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Budget-Friendly Prime Day Finds Better Than A $7 Coffee

Budget-Friendly Prime Day Finds Better Than A $7 Coffee

Buzz Feed15 hours ago
Amazon Prime Day is here! There are more deals than you could ever begin to look through on your own...so that's where we come in.
The TikTok-viral Tirtir cushion foundation — for 60% off, a new lowest-ever price! — that offers 72 hours of flawless wear, blending seamlessly to hide redness, blemishes, and under-eye bags. It has buildable coverage, perfect for a natural look or full glam. Plus, it's packed with hibiscus and red propolis extracts for a boost in skin elasticity. And to top it all off, its oval-shaped puff can reach every little corner of your face.
Check out this TikTok of Mikayla Nogueira's review of this foundation.Promising review: "I struggle with finding a foundation that's not orange. Someone recommended I try a Korean product, and this started going viral around the same time. I lucked into a perfect color match on the first try, but I've learned there are sample packs if you aren't sure about the color. The coverage is incredible. It was very lightweight, not heavy at all. It did settle into my under-eye wrinkles without primer, so if you're older, that's something to keep in mind. Overall, beautiful and long-lasting. This will be my go-to foundation from now on." —AJ BondPrice: $10 (originally $25; available in 40 shades and a mini size)
A "Gracula" garlic crusher for 57% off, because you know what? If a 108-year-old vampire lurking moodily in the trees in the Pacific Northwest isn't going to fall in love with you and grant you immortality, one might as well make your life in the kitchen a little easier.
Promising review: "I love this little guy. I found him on a BuzzFeed list and had to have it as soon as I saw it! I've minced as many as five cloves in it in seconds. It's a little tricky getting all of the garlic out once minced (I use a silicone basting brush to get most of it, but I always use more than the recipe calls for anyway, so it's not a deal breaker). Cleanup is a breeze because he goes right in the dishwasher!" —BarbiePrice: $9.95 (typically $18.99)
Mixsoon Bean Essence for 55% off (the lowest price it's ever been!!) — this TikTok-beloved K-beauty staple for exfoliating and hydrating is a secret weapon that anyone chasing the ~glass skin~ look will want to know about immediately. You can use this as a low-maintenance, high results exfoliant by massaging it into your skin two to three times a week for a smoother, brighter, more even complexion.
Promising reviews: "I saw this all over TikTok/Instagram and decided to buy it because I have a lot of sebaceous filaments on my chin and nose. It's a little expensive but I took a gamble: it works! You can physically see the sebaceous filaments come out of your pores; it is not the product bunching up. My problem areas were so much smoother after using and were left with a moisturized glow. I then proceeded to have my boyfriend use this product to see if it worked this well on everyone on the first try, and it worked on his nose as well. Amazing stuff. 🩷" —Losa"I have hyperpigmentation and oily skin. I feel this product regulates my oil production and it helps my makeup look so flawless. 10/10." —MissKayMaePrice: $11.20+ (typically $25+; available in two sizes)
Mint-flavored Venus Visage teeth-whitening pens for 51% off (two for less than the price of one!) that are way more convenient than a painful trip to the dentist or an annoying attempt at the strips. Just brush your teeth with the bristled pen whenever you have a minute to work through stains and discoloration (without sensitivity, according to reviewers).
Promising review: "This product actually works! Very affordable, too. There are a lot of expensive teeth whitening products out there, but why spend extra money when you don't have to? Definitely worth trying!" —Mona L CuretonPrice: $9.33 for two (originally $18.95)
Colorgram fruity glass tint for up to 50% off to give you the glossy pout of a mermaid. Also, can we take a moment to appreciate how cute the packaging is?!
Promising review: "I love K beauty products, but a lot of lip tints don't always work on brown/darker skin with two-toned lips. This gives me the perfect pop of color and is soooo juicy! I went back and bought more as soon as I received them. This was my first time trying Colorgram, but it's definitely up there with my faves from Peripera!" —Kendra J.Price: $7.49+ (originally $14.99; available in 10 shades)
A Through The Seasons version of the beloved Reverse Coloring Book for 45% off if you're looking for a unique way to unwind. It starts with watercolor-like blobs — it's up to you to add the lines! This is great for anyone who loves to find shapes in the clouds.
Each book includes 50 pages of watercolor art and includes prompts if you'd like a little bit of direction. Promising review: "I love the variation in the designs provided. The style of a reverse coloring book is great for traveling with when you don't want to have to have 100 different markers or pencils to keep track of. Being able to work in one color pen for a while is nice on road trips, and I like being able to be more creative with my own designs on top of the colored pages." —Katherine DexheimerPrice: $8.29 (typically $14.95)
A set of satin pillowcases for up to 35% off that not only have a cooling effect, but are soft on your skin and create less friction for your hair so it won't get as tangled while you sleep. Reviewers especially love these because they're an affordable alternative to ones that typically run $18 per case!
Here's what BuzzFeeder Elizabeth Lilly has to say about them: ""I own multiple sets of these and even pack them when I travel because I never want to sleep on a cotton pillowcase again after getting used to these beauts." Promising review: "My hair has never been better! I got this because of TikTok and it has done wonders for my hair. My hair isn't frizzy or dull-looking when I get up in the morning." —Aaron Key"These are really nice — perfect price point too. There's no difference between these and the same pillowcases from Kitsch at three times the price." —KeriPrice: $7.59 for two (typically $11.69; available in 22 colors and four sizes)
A four-pack of VT Cosmetics Reedle Shot overnight hydrogel masks for 38% off — they're made with bakuchiol (a plant-derived retinol), this luxurious mask is designed to help improve skin elasticity while minimizing any irritation. You apply the included Reedle Shot serum as step one, then layer on this dreamy hydrogel mask, which is designed to help improve skin texture, reduce fine lines, and deeply hydrate to leave your skin feeling plump and rejuvenated.
