Taylor Lorenz’s Power User

Taylor Lorenz
  • 4.1 (360)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Taylor Lorenz explores how technology and the internet are upending our lives and the world around us. Each week, she explores everything from online fame to emerging platforms, viral phenomena, the creator economy, and much more. Tune in every Wednesday for regular episodes and every Friday for "Free Speech Friday," her series on tech policy and the fight for civil liberties online.

  1. 17H AGO

    How Bots Boosted Nicki Minaj's MAGA Pivot

    Is The Nicki Minaj Bot Scandal the Future of Politics? Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz     🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: https://www.usermag.co    The lines between entertainment, celebrity beef, and political propaganda are blurring. A few weeks ago, a POLITICO report sent shockwaves through Stan Twitter and the MAGA internet.  The story reported that Nicki Minaj’s sudden pro-Trump pivot was being secretly propped up by an army of tens of thousands of bots. But is this a case of genuine political shifting, or is it the result of "invisible machinery" running beneath the surface of our cultural life? Pop culture commentator Olay Olurinatti joins me to dive deep into the 24-page report from the AI intelligence firm that claims over 18,000 bots were used to amplify Nicki’s conservative messaging. We explore Nicki's history, from her 2012 Mitt Romney praise to her "Black Barbies" resistance era, and unpack what changed and what role the internet, and platform incentives have played.  Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz        https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0       https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz   https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social    https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz  We break down: The "Coordinate Effort" vs. Organic Fandom (The Barbs). The role of Elon Musk’s X aka Twitter in pushing right-wing narratives. The beef between Cardi B’s team and Trump’s digital strategists. How algorithmic preconditioning is shaping the 2026 midterms. How the Right is successfully infiltrating pop culture fandoms.

    36 min

  2. 2D AGO

    Everything You Know About Algorithms Is A Lie: Section 230 Algorithm Problem Explained

    Are social media algorithms actually destroying the internet?  Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz     🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: https://www.usermag.co    In this episode of my Section 230 series, I sit down with Eric Goldman, Associate Dean for Research and Professor at Santa Clara Law, and one of the nation's foremost experts on internet law, to debunk the biggest myths surrounding Section 230 and algorithmic amplification. I hear all the time: platforms should lose their Section 230 protections because they use algorithms. But what actually is an algorithm? Most people don't even understand the basics. Eric and I discuss how even the beloved "reverse chronological order" feed is an algorithm, and why it actually rewards spammers, trolls, and bad actors. We dive deep into how politicians are using the "techlash" to gain power, why censorship has become a bipartisan value, and how companies like Meta actually want Section 230 gone so they can wipe out their smaller competitors.  From the dangers of age verification laws to the truth about how algorithms protect us from navigating an internet that functions like a giant folder of Google Drive links, we discuss the real existential threats to the open web, and how arguments about "algorithms" miss the real powers at play.  Topics Covered: Why reverse chronological feeds encourage bad content How algorithms function as basic editorial choices Why Meta/Facebook lobbies to remove Section 230 to build competitive moats The bipartisan push for internet censorship and government control The devastating impacts of age verification laws and losing youth online spaces

    45 min

  3. 5D AGO

    Inside The AI Scandal Rocking Silicon Valley: How The Govt Wants AI To Kill Without Humans

