Culture & entertainment
Discover facts about culture & entertainment. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Culture & entertainment
California extended child-earnings protections to influencers
Legislation signed in 2024 created protections for minors in monetized family content and expanded Coogan-law coverage to employed online creators. Parents…
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The Hills staged a romance between people who weren't actually dating
Kristin Cavallari said producers had her pretend to date former boyfriend Brody Jenner while he was still with Jayde Nicole. The arrangement also supplied a…
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Sudden, massive rise of hyper-niche weird podcasts
Some listeners are drawn to rough, highly specific podcasts—from local cryptids to retro gaming—because a host’s genuine obsession can be more compelling than…
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The Gentleminions trend got some suited moviegoers turned away
In 2022, groups dressed formally to attend Minions: The Rise of Gru and shared the outing online. After disruptive screenings, some cinemas restricted entry…
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Reality TV dating scandals exploding all over social media
When online sleuths uncover a contestant's past midseason, producers may have to re-edit episodes already in the works.
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A fake kidnapping became a real backlash for Sam Pepper
His 2015 video staged an abduction and apparent killing in front of another online creator. Viewers condemned the stunt rather than simply accepting it as a…
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A dance challenge made the NTSB issue an unusual warning
In 2018, versions of the In My Feelings challenge involved people getting out of rolling cars to dance while someone filmed. The U.S. safety agency publicly…
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Baffling and sudden corporate rebrand of a huge network
A once-familiar streaming brand replaced its name with a single vowel, a change that drew widespread mockery.
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Why major music labels completely rely on audio trends
Executives push major pop stars to make viral dances because songs are increasingly expected to dominate 15-second clips.
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Fights writers and actors had with studios are echoing quietly in the world of creators and streamers.
Fights writers and actors had with studios are echoing quietly in the world of creators and streamers. Some online entertainers are discussing unions,…
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You can almost script a celebrity apology video before it drops: soft lighting, casual clothes, a sigh, then a careful blend of sorrow and self defense.
You can almost script a celebrity apology video before it drops: soft lighting, casual clothes, a sigh, then a careful blend of sorrow and self defense. Teams…
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When Amazon announced a giant reality competition series fronted by YouTube titan MrBeast in 2024, it signaled just how fully the tables had turned.
When Amazon announced a giant reality competition series fronted by YouTube titan MrBeast in 2024, it signaled just how fully the tables had turned. The…
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Anime is no longer a niche late-night curiosity; it is one of streaming's biggest power plays.
Anime is no longer a niche late-night curiosity; it is one of streaming's biggest power plays. In early 2024, Solo Leveling showed how web novel and webtoon…
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Superhero fatigue was supposed to be killing the genre, then Deadpool and Wolverine showed up in 2024 and tore the narrative apart with a grin.
Superhero fatigue was supposed to be killing the genre, then Deadpool and Wolverine showed up in 2024 and tore the narrative apart with a grin. Its R-rated…
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Every time a beloved franchise announces a reboot or live-action remake, social media turns into a battlefield where nostalgia and profit collide.
Every time a beloved franchise announces a reboot or live-action remake, social media turns into a battlefield where nostalgia and profit collide. Studios…
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Some of the “people” you follow online are not people at all, and their perfection is exactly what makes them profitable.
Some of the “people” you follow online are not people at all, and their perfection is exactly what makes them profitable. For lonely viewers, chatting with a…
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A binge hit can lose the subscription it helped sell.
A binge hit can lose the subscription it helped sell. A viewer may join for one series, finish it in a weekend, and cancel before the next bill. A weekly…
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Millions of TikTok videos went silently dead in early 2024, not because of censorship, but because the music industry slammed the door.
Millions of TikTok videos went silently dead in early 2024, not because of censorship, but because the music industry slammed the door. The licensing talks…
Discover moreWatching live streamers makes us part of communities while sitting alone in bedrooms.
Tuning into a live streamer feels strangely intimate—you’re alone in your room, yet part of a crowd cheering in real time. There’s laughter, chatter, endless…
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Why spoiler-free streaming feels like a race
Simultaneous midnight releases spare fans a staggered wait, but they also put everyone online at once: a single tweet can reveal the finale before you've had…
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A celebrity's first product launch starts with an audience
An unknown brand must pay to introduce itself; a celebrity can announce a new business to people already following them. That attention can lower the hurdle…
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Why podcast discussions outlast the movies they critique
They stretch into hours of tangents and debates, but listeners can treat them as company while commuting, doing chores, or gaming.
Discover moreTalk of TikTok restrictions led influencers to diversify, uploading identical dances to YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and even Twitch.
Picture a modern digital circus where each performer—our influencers—must juggle five flaming torches at once. With rumors of TikTok vanishing, these…
Discover morePop fandoms erupted into hashtag wars after one idol canceled a tour for ‘health reasons.’ Some fans demanded transparency, others urged privacy.
When a beloved idol bowed out of a tour citing health, the stadium of fandom shifted into a digital battleground. Hashtags flew as one crowd demanded full…
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