You're probably wondering, "But Amber, what even is Reedle Shot serum??" Reedle Shot acts as a booster serum containing tiny micro-needles designed to enhance the absorption of other skincare products by creating microscopic channels in the skin, allowing for deeper penetration of active ingredients. Essentially, it helps your other serums and creams work more effectively.Promising review: "I've bought this pack a few times already and they are the best hydrogel masks I have used. I have tried several of their products and nothing ever disappoints. They stay in place and don't slide all over the place. VT Cosmetics is a tried-and-true for sure!" —Amazon CustomerPrice: $9 (originally $14.40; available in five other styles) — and shop all VT Cosmetics deals here
An adorable little puppy night-light for 38% off with a soft white glow that makes it the perfect critter for gently illuminating bedrooms and bathrooms at night. It even has eight different color modes so you can finally live your childhood dream of having a purple dog!
Promising review: "So cute and they work great! The light is the perfect brightness to see, but not too bright that it's annoying in the middle of the night. Changing the colors is easy, and I like how it goes off when there's enough light in the room." —JasPrice: $9.98 (typically $15.99)
A moisturizing Dove body scrub for up to 38% off (the best discount ever) offering a thick, dessert-like experience that'll help your skin feel fresh, bouncy, and soft. Oh, and DELICIOUS SMELLING!
Promising review: "I absolutely love this Dove body scrub! The texture is rich and creamy with just the right amount of exfoliating grit. It gently buffs away dead skin without feeling too harsh. The Himalayan salt combined with rose oil leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft, smooth, and lightly scented like a mini spa session in the shower! It doesn't dry out the skin like some scrubs do. I even noticed that my skin feels more hydrated and looks more radiant after just a few uses. A little goes a long way, and the scent is divine, subtle, and floral. If you're looking for a gentle but effective scrub for your self-care routine, this one's a gem." —AnaPrice: $4.97+ (originally $7.97; available in eight scents)
A collapsible Magic Mushroom funnel for 37% off so you can feel like an enchanted forest nymph while you funnel your coffee, wine, baking ingredients, or mystical potions.
Check out a TikTok of the magic mushroom funnel in action. Promising review: "I am obsessed with this funnel!!! I juice a lot of citrus and juices for cocktails, and this little guy is the perfect size for bottling. It's beyond cute and really great quality. I'm always hesitant about buying silicone items, as I don't want them to be too thin. This is perfect! Sturdy and cute! Can't get better than that! The perfect addition to any cottagecore kitchen!" —Abbey KlemPrice: $9.95+ (typically $14.95; available in two sizes)
A lightweight beach tote for up to 36% off, so you can bring everything you need to the beach and not bring anything you don't want back. Thanks to the mesh design, belongings can dry faster, and sand just falls out as you walk!
Promising review: "I had to snag this bag since it was on sale. It's so spacious, and I love how there's a zippered pocket for your keys and phone. The pocket is covered, so you can't see inside it from either side." —CamiPrice: $8.99+ (originally $13.99+; available in two styles and four colors)
Medicube's collagen jelly for 35% off that happy Amazon reviewers say helped them achieve their "glass skin" dreams. The formula is designed to absorb quickly, and the niacinamide helps protect your skin barrier and keep it hydrated.
Promising review: "I'm obsessed with this product. I have dry skin, and this helps plump everything. I use it as the last step in my daytime routine, and it feels like it locks all my serums and toners in. At night, I put a thicker moisturizer on top, and it helps hydrate my skin while I sleep. The texture is so unusual, and I love using the spatula to frost my face with it. I also love the fragrance, and it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin." —Kindle CustomerPrice: $9.72+ (regularly $14.90+; available in two sizes)
A drapey off-the-shoulder top for up to 33% off to take a satin skirt, jorts, or linen trousers immediately to the next level — but the stretchy material has all the comfort of your favorite tank. It reminds me of a certain similar top I've seen at Aritzia...
Promising review: "When I tell you I LOVEEED this top!! I'm getting it in every color :) It's true to size and has a layered fabric inside for extra coverage, so it's not see-through. I got [the color] apricot, and the material is great quality. I was worried it would be thin" —mirandaPrice: $11.99+ (originally $17.99+; available in women's sizes XS–XL and 19 colors) — and shop all the fashion deals here
A pair of cheerful, super lightweight boxer-style shorts for up to 33% off so comfy and adorable that you are about to put your denim shorts on notice for the rest of the year — especially since these are a MUCH cheaper alternative to the $98 Reformation version.
Promising review: "So comfy and they look just like the photo! The quality is great, they aren't see through, and I love the bright color! They fit true to size. They are definitely a great value for the money." —HopePrice: $9.99 (typically $14.99; available in women's sizes XS–XXL and 22 styles)
A Grim Steeper silicone tea infuser for 31% off to remind you that life is, in fact, too short to skip on your delicious morning cuppa.
Promising review: "My best friend loved this for her birthday. She loves Halloween and tea, and this was such a cute and perfect gift." —Harley NixonPrice: $8.99 (originally $12.99)
A hydrating eye stick for 30% off, aka the perfect remedy for dehydrated skin. This treatment is made with Icelandic glacier water, giving your delicate under-eye skin the fresh hydration boost it needs on days when you've hit the snooze button one too many times.
It also helps tighten eye wrinkles if you'd prefer for them not to be as noticeable. And here's a tip! It reduces puffiness faster if used after refrigeration.Promising review: "This stuff is magic! I purchased this product on a recommendation from a BuzzFeed list, and was not disappointed! I have not been sleeping well due to stress, and the first day I used it, my coworkers commented how well rested I looked! I told them about it and all of them ordered one for themselves. Very impressed!" —Saminyah MarcelinPrice: $6.99 (originally $9.99)
A Peripera Ink Velvet Lip Tint for up to 30% off — reviewers compare this to Charlotte Tilbury's $35 Pillow Talk and Nars' $22 Velvet Lip Glide, and love this this version for the softness of the matte color, how buildable and long-lasting it is, and how it doesn't crack or leave skin feeling dry.
Promising review: "I know you have seen this on TikTok and wondering if they are worth the hype. They are so just order them. I have so many colors from this brand, they are so easy to apply. Get them." —MillyPrice: $6.90 (originally $9.90; available in a variety of shades)
Essence's Lash Princess mascara for 30% off, because TBH, we've all wasted too many years and too much money looking for the ~holy grail~ mascara. This one is cheap, gives you instant length, and is DELIGHTFULLY sweatproof — reviewers call it out as an excellent comparison for Too Faced's "Better Than Sex" and Benefit's "They're Real."
