Social Media Ruined Privacy
You’re not just being watched. You’re being recorded, uploaded, and even judged.
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What’s up, everyone! Today’s newsletter is free. But heads up — next week I’m dropping the July Creator Report, my monthly roundup of creators brands need to know. Whether you’re casting a campaign, planning a collab, or building content, this list can help. It’s exclusive to paid subscribers, so now’s the perfect time to upgrade and stay tapped in.
This week, I'll be discussing the CEO Coldplay scandal that the internet can’t get enough of, Netflix's official use of AI in film, WNBA All-Star Weekend, a new era for Threads, and much more.
Let’s get it
FAVORITE CONTENT OF THE WEEK
I came across the dance collective MURMURATION by Sadeck Berrabah on social, and I’m hooked. The choreography is jaw-dropping! The symmetry, precise movements, and use of color serve as eye-catching hooks in the video. It feels almost AI-generated. A subtle detail also caught my attention—the angle at which it’s filmed is visually compelling. Sadeck, with his back turned to the camera, orchestrating the dancers, is a visual treat.
Social Media Ruined Privacy
Imagine grabbing dinner with friends. Great vibes. You go home feeling good about the night. Then you wake up the next morning, and your phone is going off. Not because of something you posted, but because a stranger secretly filmed you and uploaded it to TikTok. Now, you’re going viral, and everyone sees it. It reaches a point where friends, family, and even coworkers are reaching out to you. That’s what happened to the man in this TikTok. He was filmed during dinner because of his looks. No consent. And when the video went viral (millions of views), he was pissed.
Looking through the comments, no one questioned the act of filming him without his permission. It was normalized and essentially celebrated. This reflects a widespread sense of entitlement that social media has instilled in people. We live in a surveillance culture, and social media has made everyone a potential subject of content.
Your most private, embarrassing, or even boring moment can become a viral clip. Just ask Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and Kristen Cabot, the Chief People Officer, also known as the “Coldplay couple.” who were caught cheating on camera at a Coldplay concert. Over 100 million views later, they’ve become internet villains and the butt of hilarious memes. Even sports teams are joining in, recreating the drama during in-game breaks. Look, the internet doesn’t take anything seriously. I expected an influx of skits and memes; it’s a natural reaction on social media. However, the digital witch hunt will always be a bit weird to me. The CEO and Chief People Officer deserve every bit of scrutiny, but this moment also highlights how social media has normalized broadcasting people’s lives without consent, and turning it into entertainment. It’s indeed entertaining — I’ve been laughing a lot over the last few days.
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The internet remains undefeated.
BRANDS, COLLABORATIONS, AND CULTURE
‘Stud Budz’. WNBA players Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman took over WNBA All-Star Weekend by livestreaming the festivities on a 72-hour live stream. It’s an unfiltered party. It’s raw, unfiltered, and everything sports media has been missing. From dancing, to authentic player interactions to candid convos with the league commissioner, the duo brought fans behind the scenes. Taking a page out of Kai Cenat’s playbook of livestreaming from cultural events (I.e. BET Awards stream). They’re livestreaming red carpets, parties, hotel moments, and locker room banter—offering a lens into the personalities that make the league fun, cool, and human. It’s refreshing and entertaining. And it’s what the WNBA needs as it breaks into new markets and continues to build its cultural footprint. If you’re a brand activating at major cultural events, consider having live streamers on site if it aligns with your strategy. There is a risk associated with this tactic due to the unscripted nature of streaming, but it’ll bring a fresh perspective to your event coverage.
The all-new Nike Ava Rovers are fire. I had the chance to try Nike’s newest silhouette before its late July 2025 release. It features a React X sole and is designed for all-day wear. I found this to be true. I wore the Rovers all day, and my feet felt comfortable, making them a great addition to my footwear collection. Most importantly, the sneaker looked great on foot. Thanks Nike!
