Digg’s open beta shuts down after just two months, blaming AI bot spam
Digg’s open beta shuts down after just two months, blaming AI bot spam

It’s only been a year since Digg founder Kevin Rose, Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian, and a few others announced the link-sharing site would relaunch, promising a “social discovery built by communities, not by algorithms.” Now, two months after opening its Reddit-like platform to the public, Digg is announcing a “hard reset” that’s shutting down operations […]

Every influencer eventually becomes a merch store
Every influencer eventually becomes a merch store

Tucker Carlson’s online store sells right-wing apparel and home goods, like hoodies in the Supreme streetwear style mocking Somali people or mugs with The Godfather puppetmaster iconography edited to feature AIPAC. But last week, a handful of other products caught the attention of those outside Carlson’s typical audience: one is a red and yellow “NY […]

4chan’s creator says ‘Epstein had nothing to do’ with creating infamous far-right board /pol/
4chan’s creator says ‘Epstein had nothing to do’ with creating infamous far-right board /pol/

The close timing of Jeffrey Epstein coming into contact with 4chan founder Chris ‘moot’ Poole and the launch of the “politically incorrect” message board /pol/ that became a breeding ground for QAnon and the white supremacist alt-right movement was coincidental, says Poole. In a statement given to The Verge, Pool writes, “The decision to add […]

We’re not nostalgic for 2016 — we’re nostalgic for the internet before all the slop

At the time, people felt like 2016 was cursed — but at least we did not yet have a word for “doomscrolling.”

I’m The Verge’s Senior Internet Typist, ask me anything while Nilay’s away!
I’m The Verge’s Senior Internet Typist, ask me anything while Nilay’s away!

Hello from the dead week of the year, when all sane people have logged off to spend time with their families. This is when I typically write at least one deeply weird post while I’m working over the holiday. One time I got left alone on New Year’s Day and posted about cats all day […]