Here's what BuzzFeeder Emma Lord has to say about it: Hello, that is my face above, because I bought into the hype of all the 5-star reviews and now I will never look back!! Putting it on is like giving my eyelashes butterfly wings. It doesn't get clumpy, it stays put ALL the livelong day no matter how much you sweat, and you can apply it on very lightly if you don't want it to look so dramatic, or continue applying for longer lashes each time.Promising review: "AWESOME. I've always bought overpriced mascara. I'm very picky and hesitant, but I saw some reviews saying how awesome this was. I'll never go back to 'Better Than Sex' mascara because that's what I always use, and I compare it to that. This is the best mascara!! I'll never go back." —patrick haukPrice: $10.48 for three (originally $14.97)
An SPF 50 Airy Sunstick Smoothing Bar for 30% off, a K-beauty staple with a curved balm stick style that makes it super easy to apply, and a non-sticky, white cast-free formula that plays ABSURDLY well with makeup. If you're looking for a lightweight "soft matte" sunscreen to protect your skin, this is your new BFF.
Check out a TikTok of the Airy Sunstick Smoothing Bar in action.Note that the AAD recommends using at least SPF 30 and reapplying as needed for skin protection. You can read about sunscreen myths and facts from dermatologists for more information! Promising review: "NO WHITE CAST! I've been looking for a stick sunscreen and this was just exactly what was needed!! I'm a medium-toned Black woman and looking for something without a white cast is always a challenge. I have applied it on my bare skin and there isn't a white cast at all! It's a 'soft matte' finish, for sure, and looks like natural skin. Like you're not wearing anything at all." —Martina"One of the best facial sunscreens I've ever used. The design is amazing and contours your face perfectly. It works well on its own or layered under makeup. No issues with clogging my pores or breakouts. I wore it on a trip to Mexico, and it did its job flawlessly. I will repurchase again and again." —TlongPrice: $11.99 (typically $17.02; also available in two-packs)
A set of delightfully ~~tingly~~ self-heating soothing foot masks for 30% off made with Epsom salts, lavender, and peppermint perfect for anyone whose recent step count is "too many." Nothing like a lil' self-care on those aching feet to lift your spirits!
Check out a TikTok of the foot masks in action. I'm a long-ish distance runner, and these were certainly an interesting experience for my feet! You slide them on and, after a few minutes, feel a tingling, mildly burning (in a good way) sensation. It doesn't quite numb your feet, but it relaxes them. I kept them on for 30 minutes and then toweled my feet off, and the tingling sensation slowly faded over the next 30 minutes. After that, my feet felt very refreshed and relaxed at a time of day when they're usually aching from all the miles I put in. The whole thing was a mess-free, easy process, and I will definitely keep them on hand for longer run days! Promising review: "Very soothing. My husband and l used these on our European vacation, and they definitely felt good on our feet!" —KS2018Price: $9.99 for a set of three pairs (typically $12.99)
A beautifully packaged, travel-friendly Touchland Glow Mist hydrating hand sanitizer for 30% off (the first time it's been on sale ever btw!) for anyone who's like "mindfully practicing health and safety, but make it fashion." Unlike other sanitizer sprays, it's infused with aloe vera to keep your skin hydrated and has the most luxurious floral scents.
Touchland is a small business that specializes in hand sanitizers. Check out a TikTok of Touchland in action. Promising review: "Touchland's hand sanitizers are absolutely beautiful! Not only is the packaging functional for travel, but it's pretty! Absolutely no issues with the product or the design of the packaging leaking, and it's extremely easy to use! No sticky residue, and your hands feel completely hydrated and soft after each use. I'm especially impressed with this perk, considering most hand sanitizers leave your skin feel tight and dry. No leaks, great hydration, phenomenal fragrance…. what's not to LOVE!!!? 🤍 SPOIL YOURSELF, NO EXCUSES NECESSARY!" —Briana R. "I love the light fragrance of this sanitizer and how it doesn't dry my skin. Definitely will buy again." —Lindsey OgdenPrice: $11.20 (typically $16; available in Lily of the Valley and Rose scents; check out Touchland's Amazon storefront for more options)
A set of cowboy straw toppers for 29% off to add some much-needed "yeehaw!" into your hydration regimen. Reviewers also love this for keeping their straws safe from germs out here in the wild, bacterial West.
Promising review: "So SO CUUUTE! 10/10!! good product and keeps my straw from getting bugs or getting germs on it! plus it's really cute." —JennAPrice: $4.99 (typically $6.99)
A hair wax stick for 26% off (the best discount you'll get!) for flattening those annoying flyaway hairs on the back of your neck or around your hairline. Just slide the formula over targeted areas to control cowlicks, baby hair, frizz, and other wayward strands.
Promising review: "This was a first time using a product like this. I highly recommend this product. It tamed my curly hair flyaways and it was so easy to use! I didn't have sticky residue on my hands!! Best thing I have purchased to keep my bun looking good!!" —AngelaPrice: $5.91 (originally $7.99)
A pair of gold-plated huggie charm hoops for 25% off — reviewers rave about being able to wear these earrings 24/7, including in the shower/ocean, without them tarnishing. If you're totally here for charm-forward fashion, grab these — at this price — before they're gone!
Promising review: "I bought these in February 2023 and it is now August 2023 (almost six months later) — they are still in perfect condition. I wear these in the shower, the pool, and even the ocean and have seen zero tarnishing. I definitely recommend these!!" —RyleighPrice: $10.49+ (originally $13.99+; available in 10 styles)
A ~weightless~ liquid cream blush for 25% off with some real Rare Beauty blush energy that's having a whole moment and a half on Amazon right now. Reviewers adore how high-pigmented and blendable the colors are and how soft and dewy the effect is on their skin.
Promising review: "Creamy and blendable. These are great blushes and have lots of pigmentation. Very creamy and a smooth application on the skin! It is a great [alternative] to the Rare Beauty blush. It lasted me the whole day and did not melt off. It has a lot of coverage and does not need too much when applying." —Harsh ArgawalPrice: $5.99 (typically $7.99; available in 12 shades and in sets)
A high-quality, *just* compressive enough layering T-shirt for 20% off reviewers love so much that a ton of them tried it and immediately ordered more colors to stock up. This shirt is double-lined but still feels lightweight on the skin, giving a sophisticated, expensive look with a casual feel. Reviewers compare it to Skims at a fraction of the price!
