today in tabs: the angel tree algorithm
ALSO: people are talking to AI Santa for hours a day, MyPillow guy wants to take on Gov. Tim Walz, blind boxes take over the holidays, and more
Happy Friday, December 12th.
FYSA, every Tuesday and Friday, I’ll be in your inbox with the latest in politics, tech & social media, culture, and other relevant topics – and I’ll share some notes and tips on what I’m keeping my eye on.
I’M ALSO LOOKING FOR MORE PEOPLE TO DO MINI INTERVIEWS FOR OPEN TABS :) Tips, thoughts, concerns, good jokes, bad jokes, tea, etc?
And finally, if you enjoy this newsletter and want to share it with your network (and/or your chronically online friends), that would be so appreciated 🙏
FYSA, this special section is where I’m hoping to do a smidge of editorializing from time to time!
An observation: I’ve been getting Angel Tree content on TikTok around this time of year for 3-4 years, but this year, it’s popping off like I haven’t seen before. And this is confirmed – here’s the data from Google Search Insights for “Angel Tree”:
Something different is in the air this year. Videos posted within the last 48 hours are already racking up millions and millions of views. I’ve also seen much more mega viral content from current and former angel tree recipient families, talking about the impacts of the program from their perspective – again, this one was posted 22 hours ago (from the time of writing) and has 1.8 million views and over 215,000 likes.
TikTok’s Creator Search Insights largely seems to confirm: relative growth and virality in Angel Tree content is up, especially in regard to the actual recipients of the purchases:
First and foremost, I want to say that the Angel Tree program is an incredibly important one, and it’s nice to see something actually good go so viral. (Also confirming recently posted Angel Tree vids are also getting quite a lot of play on Instagram and on YouTube Shorts.)
But something I’ve been mulling on: I do think this is yet another spin-off – albeit a net positive one – of the ubiquitous “haul culture” that we find ourselves in, which is something that raised many alarms. The ultimate status symbol these days is posting a TikTok or Instagram haul – of vintage clothes you got in Paris, blind boxes you got at PopMart, etc. – which is, in my opinion, pretty much the embodiment of the capitalistic materialism that most of us here in the US are seeking comfort in when things feel so unstable, unequal, and downright impossible. So it’s fascinating to see the epitome of our materialist culture and obsession with virtue (or virtue-signaling) and virality… become something that’s actually quite altruistic and positive. Another good example of this is the ALS ice bucket challenge, circa 2014. Both ask important questions about whether and how social media incentivization of good deeds can break through into reality when paired with certain aspects of the zeitgeist – and whether and how non-profits and activist groups can simulate that.
I’m so sorry to end on a cynical note about a story that I do think is fundamentally a hopeful one BUT… as you probably noticed, many of the people going viral on the shopping side are pretty big influencers already (so this is really good for their brand). Which makes me think we are mere days from seeing the corporate brand-ification of this and probably watching the Duolingo owl do an Angel Tree haul 🫠
Trump defies GOP critics by signing controversial order threatening states over AI laws
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing the federal government to file lawsuits against states that introduce regulations on artificial intelligence technology deemed to undermine the “global AI dominance” of the United States, doubling down on the White House’s industry-friendly approach to tech policy, despite growing pushback from politicians on both sides of the aisle. (WaPo, 12/11)
Mike Lindell, MyPillow Founder, Announces Run for Minnesota Governor
Mike Lindell, the chief executive of MyPillow and one of the country’s most prolific spreaders of election disinformation, announced on Thursday that he was running for governor of Minnesota. A close ally of President Trump, Mr. Lindell is best known for promoting the falsehood that voting machines in the United States are often rigged and have flipped elections. (NYT gift link, 12/11)
Lucy’s note: this man is, ofc, attempting to run against THE one and only Governor Tim Walz…
Young voters could be key to midterm success, but they’ve soured on both parties
The University of Chicago’s GenForward survey, first obtained by NPR, also paints a sobering picture for both parties ahead of the midterms. Support for Democrats has dropped substantially since last year, with the latest survey finding that roughly 6 in 10 young people now have unfavorable impressions of both parties. (NPR, 12/11)
Amanda Seyfried Doubles Down on Charlie Kirk Comments: ‘I’m Not F–king Apologizing’
“I’m not f–king apologizing for that. I mean, for f–k’s sake, I commented on one thing. I said something that was based on actual reality and actual footage and actual quotes. What I said was pretty damn factual, and I’m free to have an opinion, of course,” she said. (Parade, 12/10)
Lucy’s note: just thought it was very refreshing to see a major celeb not cave to Big PR :)
Are you in TikTok’s cat niche? What 121,000 videos reveal.
