DeepSummary
In this podcast episode, Sarah Marshall interviews Taylor Lorenz, the author of the book 'Extremely Online,' about the history and evolution of internet influencers and content creators. They discuss the rise of mommy bloggers in the early 2000s, the transition to visual content and video platforms like Vine, and the current landscape dominated by TikTok and the pressure for constant virality.
Lorenz provides insights into the challenges faced by content creators, such as the lack of labor protections, the constant need to optimize for online metrics, and the pressure to commodify their personal lives. She also highlights the role of platforms like Facebook in shaping online behavior and the potential for users to collectively push for change and better internet experiences.
The conversation touches on the evolution of the term 'influencer,' the negative connotations associated with it, and the misogyny often directed towards women in this industry. Lorenz emphasizes the need to recognize content creation as legitimate labor and the importance of direct connection between creators and their audiences.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The rise of internet influencers and content creators has been driven largely by users and their desire for connection, rather than by tech companies and Silicon Valley narratives.
- Content creation and influencer marketing have evolved from early mommy bloggers and visual platforms like Vine to the current era of TikTok and constant virality.
- Content creators face challenges such as lack of labor protections, the need to optimize for online metrics, and pressure to commodify their personal lives.
- The term 'influencer' often carries negative connotations, particularly due to misogyny and the association with women taking selfies or sharing personal lives.
- Platforms like Facebook have played a significant role in shaping online behavior and the way people post and consume content.
- While the content creator industry can be exploitative and dystopian, the internet has also democratized content production and allowed more people to benefit directly from their labor.
- There is a need for users to collectively push for better internet experiences and resist the control of tech companies prioritizing profit over user interests.
- Direct connection between creators and their audiences is becoming increasingly important as a way to bypass algorithms and build more authentic relationships.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Writing the book made me realize that these corporate narratives are all complete bullshit. And these Silicon Valley men, time and time again, kind of never knew what they were doing or what they created, and it was the users of the products and just people that just shaped culture and shaped history and really had a really outsized effect on these platforms.“ by Taylor Lorenz
- “The Internet has given more people the chance to benefit directly from their labor than any other time in history. And yes, there's, you know, we've obliterated all a lot of the old gatekeepers, and that's amazing.“ by Taylor Lorenz
- “Let's collectively fight for it, too, because collectively, we all have a lot of power and say over the landscape, the Internet world that we've all created, and we're all sort of collectively creating every day together. And let's not let it be run by these billionaires that just want to mine us all for profit.“ by Taylor Lorenz
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Episode Information
You're Wrong About
Sarah Marshall
12/12/23
“The creatures outside looked from influencer to human, and from human to influencer, and from human to influencer again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.”
Taylor Lorenz, author of Extremely Online, takes Sarah on a horror- and nostalgia-filled ride through the last twenty years of internet history. Then we try to make sense of what our internet future will be.
You can find Taylor online here.
This episode was produced by Carolyn Kendrick.
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Links:
https://www.taylorlorenz.com/
https://www.carolynkendrick.com/
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https://www.podpage.com/you-are-good