Promising review: "At first, I was a little skeptical — I have been wanting to find a Skims-like material shirt for a while but didn't want to pay the price of one, LOL, and this shirt feels amazing. I will be getting one in every color now." —JuliannePrice: $7.99+ (typically $9.99; available in women's sizes XXS–3X and in 32 colors)
Catrice "Instant Awake" Under Eye Brightener for 20% off, which became the internet's holy grail for concealing and brightening dark circles under your eyes so fast that everyone's old concealers are doing double takes. This lightweight, color-adapting formula is designed for truly ~invisible~ coverage that makes a drastic difference — one that a lot of reviewers compare to the $33 Becca version.
The color adaptive formula is designed so one of four shades will work on any skin tone. Check out a TikTok of the brightener in action. Promising review: "Took years off my eyes! This product is so reasonably priced. I came across a TikTok promoting this and decided to take a chance since the price was super reasonable. My eyes looked brighter in a good way, and the concealer worked so well that I felt I looked younger. I got compliments from friends asking what I did differently with my makeup. I recommend it." —Monica T. Price: $4.80 (originally $6; available in four shades)
A paper incense tin for 20% off to add a little pocket-sized luxury to your life. Inside the wrapped tin is a decorative paper envelope filled with 48 teeny tiny incense papers. To use, clip one piece of paper to the tin and wait as it burns (for about five minutes). After that, the soothing smell should fill your space for up to a few hours.
These are made without harmful substances and are indoor air quality certified. Promising review: "I couldn't be happier with this purchase! The paper incense exceeded all my expectations. The quality is outstanding and it works even better than the description. It arrived quickly, was well-packaged, and easy to use. Smells great and burns well. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for paper incense." —KimPrice: $11.20+ (originally $14; available in eight scents)
A set of dainty but surprisingly strong bow-shaped hair clips for 20% off to pair with all your frilliest dresses or to add a soft touch your more structured work outfits.
I own a ton of these in different colors now because it is SO easy to comfortably secure my hair in them, and they're so strong that the hold lasts all day. People are always asking me where I got mine — it's such a sweet little subtle touch to an outfit!Price: $7.99 (typically $9.99; available in eight sets)
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza for 20% off, a DEEPLY beloved, fast-paced card game suitable for kids and adults that will have everyone in fits of high stake giggles in no time. Bonus: each game only lasts 10–15 minutes, so you can go one or a few rounds depending on how much time you've got together.
Promising review: "Bought this by accident because I thought these were baby flash cards. Saw these were actually a card game and tried it with my husband and fell in love with this game. It's fun and competitive :D" —ChocorateChippuPrice: $7.99 (originally $9.99)
A 36-pack of Mighty Patch Pimple Patches for 20% off, which absorb pus and oil from *inside* the zit, protecting skin from further damage and reinfection so you don't have to hot compress, pop, ooze, scar, and repeat. Now you can stock up and save quite a bit!
Promising review: "Nothing, and I mean nothing compares to this brand! I tried more expensive stuff from Sephora but those patches don't even come close! These stick to the skin easily and suck all the yuck out of your skin literally within hours. All you have to do is remove a patch (I usually use them at night whenever I get an occasional pimple) and enjoy your beautiful, clean skin. They're perfect for sensitive skin too, don't over-dry it and don't cause any irritation. I'm a forever fan! These are a lifesaver!" —Amazon CustomerPrice: $10.08 (originally $12.99)
A Tonymoly octopus-shaped blackhead remover for 20% off that can help rid your nose and chin of all the gunk that's built up throughout the day and exfoliate pores, making your skin look smoother and cleaner.
Promising review: "After just two days of use, this adorable little octopus has done wonders for me, smells great too. Here's how I used it: I wore down the stick just a little to where the texture from the salt is visible, scrubbed around on my face so there was plenty of product, then I used my fingers to gently massage all the gunk away. Rinse, pat dry, and enjoy the softness. Highly recommended for people with sensitive skin like me." —LuckLocustPrice: $10 (originally $12.50) — and shop all Tonymoly deals here
Essence's Drop of Sunshine Bronzing Drops for 20% off — a real sweet deal since reviewers consider this the more affordable version of the beloved $39 Drunk Elephant version. This buildable, hydrating formula is an easy way to add a ~sunkissed touch~ to your beauty routine without breaking the bank (or compromising your skin!).
Promising review: "I love this so I ordered a second for backup! Depending on my day I will add no more than one or two drops to my moisturizer or my primer. Takes away the winter pallor of my face which definitely has not had enough sun lately. The bottle is small, but you don't need to use much. Reasonably priced for the amount. I would say buy it." —IncognitoPrice: $4.79 (typically $5.99)
Death Wish Instant Coffee Packets for 20% off so downright (dare I say, DANGEROUSLY) delicious that even the biggest coffee snobs you know might trade in their precious pour-overs. That is, if they can handle the 300mg of caffeine per cup 👀.
Note: According to the Mayo Clinic, up to 400mg of caffeine is safe for most healthy adults. Check out a TikTok of the Deathwish Instant Coffee in action. (Also I read at least one review of someone PUTTING THIS IN THEIR MORNING SMOOTHIE, some of you are WILD.) Death Wish Coffee is a small business that specializes in coffee pods, grounds, whole beans, and more. Promising review: "So let me start by saying that this coffee is delicious and works if you're someone like me who wants to stay awake. I work night shifts at a hospital, and in the mornings, when I get home, I'm quite tired and sleepy. I made myself a cup of coffee and waited for it to work. Now let me tell y'all!!! This coffee kept me awake for hours!! BOY, WAS I WOWED INDEED … best believe I went ahead and ordered three more boxes. This is now my to-go coffee if I need a BOOST!!!!!! If you like coffee and want to stay awake, then BUY THIS COFFEE!!! I'm happy I no longer have to take naps to get re-energized." —nancyPrice: $8.79 for a ten-pack (originally $10.99)
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Little videos are cooking our brains
Little videos are cooking our brains