    The AI industry just had one of its biggest controversies ever. Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz       🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co       A massive conflict between the Pentagon and leading AI companies like Anthropic and OpenAI has triggered a nationwide debate about how artificial intelligence should be used in warfare and surveillance. What started as a $200 million government contract fight quickly spiraled into a Silicon Valley crisis involving autonomous weapons, mass surveillance, and the future of AI regulation. In this episode of Free Speech Friday, I sit down with The Atlantic's Ross Anderson to uncover the dark truth behind the Pentagon’s push for fully autonomous weapons and mass domestic surveillance. We discuss whether AI models like Claude and ChatGPT should be used for military operations, drone targeting, and intelligence analysis. The controversy intensified when Anthropic reportedly pushed back against certain Pentagon requests while OpenAI later reached a separate agreement with the Department of Defense. We break down exactly how negotiations between Anthropic and the Department of War broke down over using AI to analyze the commercial data of American citizens. From Pete Hegseth going "nuclear" and labeling Anthropic a "supply chain risk", to OpenAI and Sam Altman swooping in at the last minute to claim the government deal, this is the AI drama that broke tech Twitter. Plus, we discuss why Claude experienced a massive subscriber spike while ChatGPT took the military contract. Topics covered in this video include: • The Pentagon AI contract controversy  • OpenAI vs Anthropic drama explained  • Autonomous weapons and AI warfare  • AI surveillance concerns  • Silicon Valley reactions to the deal  • The future of AI in national security

    33 min

  4. MAR 4

    How Epstein Shaped The Internet w/ Ryan Broderick

    How Jeffrey Epstein Shaped the Modern Internet: From 4chan to Facebook  Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz      🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co      Since the release of the Epstein files, we've learned a ton about Epstein's role in the early web. From 4chan to World of Warcraft, to Facebook, and online movements like gamergate and #MeToo, Epstein seems to have played a role in it all.  So how much of our modern internet was shaped by Epstein? I sat down with Ryan Broderick, author of the Garbage Day newsletter and host of the Panic World podcast,  to uncover how Jeffrey Epstein quietly warped our modern tech landscape. From his early days scrubbing his SEO to his mysterious networking with Silicon Valley elites, Epstein's rise was intertwined with modern platforms, from MySpace to crypto.  We discuss:  How Epstein paid thousands of dollars a month for SEO services and "hacked" Wikipedia to hide his criminal record after his 2008 arrest. A multi-year editor war over whether Epstein should be included in the notable offender widget on Wikipedia. He actively explored in-game currencies in World of Warcraft and discussed loot boxes. Epstein met with 4chan founder "Moot" the day before the infamous /pol/ board was created. Epstein and Steve Bannon attempted to build a cryptocurrency-funded far-right movement. The political plot motivated by Epstein's extreme fear of the MeToo movement. How Epstein infiltrated Silicon Valley, meeting with billionaires like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and Mark Zuckerberg. Epstein's role in Palantir and his bizarre eugenics ideology, hoping to breed young women and create a race of super babies. How Epstein and his elite peers viewed islands and bunkers as a way to outlast climate change without submitting to government regulation.  Follow Ryan: https://garbageday.email  https://www.youtube.com/@panicworldpod  Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz      🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co      Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz       https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0      https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz  https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social   https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz

    39 min

  5. MAR 2

    They Want to Ban Abortion Info Online

    How Section 230 Became a Reproductive Rights Issue Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz     🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co     In this episode of my Section 230 mini series, I break down how anti abortion groups are targeting the internet itself. From the 1873 Comstock Act to modern day efforts to repeal Section 230, there is a long history of using censorship laws to suppress reproductive health information.   The fight for reproductive justice and bodily autonomy has always been deeply connected to free speech and open access to information online. I sat down with Sarah Phillips from Fight for the Future to uncover the real, hidden agenda behind the push to repeal Section 230. While politicians constantly frame weakening Section 230 as a way to "hold Big Tech accountable," these efforts actually undermine our right to access vital information related to reproductive justice and abortion online. We dive deep into the history of speech law, and talk about where the fight stands today.  Here is what we cover in this episode: How early internet censorship efforts were disguised as protecting kids from indecent material. The devastating impact of SESTA/FOSTA and how it led to mass content takedowns of sex education and LGBTQ+ resources. How the narrative of "tech addiction" is being weaponized to pass restrictive internet laws. How anti-abortion extremists are targeting Section 230 to take down abortion funds and restrict out-of-state travel for care. Why protecting Section 230 is vital for shielding secure messaging apps like Signal and Telegram. Speaking out against Big Tech and challenging institutional power is not lucrative, and these videos are entirely self-funded. If you value this content, please support my work so I can continue making this series!!! Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz     🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co     Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz       https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0      https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz  https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social   https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz

    44 min

  6. FEB 27

    How The Govt Uses Big Tech to Silence Critics

    The Trump admin publicly bragged about demanding that Apple and Facebook remove ICE watch apps and Facebook groups documenting ICE activity, and Big Tech is complying. Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz    🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co    [FREE SPEECH FRIDAY] Since last year, Meta, Apple, and other big tech platforms have been mass removing content related to ICE. From deleting Facebook groups who criticize ICE agents to removing apps from the app store that allow citizens to report ICE in their neighborhood, it's becoming harder to criticize ICE online.  The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), is suing the government in order to get these Facebook groups and apps restored. Colin McDonnell, an attorney at FIRE joins me to break down these seminal lawsuits, how they're taking on the government, and why it's so crucial to protect free expression online.  We discuss how DOJ and DHS officials, including Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem, successfully pressured Apple and Facebook to remove an ICE-tracking app and a Chicago-based Facebook group with nearly 100,000 members. Colin breaks down why FIRE is suing the government , whether recording law enforcement in public is protected speech or dangerous "doxing" , and the chilling rumors of a secret ICE protester database Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz      https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0     https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social  https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz

    30 min

  7. FEB 25

    Kids Are Being Taught By ChatGPT: Inside A $65K AI School

    Would you pay $65,000 to have ChatGPT teach your kids? Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz    🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co    404 Media reporter Emmanuel Maiberg joins to discuss the disturbing truth behind Alpha School, an AI-powered private school that has been getting massive hype from mainstream media. While Alpha School promises parents that kids can complete their core education in just two hours a day, leaked internal documents reveal the very chaotic reality behind tech industry buzzwords. Alpha School charges up to $65,000 a year while openly aiming for a "no human in the loop" model to entirely eliminate human teachers. We discuss how their generative AI systems constantly hallucinate, creating illogical lesson plans and tests that treat kids like tech guinea pigs. Even more alarming is the massive data harvesting and surveillance. Alpha School utilizes software that monitors students' screens, web cameras, microphones, and mouse movements, acting essentially as boss-ware for children.  We also expose how video recordings of students have been left unsecured in open Google Drive links and how the school's AI scrapes educational material from platforms like IXL and Albert.io, leading to disabled accounts and terms of service violations.  Read the 404 Media article: https://www.404media.co/students-are-being-treated-like-guinea-pigs-inside-an-ai-powered-private-school/  Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz       https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0      https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz  https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social   https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz

    37 min

  8. FEB 23

    Why The Internet Is Broken

    FOSTA/SESTA shows what happens when you "reform" and chip away at Section 230. Welcome back to my Section 230 mini-series, where I break down the most important and misunderstood law about the internet!! Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz    🗞️ Substack: https://www.usermag.co     FOSTA-SESTA was the first major amendment and carve-out to Section 230. While the law claimed to be about "cracking down on big tech" and making the internet "safer for children," the result was the mass deplatforming of sex workers and marginalized people online. Activist and adult industry content creator Siri Dahl joins me to discuss how FOSTA-SESTA forced sex workers into incredibly unsafe environments and increased censorship across the board. We dive into the shutdown of Backpage, Tumblr banning all adult content, and how organizations like Morality in Media are pushing a moral panic that lawmakers (and the left!!) have bought into. We also cover how Big Tech has backed these Section 230 "reform" efforts.  If we don't understand the devastating effects of FOSTA-SESTA, we are doomed to repeat them with new bills like the Sunset Section 230 Act or Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). We must protect Section 230 at all costs!  Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz       https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0      https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz  https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social   https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz

    54 min
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4.1
out of 5
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About

Taylor Lorenz explores how technology and the internet are upending our lives and the world around us. Each week, she explores everything from online fame to emerging platforms, viral phenomena, the creator economy, and much more. Tune in every Wednesday for regular episodes and every Friday for "Free Speech Friday," her series on tech policy and the fight for civil liberties online.

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