☁️ Bookmarks: Welcome to the first edition!
internet's nuclear family / good things in the world / what I read this week
Hi friend,
Welcome to the first edition of Bookmarks! Bookmarks is a weekly Saturday email to paid Social Media Detox subscribers, containing all the extra reads and content that didn’t make it in the primary free edition.
As someone who is very online, I read and consume a lot of media each week. But it’s always been important to me to keep the traditional version of Detox short and easy to read over breakfast or a morning cup of coffee. This often means I have to cut some interesting content, for better or worse.
But! Some of you, like me, love getting all the curated articles + ideas! So, this is for you. For those of you who are kind enough to invest in this deeper corner of our little internet community… you’ll get ALL the content.
This first issue is free for all subscribers, but if you want to keep getting this in your inbox, you can upgrade to a paid subscription here.
Anywho, without further ado… enjoy the first issue of Bookmarks. 🔖
with warmth + love,
N
📚 all the reads
Meet the Internet’s ideal nuclear family: dissecting the use of the terms “daddy,” “mother,” “babygirl,” and “30-year-old teenage girl”
Have you heard of the Ozempic hype house drama? honestly, this is the social media chaos that I live for
Marathon training meets lip treatment testing: this is how I see social marketing moving – more niche, honest, real-life applications of products
What’s concert etiquette for FaceTimes? I’m mixed on this question, but I don’t love that concerts have become so centered around best video angles
School in the era of Andrew Tate: it’s honestly quite terrifying how young kids are consuming this social content + adopting an anti-feminist way of thinking
There’s still some good in the world: I was charmed by this story of a small coffee shop in Ukraine + the owner’s resilience to create a space for his community
The ‘Cashmere Wars’ of social media: clothing brands Quince, Naadam, and J.Crew are all competing for your wallet… but what’s the actual beef?
Apple’s Vision Pro is having an effect on our brains: we’ve seen the physical effects of screens near us all the time + this amplifies all of that
The Sheinification of Fashion: fast fashion is changing how other brands show up thanks to ultra-trendy Shein fashions mostly for worse
Free fanfiction is now being coopted by Etsy sellers: it’s a fun idea to have bound physical versions of fanfiction but it violates ethical + platform terms of use
The anti-Andrew Tate influencers: there are still many male role models on social media taking on toxic masculinity and reclaiming a more positive space
If you want to write the thing: well, Olivia Muenter says, write it. not gonna lie, this was a HUGE inspiration going into this first new issue
The fetishization of a good work ethic: the inspiration of this piece is Jlo’s Amazon Prime documentary + how we need to stop romanticizing hard work
🫶 things i’ve been loving this week
📚 books:
Finished reading:
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young - I loved this book so much. I didn’t think I would love this book so much. But wow, this was special. It’s a little sci-fi, a little fantasy, a little historical fiction, a little romance. I can’t tell you more without spoiling it, but please read this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter (on audiobook) - When I got into chick-lit and romance books, I noticed everyone raving about Lynn Painter. This one is YA (and read like it was YA), but that usually doesn’t deter me. I didn’t find it that special. It was fine but uneventful. Take it or leave it. ⭐️⭐️
Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen - Speaking of books I didn’t think I would love so much, THIS MEMOIR. It’s super short, but left me reeling. Also left me thinking a lot about my own anxiety and mental health. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Glossy: Ambition, Beauty, and the Inside Story of Emily Weiss’s Glossier by Marisa Meltzer (audiobook) - Another fine but not exciting book. It was a fun read, but I learned nothing new. I didn’t come away with a feeling like I had to know more, either. I hyped this one up so much, and it was just okay. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Started reading:
Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen - I’d strongly consider not finishing this one if it wasn’t relatively short and fast-paced. Not really feeling a connection with the characters yet and I’m over 25% in.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (on audiobook) - I’ve heard so much good stuff about this book for YEARS and I’m loving it so much so far. Also, is Evelyn Hugo Taylor Swift?
🎶 music:
Deeper Well - Kacey Musgraves: I’m so excited for this new album and this new direction for Kacey. Loved her SNL performance and can’t wait for the full release next week.
Forever - Noah Kahan: This is the final installment in Noah’s Stick Season era and I’m loving every bit of it. It warms my New Englander heart.
Eternal Sunshine - Ariana Grande: Her new album is finally out!! I’m actually kinda liking it… especially since I was a little hesitant when “yes, and?” came out.
Bleachers - Bleachers: Another new album!! I will literally listen to anything Jack Antonoff puts out.
📺 movies/tv:
Send me your recs!! We haven’t really been watching much (starting to catch up on old seasons of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) but I’d love some ideas of things you’re loving!
🛍️ buys:
Trader Joe’s Bourbon Vanilla Bean Paste - I bought this on a whim a couple of months ago (it’s still in stock near me, but seasonal!) and I’ve only used it in my morning latte so far but it is such a wonderful special treat!
Modern Bread & Bagel’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Buns + Plain Bagels - I was in NYC last week and had to make a trip to Modern after hearing so much from my fellow gluten-intolerant friends. The plain bagel toasted with cream cheese AND the cinnamon bun with frosting were two of the best GF things I’ve eaten in my life. If you’re not in NYC they do nationwide shipping (although it’s not cheap!) which would be the perfect gift for any GF friend.
Thanks for joining me for the first Saturday issue, friend! As always, leave me a comment or reply with any feedback. Have a great weekend! 🤍
Interesting take on the marathon training lip products article. I see it a bit differently.
As content creation becomes easier and therefore bland, there will be a push towards coming up with ideas that are more "creative." So there will be less of a focus on educational content, and more entertainment/distraction.
This particular use case. I've done 30 or so races in my lifetime thus far; urban, trails, mountains, different temps and setups, never have I ever thought of using a lip product. Never have I ever heard anyone talk about lip balms in a running context.
Naturally this is all anecdotal, there may be people out there really interested in this. But I do suspect this comes out of a need to be different for the algorithm's sake and not necessarily to have an honest take on anything.