Vox

time23 minutes ago

  • Vox

Little videos are cooking our brains

is a senior technology correspondent at Vox and author of the User Friendly newsletter. He's spent 15 years covering the intersection of technology, culture, and politics at places like The Atlantic, Gizmodo, and Vice. Before the next era of TikTok and its clones overwhelms you, it helps to know how we got here and how to run the other direction. Paige Vickers/Vox; Getty Images As an elder millennial, I've tried to avoid TikTok because of its documented brainrot potential and despite the fact that it means missing out on an endless supply of fun and strangely specific memes. But somehow, little short-form vertical videos keep finding their way to me. Whether they're on Instagram, Netflix, or Pinterest, swipeable smartphone-shaped videos have taken over the internet. They're also showing up in places you wouldn't expect, like Spotify, LinkedIn, and even the New York Times. And whether you enjoy these bite-size bits of content or not, the situation is about to get much weirder. The dark future of vertical video In the near future, the internet may not only be wall-to-wall little videos. Those little videos may also be filled with slop, the term for AI-generated garbage content that is perhaps even more insidious in robbing us of our attention. User Friendly A weekly dispatch to make sure tech is working for you, instead of overwhelming you. From senior technology correspondent Adam Clark Estes. Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Last week, Google started rolling out its Veo 3 AI-powered video generation model, which can create eight-second clips, complete with realistic soundtracks, based on text prompts. After creating a dozen videos of her own, including some for kids, Allison Johnson at the Verge called this tool 'a slop monger's dream' that's 'more than a little creepy and way more sophisticated' than she'd imagined. String together a few of these clips, and you've got a piece of short-form content perfect for TikTok or any of its antecedents that took mere minutes to create. YouTube announced last month that the tool would be built right into its own TikTok clone, YouTube Shorts. These videos are already taking over short-form video platforms. Some of them are racist. AI slop may soon also dominate the ads you're served on these platforms, too. These ads, while currently laughable, will get much better, according to Mark Zuckerberg, who says Meta will completely automate the creation of ads and even make it possible for ads to exist in infinite versions and evolve based on when and where a person sees them. And as algorithmic feeds of short-form videos spread to more places online, it will be increasingly hard to avoid them. We've known for a while that the rise of AI would flood the internet with slop. Slop is already remarkably popular on YouTube, where nearly half of the 10 most popular channels contain AI-generated content. There are even virtual personalities powered by AI earning millions on YouTube. These platforms know that making content easier to produce will lead to more content, which leads to more engagement, which leads to more ads, which ultimately leads to a less enriching, more addictive internet. That's why YouTube is pushing Veo 3 to its creators, and why, as of last month, TikTok and Open AI have pushed out similar tools. This wouldn't be such a concern if you wanted to seek out awful AI-generated videos. Instead, the slop finds you unwittingly and drowns you in anxiety. These platforms know that making content easier to produce will lead to more content, which leads to more engagement, which leads to more ads, which ultimately leads to a less enriching, more addictive internet. 'You can think of it as attentional capacity, and we can use that capacity to get work done, to do important things,' said Gloria Mark, author of Attention Span and professor of informatics at the University of California, Irvine, whose research landed on that 47-second number. 'But if we're switching our attention, that's draining our tank of resources, and then we just don't have the capacity anymore to pay attention.' Before the next era of TikTok and its clones overwhelms you, it helps to know how we got here and how to run the other direction. Can you opt out of the endless-loop internet? There's a popular narrative that TikTok owes its success to Vine, a short-form video service founded in 2012 only to be bought by Twitter a few months later. It's a nice thought. Vine, like Twitter itself, was accidentally successful. While many young people first encountered a feed for weird and hilarious short-form videos on Vine, it was the TikTok algorithm that led to that platform's success, not to mention the long line of companies trying to draft off that success. That algorithm finds its roots in a viral news app called Toutiao, which ByteDance released in China the same year that Vine launched in the US. (Yes, this is the same ByteDance that now owns TikTok.) The platform's big innovation was a complex recommendation engine that used machine learning, a type of AI, to create a highly personalized feed for its users based on their interests and behavior — down to their swipes, location, and even their phone's battery life — rather than what people you know are doing online. The algorithm proved extremely effective at getting people to spend more time on the app. ByteDance made this algorithm the foundation of TikTok's video feed, when it launched in 2017 (a version of the app, Douyin, launched in China two years earlier). If you find yourself stuck Try these three tips from professor Gloria Mark: Take breaks. If, rather than enjoying yourself, you find yourself foraging for interesting content, stand up and go outside and look at a tree. There are . If, rather than enjoying yourself, you find yourself foraging for interesting content, stand up and go outside and look at a tree. There are lots of apps that prompt you to put down the device. Be intentional rather than automatic when you use any app. If you tap TikTok because you don't know what else to do, that's a sign that you're tired and low on cognitive resources. Think ahead to your future self. Visualize what you want at the end of your day and how you'll get there. It probably doesn't involve spending 108 minutes looking at TikTok. Early on, a one-minute length limit meant that TikTok users were fed videos constantly, often serendipitously, on their For You page. That limit has since been extended to 60 minutes, but users have also learned they can swipe to see a new, unexpected video as soon as they're bored. This can lead users to keep searching for good videos, which are effectively rewards, triggering dopamine release and effectively getting them addicted to the feedback loop. As Mark put it, 'The hardest behavior to extinguish, to stop, is randomly reinforced behavior, and the reason is because of the randomness of the rewards coming.' The short-form nature of these videos, rapid context-switching, and resultant digital overload has multiple negative effects. A 2023 study from researchers in Germany found that TikTok use impairs our prospective memory, which is what allows you to hold more than one thought in your head when you're distracted. The subjects of the study were given a task, then interrupted and allowed to scroll Twitter, watch YouTube, thumb through TikTok, or do nothing. The people who chose TikTok were nearly 40 percent more likely to forget what they were doing. Researchers studying this phenomenon argue that this amounts to a dark pattern, a design that manipulates you to make certain choices. You've encountered dark patterns on websites that trick you into signing up for a newsletter or an ad you can't click out of. Torrents of short-form videos like you see on TikTok are especially pernicious because the feeds are designed to keep you fully engaged and foraging for good content. 'They keep us in an endless loop. We kind of detach from the things that we were engaged with before,' Francesco Chiossi, a researcher at LMU Munich and the study's lead author, told me. 'They are engineered to maximize engagement at the expense of our attention and stability of what we call goal-directed behavior.' It would be comforting for me to report that you can easily avoid getting stuck in these loops. It's actually getting harder. You can avoid TikTok, but you might love Netflix, which is rolling out its own TikTok-like video feed on its mobile app. I use Spotify daily, sometimes against my better judgment, but the discovery feature keeps pushing me to watch little video clips rather than simply listen to music. On the LinkedIn video tab, its TikTok clone, a work influencer recently warned me against 'peanut-buttering every channel instead of going deep on a few channels.' I spent at least 47 seconds trying to figure out what that meant. There's a pretty straightforward lesson here, though. If you like to watch these little videos, by all means: Enjoy. But know that, like most free things big tech companies make today, these products are designed to keep you engaged, to steal as much of your attention as possible as they collect data about you and serve ads to you based on what that data reveals. TikTok and its many little siblings are free because you're the product. Consider taking some of the minutes — or hours — back from TikTok and its many little video clones. You might discover something wonderful in the real world, if you pay attention.