Netflix is using generative AI. During its latest earnings call, Netflix revealed it used Gen AI to create a building collapse scene in ‘The Eternaut,’ a sci-fi series from Argentina. The VFX sequence was completed 10 times faster than it could have been achieved with traditional VFX tools and workflows, making it the first-ever AI-generated final footage in a Netflix original. That’s impressive, but also worrisome? What does this mean for the future of VFX creatives in the industry? What is clear is that the streaming giant is actively prototyping new ways to cut production costs and speed up workflows. AI in film is here.
UNO is launching Social Clubs across the United States. Mattel Inc. is launching UNO Social Clubs in LA, NYC, Chicago, Atlanta, and Austin, officially taking the game off the shelf and into the nightlife scene. People are excited about the news; the social post announcing that the Vegas social clubs aren’t happening and more clubs are on the way has over 500k likes - easily UNO’s best social post ever. The social clubs is brand world-building done right. Mattel transforming bars into UNO-themed game night destinations—complete with drink menus, tournament-style play, photo ops, and more, builds a universe around UNO rooted in nostalgia and designed for connection. It’s no longer a game — it’s a thriving community.
Angel Reese and Reebok made a Splash at WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indy. An Angel Reese billboard popped up downtown. Angel rode around the city in a custom ‘Reese 1’ truck to meet & greet fans, and they unveiled the ‘Mebounds’ colorway, which she wore during the game. Reebok is doing it right. They’re backing Angel with real energy, and it shows. The silhouette looks fire, and thanks to Angel’s cultural influence and elite in-game performance, I can already see this shoe resonating with fans off the court. This is how you launch a signature.
The internet is loving Doc Marten’s new loafers that change color as you wear them. Ngl they’re hard and will probably sell out quickly due to the TikTok hype.
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Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserThe Virgil Abloh Archive™ has partnered with Nike to open the first major European exhibition highlighting Virgil Abloh’s work. Titled Virgil Abloh: The Codes, the showcase will celebrate almost two decades of the visionary’s work through his 20,000-object archive, and it’ll be on view at the Grand Palais from September 30 (Abloh’s birthday) through October 10.
Rick Owens Launched an OnlyFans. Yes, I’m serious — it’s for a good cause. With subscriptions priced at $5 per month, the designer is showing pictures of his feet with all proceeds being donated to the Allanah Foundation, founded by trans icon @missallanahstarr to support at-risk trans youth and refugees. Rick was inspired by Contessa di Castiglione — a 19th-century beauty who, as she aged, withdrew from the world and only allowed portraits of her feet until her death. Only Rick Owens can pull this off. To the brands out there, don’t try this.
SOCIAL MEDIA
I’m placing a big bet on Threads. Meta is pouring resources into the 2-year-old app, appointing Meta executive Connor Hayes as the Head of Threads. The app now has 350 million users, quickly gaining ground on X. I’ve been talking about the fast growth of Threads for months. I’ve noticed more activity on my personal account, with more friends and creators I follow using the platform.
TikTok is finally giving songwriters their flowers. The platform just rolled out a beta for its new Songwriter Features—a suite of tools that make it easier to credit the people behind the music. Songwriters will now have dedicated profiles, a tab to show off songs they’ve penned, and the chance to tell the story behind the lyrics. It's a long-overdue move that shifts some of the spotlight to the creators behind the hits. With more than half of full-time songwriters already using TikTok to grow their careers, this update shows TikTok is listening.
Public Instagram posts are searchable via Google. More proof that Social is the new SEO. Public posts and Reels from professional accounts are now searchable on Google and Bing, marking a major shift in how content gets discovered. This means your IG content isn’t just for the feed anymore; it’s now part of the broader search ecosystem. Every reel post since July 1, 2020, is being indexed, giving brands and creators a longer content shelf life and new pathways to reach people beyond the app.
Jet2Holiday's trending audio is everywhere on social media. The voice-over and soundtrack from an ad released in January 2024 have gone viral on social media, as users place the audio with travel mishaps and bloopers. It’s hilarious.
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Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserThanks for reading! Til next time, folks ✌🏿.
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