Power User with Taylor Lorenz

Taylor Lorenz
Power User with Taylor Lorenz

Power User explores how technology and the internet are upending our lives and the world around us. Each week, tech journalist Taylor Lorenz explores everything from online fame to emerging platforms, viral phenomena, the creator economy, and much more. Tune in every Thursday for the most influential stories that Silicon Valley often ignores.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    How Spotify is Ruining Music: ‘It’s About How Power Works’

    No platform has had more of impact on what we listen to over the past decade than Spotify. This week, Taylor is joined by journalist Liz Pelly, to discuss her new book "Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist." They discuss the profound impact Spotify has had on the music industry, culture, and the way we consume sound. Pelly reveals the truth about so-called "ghost artists" and other tactics the company has employed to squeeze artists and upend the content ecosystem. They also dig into how Spotify's algorithm-driven playlists have reshaped not just listening habits but also the very nature of music production, artist careers, and industry power structures. SUBSCRIBE TO POWER USER ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@TaylorLorenz

    31 min

  2. FEB 6

    Meet the zoomers aiding Musk’s government takeover

    Over the past week, Elon Musk has been engaged in a near wholesale takeover of key areas of the U.S. federal government.  Working under the newly minted "Department of Government Efficiency" aka DOGE, Musk and a group of young Gen Z loyalists have begun wreaking havoc on our institutions.  Online culture journalist Ryan Broderick joins Taylor to break down who exactly these young men are, what their backgrounds say about the people Musk is hiring, and what the billionaire is currently doing to the U.S. government. SUBSCRIBE TO POWER USER ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/taylorlorenz SUBSCRIBE TO USER MAG, Taylor's tech and online culture newsletter: https://www.usermag.co

    30 min

  3. JAN 30

    Why a MAGA influencer turned on Trump

    Clarkson Lawson was a prominent MAGA influencer on TikTok who amassed over 31 million likes on his videos. He built a platform as an outspoken Gen Z conservative making pro-Trump content. But in the months leading up to the election, something changed.  Despite building a massive audience on pro-Trump messaging, he had a change of heart and voted for Kamala Harris. Lawson announced his political pivot in a video titled "Why I left MAGA." Taylor sits down with Clarkson to talk about the behind-the-scenes reality of being a right-wing content creator, the industry forces that keep influencers tethered to Trumpism, what made him ultimately change his mind, and how he plans to navigate the choppy waters of the internet going forward.  Subscribe to Power User on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/taylorlorenz

    52 min

  4. JAN 23

    The Truth About Child Influencing

    Family vlogs are a huge category of online content. At their best, they show real parenting and the entertaining and relatable moments of family life. However, the content category has been plagued by accusations of child exploitation and new laws targeting creators claiming to protect children. Fortesa Latifi covers the space in-depth and joins Taylor to set the record straight.

    31 min

  5. JAN 16

    Doxxed, harassed and silenced: the fallout of Gamergate 2.0

    Remember Gamergate? Well… it's happening again. After writing an exposé about how a video game consultancy was attacked, journalist Alyssa Mercante found herself in the crosshairs of a targeted harassment campaign. Alyssa joins Taylor to discuss what it's like being at the center of an organized smear campaign, how she's fighting back.

    36 min

  6. JAN 9

    Patreon’s CEO on the existential threat to creators no one is talking about

    Social media as we know it is in chaos. The landscape is becoming more centralized and creators are facing more challenges than ever. On top of all that, the very notion of a follower is dying and there's uncertainty about what that means for the future. Jack Conte, the CEO and co-founder of Patreon, joins Taylor to discuss how to better serve creators.

    36 min

  7. 12/19/2024

    What defined the internet in 2024?

    2024 was wild! "Brain rot" was the Oxford word of the year. TikTok's days away from being banned. The CostCo Guys and the Hawk Tuah girl were everywhere. Taylor is joined by Sam Sanders, host of the Sam Sanders Show on KCRW to break down the biggest online moments of 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    39 min

  8. 12/12/2024

    Is TikTok really dead?

    Last week, TikTok lost its challenge to stop a ban or forced sale in the United States. WIRED senior business editor Louise Matsakis joins Taylor to discuss what happens next and if this is really the end of the road for TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    41 min
See All (45)

3.6
out of 5
177 Ratings

About

Power User explores how technology and the internet are upending our lives and the world around us. Each week, tech journalist Taylor Lorenz explores everything from online fame to emerging platforms, viral phenomena, the creator economy, and much more. Tune in every Thursday for the most influential stories that Silicon Valley often ignores.

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