90s Toys And Games No One Remembers
90s Toys And Games No One Remembers

Buzz Feed

time24 minutes ago

  • Buzz Feed

90s Toys And Games No One Remembers

Recently, I rounded up some obscure things from the '90s that most people don't remember, like OK Soda. In the comments, members of the BuzzFeed Community reminisced about the '90s toys and games that also seem to have been lost to time. Here are 25 of their top responses: "Pogs were huge in Hawaii in the early '90s, I don't know about the mainland. (The name comes from Passion Orange Guava juice.)" —battery126 "The Real Talkin' Bubba talking plush? LOL, no one I know remembers." —oliviasmith1028 "OMG, I totally forgot about water babies. I had one for the longest time, but it was always naked because I didn't have any doll clothes that fit it." —reader65 "I once got sent to HR for hitting our CEO in the back with a Gak hand. It messed up his suit jacket. Worth it." —aahamom "I worked for Mattel in the '90s when we were pitching Gak to customers. We had 50-gallon drums of each color, and we had some awesome Gak fights!!!" —angryflower767 "I had a Thingmaker for Creepy Crawlies and also for other shapes, but I don't remember what it was called. One of the most dangerous kids' toys ever! I can't count how many times I got burned using it, but I didn't care because it was so cool! We had the creepy crawlies that had a very creepy texture. And we had another one that made cars or something; you used two plastic sheets and then somehow stuck them together. There were wheels, axles, and weights, and the cars worked. I loved blending the Plasti-Goop colors." —nyc4ever "Shortly after Creepy Crawlers got big, they came out with Incredible Edibles, Creepy Crawlers that you could bake and eat. God knows what chemicals we ingested after eating those." —Anonymous, 68, Orange County, CA "Another Nickelodeon toy: Floam. What even was the purpose of it?" —Anonymous, 41, United States "I got my friend Mall Madness for her birthday last year (an original one from eBay, not the remake), and that might have been the best birthday party I've ever attended, LOL." —caelesto "We would get all the Disney collectibles from the Happy Meals after every movie release. Toy Story 2 was so huge that we went to the drive-thru and flat out asked to buy all 20 collectibles and skip the weeks-long wait — and we were allowed to! And we still have them!" —saltyspice75 "Please, please tell me anyone remembers Henry, the matching game by Tiger Toys. Anyway, the commercial was hilarious, and I still have my Henry, which still works almost 30 years later. I love playing Henry now." —oliviasmith1028 And here's the commercial: "I'll take your water babies and raise you a Baby Alive." —adrianw440bbeae3 "Puppy Surprise! There was a mother dog, and she had a Velcro pouch tummy. When you opened it up, she 'gave birth' to her puppies. It was kind of like a grab bag because, obviously, you didn't know when you purchased it how many puppies it was gonna have inside. I only got three, and I was pissed. I wanted five!" —Anonymous, 37, CT "Dreamphone." —Anonymous, 39, Columbus, Ohio "Quints! They were little dolls that came in a set of five, and their little diapers had a number on the bum. All of their accessories came numbered from one to five. You could even get a high chair and a stroller!" —Anonymous, 41, California "Lisa Frank Password Diary — a pink and purple password-protected diary with sparkly stickers and pre-loaded 'Lisa Frank' messages. Glitched a LOT!" —Anonymous, 57, Arizona "Nightmare!!! I played it so much that I have the whole intro memorized. I showed it to my partner the other day. He didn't get how amazing it was. I still own it, but no one ever wants to play. Alas!" —potatopeel "I had the Wayne's World game that came with a video. I still enjoy playing board games. It's cheesy, old-school family fun." —b1gm4m4 "The game Ask Zandar. I remember in the commercial, the wizard goes, 'You will get a phone call about this,' and the phone rang. That legit happened to my friend and me once, and we still laugh about it." —ogsassytaco "Pretty Pretty Princess." —Anonymous, 39, Columbus, Ohio "Where in the World is Carmen San Diego? was a TV game show so popular, it spawned several video games that were (and I know how cheesy this sounds) fun AND educational! I still remember beating 'Where in Time is Carmen San Diego?' It was one of my great childhood achievements — she was hella smart!" —Anonymous, 35, New Jersey "Our teacher let us play The Secret Island of Dr. Quandary if we were one of the first ones done with our work, so I rushed through all my assignments and nearly failed math that year." —ksquirkyteacher "I had a few Bouncin' Babies, but I've rarely seen them mentioned anywhere." —shytruck932 "Nickelodeon Flash Screen." —Anonymous "Talkboy/Talkgirl." —Anonymous, 38, Los Angeles And finally: "Oh God, I had the Mystery Mansion game, but we only ever played it a few times because it was so involved. I think it got junked a few years ago with all our other board games from when we were kids, because my parents didn't know what to do with it all." —riverbutwhichone Are there any other nostalgic toys and games you miss from your childhood? What made them so great? Let us know in the comments!

