Taylor Lorenz
U.S. Power Cut Threatens Cuban NICU Babies' Lives
SocialMar 24, 2026

U.S. Power Cut Threatens Cuban NICU Babies' Lives

The U.S. continues to attempt to kill more babies. The American govt is 100% culpable for this suffering and could end it at any time

By Taylor Lorenz
US Kills Cubans with Impunity, Media Distracts with Hotel
SocialMar 24, 2026

US Kills Cubans with Impunity, Media Distracts with Hotel

The headline and framing on this story from the MSM has been insane as @NathanJRobinson’s great thread points out. America is killing Cubans with impunity and they’re trying to make the story about what hotel a media figure was required...

By Taylor Lorenz
Independent Reporters in Cuba Break Through US Propaganda
SocialMar 22, 2026

Independent Reporters in Cuba Break Through US Propaganda

It’s incredibly valuable to have independent media figures go to places like Cuba and do on the ground reporting that cuts through the MSM bubble and US propaganda.

By Taylor Lorenz
Lawmakers Seek VPN Bans to End Online Anonymity
SocialMar 22, 2026

Lawmakers Seek VPN Bans to End Online Anonymity

I’ve been repotting on this, there are already state lawmakers pushing for VPN bans. The goal is to fully remove anonymity from the internet

By Taylor Lorenz