Our analysis shows gender plays a big role in what videos you’re shown. Humorous videos about everyday life appeal to nearly everyone — and are grouped together on the map, even though they don’t have any keywords in common. Meanwhile, TV, music and sports videos appear in multiple places on the map, showing how users’ tastes teach the algorithm to make fine-grained distinctions between different teams, musical styles and TV genres. (WaPo, 12/10)
AI startup Tavus founder says users talk to its AI Santa ‘for hours’ per day
AI Santa can now see users’ expressions and gestures and respond to them. It also remembers users’ conversations and interests, creating a more personalized experience. Notably, it now can take actions of its own, including searching the web for present ideas or even perform everyday tasks like drafting emails. (TechCrunch, 12/10)
Lucy’s note: I 1000% percent understand why people are becoming “kidults” today (ty Morning Brew for yet again being right on the story) when things are stressful and scary, and comfort can be hard to find… but guys, this really feels like it’s becoming a big problem in and of itself
Why Video Podcasts Multiplied Beyond the Man Cave
What’s motivating the turn to video goes beyond the strategic utility of cultivating intimacy with an audience; the trend has equally to do with the structural mechanics of disseminating content online. Even as podcasts exploded in popularity during the early twenty-tens, the form had problems with discovery and distribution. Isolated bits of audio were not likely to go viral, because there was no centralized social-media-style feed for audio content, and because the major podcasting apps did not use algorithmic recommendations to help creators find fresh audiences. (The New Yorker, 12/10 – free version)
Gen Z’s compassion recession
Two surveys released in the past week, however, suggest its youthful idealism is being severely tested. According to the Harvard Youth Poll and a Gallup-Kettering Foundation poll, while a majority of young Americans reject political violence, Gen Z is actually more accepting of political violence under certain circumstances than any other generation. (POLITICO ft. Rachel Janfaza of The Up and Up, 12 /11– free version)
Why America gave up on economists
Economists’ way of thinking has fallen out of favor among the political class more broadly. The right has embraced Trump’s zero-sum worldview and lost faith in expertise generally. Many progressives have rejected economists’ fundamental focus on trade-offs and the unintended consequences of policy interventions. Both sides are down on the free market. (Vox, 12/12 – free version)
Blind boxes are set to take over Christmas
Blind boxes are popular among kids and “kidults” alike for a few reasons: They’re relatively cheap, with many priced at under $15, making them affordable gifts (for oneself or for others) at a time when toy prices are on the rise. Consumers love the excitement of opening them, which often compels them to keep buying more until they get the specific item they want or until they’ve collected a whole series, hence why brands love them. (The Hustle, 12/11)
Ina Garten’s 6-Ingredient Dessert Recipe from 2012 Has Taken TikTok by Storm
The Barefoot Contessa’s Brownie Pudding is a devastatingly simple six-ingredient masterpiece. A video of Garten making the indulgent dessert was resurfaced on TikTok in early November, and videos of users trying the recipe have since racked up millions of views and a seemingly endless supply of rave reviews. (She Knows, 12/9)
How to start birding, according to Amy Tan
Birding is a gateway to the outdoors, and there is a growing recognition among scientists of its health benefits. A 2024 experimental study published in Journal of Environmental Psychology found that even 30 minutes of bird-watching was linked to improved psychological health. (NatGeo, 12/12 – free version)
Extra Credit 🤓
Some newsletters I thought were excellent recently:
“Why are famous chefs fighting PFAS bans?” from Miranda Green + Emily Atkin
“The Party of Abundance Meets the Generation of Instability” from John Della Volpe of JDV on Gen Z
That’s all for now – I’ll see you on Tuesday!