When Lena met Megan: How a DM blossomed into ‘Too Much'
When Lena met Megan: How a DM blossomed into ‘Too Much'

Los Angeles Times

time37 minutes ago

  • Los Angeles Times

When Lena met Megan: How a DM blossomed into ‘Too Much'

This article contains some spoilers for Netflix's 'Too Much.' Sliding into someone's DMs — even with the purest intentions — can be a daunting move. Will they see it? Is it weird? Will they respond? Lena Dunham, the creator of HBO's 'Girls,' saw it as a shot for her latest creative collaboration. It began with a shout-out. It was 2022 and Dunham was fangirling over images of Megan Stalter, who was attending her first Emmys as part of the cast of 'Hacks,' in a sheer red lace slip dress. Dunham posted one to her Instagram stories, calling Stalter one of the best-dressed women in Hollywood. Stalter responded and before long, the exchange led to a message from Dunham about a project she wanted to discuss with her. Stalter didn't see the message right away. Not that Dunham was keeping tabs herself — she enlists someone to handle her social media footprint because, as she says, 'I don't shop in that aisle.' 'I kept saying to my friend, who runs my social media, 'Anything from Meg? Any word from Meg?'' Dunham says while seated next to Stalter recently. 'It's the first time I really shot my shot that way. But I thought, you miss 100% of the shots you don't make.' Now, they're joining forces in 'Too Much,' Dunham's big return to television since her semi-autobiographical creation 'Girls' drew both praise and criticism more than a decade ago with its intimate glimpse at the messy friendships, ambitions and sexual misadventures of four 20-something white women in New York. But 'Too Much' isn't a story about friendship or sex. It's about love — Dunham's version. It's loosely inspired by her move to London and eventual marriage to musician Luis Felber, who co-created the series with Dunham. In the series, which premiered Thursday, Stalter stars as Jessica, an eccentric and complacent but capable producer at a commercial agency who moves to London from New York — her pint-size scraggly dog in tow — after her seven-year relationship blows up. Her over-romanticized vision of life across the pond, fueled by love stories like 'Sense and Sensibility' set in pastoral England, starts out more bedraggled than charmed. But on her first night there, she meets Felix (Will Sharpe), a wayward punk musician who takes an interest in her fish-out-of-water vibe. After a bathroom meet-cute with confusing results — he walks her home, she makes the first move on her couch, he reveals he's seeing someone and leaves, then she accidentally sets herself on fire while making a TikTok video — they quickly form an attachment that turns into a swift and tender, albeit complicated, romance of two people trying not to let their personal baggage get in the way. It brings Stalter — whose profile has risen precipitously since her run of making viral character sketches on Twitter and TikTok led to her turn on 'Hacks' as Kayla, the seemingly hapless assistant-turned-Hollywood manager who is actually good at the job despite her daffy persona — sharply into focus as a quirky and relatable leading woman. Dunham saw that potential. 'I watched the show where she was hosting people making snacks,' says Dunham, referring to Netflix's 'Snack vs. Chef,' a snack-making competition. 'My nephew watched it by himself,' Stalter interjects with a laugh that turns wistful. 'He watched it by himself?' 'Yes, my sister said recently she found out he watched it by himself. He's 7. He's just an amazing angel.' 'I watched it and thought: 'She's a genius,'' Dunham continues. 'I just felt that she had amazing range that was — I'm not even going to say she wasn't tapping into it because it was there, even in her comedy. The biggest thing with centering someone in a show is, you have to want to watch them. You have to sort of be addicted to watching them. And that's how I feel about her. I just knew that she would inspire me as a writer and as a director.' Stalter and Dunham, both in trendy suit attire, are nestled on a couch at Netflix's office in New York City like two friends about to settle in for a night of 'Love Island' after work — except they're just video conferencing into this interview. Their bond and banter reveals itself early. Stalter says she is not someone who worships celebrities — 'I don't even know actors' names sometimes' — but stresses that she is a 'mega, mega, mega Lena/'Girls' fan' and is still processing their collaboration. 'It was always going to be Meg, it was written for Meg,' Dunham says. Stalter imbues Jess with equal measures of absurdity and charm, making the character as easy to rally behind as Bridget Jones or Sally Albright — whether she is waddling to the bathroom post-coitus or accidentally posting a series of TikTok videos, meant to stay in drafts, that take aim at her ex's new girlfriend. But the show illuminates how she is at her most alluring when vulnerability is in reserve. Midway through 'Too Much,' a flashback episode unravels Jessica's pain: It tracks the rise and fall of her previous relationship with Zev (Michael Zegen), from the sweet early days, to the growing pains and then brutal emotional withdrawal. Jess' attempt to discuss their troubles — after learning she's pregnant — leads to a devastating exchange and the end of their relationship. The epilogue to their union is a brokenhearted Jess having an abortion. 'It was important to me that we feel that they [Jess and Felix] have a past and that's the thing they're wrestling with — they're not wrestling with whether they like the other one or understand the other one or are attracted to the other; it's not external forces that are keeping them apart,' Dunham says. 'It's what we're all up against, which is our own pain and our own trauma and our own inability to move past it because it's hard.' The episode was also an opportunity to show a realistic and nuanced portrayal of abortion, Dunham says, where Jess wrestles with the decision but not because she feels guilty or believes she's doing the wrong thing: 'She's just sad because oftentimes when a person has to terminate a pregnancy, there's a lot of factors around them that are challenging — just because something is an emotional decision doesn't mean it's wrong.' Dunham says she considered the Jess-Zev breakup the central mystery of the show. 'It's funny because I acted like what happened between Jess and Zev was like me keeping a plot point from 'Lost' secret,' she says. 'And it's just that they broke up. It's a totally normal breakup, but to her, it's like her rosebud, it's her 'Citizen Kane.'' Stalter found it refreshing that Dunham wanted to show someone in their mid-30s still grappling with the pains of a past relationship while falling in love — and learning that love is not always the magical cure. 'I actually think that being in love is bringing up everything that's ever happened to you because you're finally with someone that's safe,' Stalter says. 'You're like, 'Wait, what if you knew this about me? Would you still make me feel safe? OK — what if you knew this about me? We still safe?' While 'Too Much' is another narrative inspired by her life, Dunham knew from its inception that she was not interested in being the face of the series. Even before 'Girls' premiered in 2012, the attention on Dunham, whose prior work was the 2010 indie film 'Tiny Furniture,' was intense. Over its six-season run, the buzz around 'Girls' — a series she wrote, sometimes directed and played the central character in — also opened it up to criticisms and commentary about representation, the privileged and self-absorbed behavior of its millennial characters and Dunham's prolific nudity. She largely retreated from television when 'Girls' ended — she co-created HBO's short-lived comedy 'Camping' and directed the network's pilot of 'Industry.' Dunham says the experience of 'Girls' — and the time away — gave her a clearer sense of who she is and her limitations as she approached this new series in her late 30s. 'There was a moment where it seemed like her [Meg's] schedule might not work and I remember saying, 'I don't know if I want to make this show if that's the case.' I wasn't like, 'I don't want to put myself through this, therefore it's Meg.' But separately, I don't really want to put myself through it.' In the beginning, with 'Girls,' Dunham says she was able to brush off the criticism. But the commentary was relentless, even in her day-to-day life. 'I was in a recovery room at a hospital and a nurse said, 'Why do you get naked on television all the time?'' she recalls. 'We live in a strange time where people act like they don't have power over what they're viewing. They act like you held their eyeballs open with a weird eyeball machine and force them to watch your show and they are living a trauma as a result. 'It created a lot of anger in me and I don't like to be angry. I think because I don't like to be angry, I really suppressed that. And suppressed anger has to come out somewhere,' she adds. 'And because I deal with chronic illness, it made it harder to bear that. I was swallowing down so much rage.' There isn't as much sex and nudity in 'Too Much.' But there's some. As someone whose success began online, where trolls are in high supply, Stalter has learned to navigate unsolicited feedback about her appearance. 'I haven't been on TV that long, but I have been a comedian that posts online for a long time,' she says. 'I love the way I look and I love my brain and my heart so much that someone calling me fat online, I'm like, 'Honey, there's a lot of Reddit threads about that. Who cares?' If you're not attracted to me, good thing we're not dating, I guess. I'm almost 35 — I'm so happy that I feel this way about myself.' While Stalter is the beating heart of the show, Dunham is among the memorable supporting players as Jessica's sister Nora. The character, who has moved in with her grandmother (Rhea Perlman) and mother (Rita Wilson), is confronting her own crossroads after her husband, played by former 'Girls' co-star Andrew Rannells, decides he wants freedom to explore his sexuality. The split leaves her bedbound, hardly attentive to the teenage son they share. 'Nora is proud of her sister, but she's also jealous — she is trapped in the very space Jessica deemed tragic and pathetic, at home with their family,' Dunham says. 'Even her son seems to find it fairly pathetic, and his father gets to be the hero, despite having left. I'm not a mother, but I can relate to feeling stuck because of obligation and also to wondering when it's going to be your turn to make the decision that's right for you. She doesn't get her 'next act' and has to live with the one she's got. If we get to make a second season, I have a lot to mine here.' It's unclear how much of 'Too Much' there will be. The season closes in romantic-comedy fashion, with its main couple, despite the road bumps, choosing each other and getting married. But Dunham has more to say. 'We don't always have control of how much we get to make,' Dunham says. 'I thought about this with the first season of 'Girls' — if this show never comes back, then I want to end with Hannah eating cake on the beach after her boyfriend got hit by a truck. That's what needs to happen. And we know how we wanted this to end. But as in life, a happy ending is just the beginning of a different life with someone. And so — ' 'Twenty more seasons!' Stalter cheerily interjects. 'It's going to run for seasons upon seasons,' Dunham continues. 'But I do think about marriage comedies. I'm really obsessed with 'Mr. Mom,' with Michael Keaton. And I love 'Mad About You.' I love a comedy that lets us see what's behind keeping a marriage going. I would love the chance to see them being parents.' 'Having triplets,' Stalter adds. 'I'd love to film Meg getting a C-section for the triplets,' Dunham says. Stalter quips: 'A whole episode is the whole C-section.' While 'Too Much' puts Dunham fully in her romantic comedy era, it wasn't originally intended to be a show about love. Before she met Felber, Dunham was mulling tapping into her experience of spending extended periods in England for work and the culture clash of a brassy American coming to the U.K. Then she met Felber, and 'it was the first time I ever felt like I was living in a romantic comedy,' she says. 'I always felt like I was living in a sad, gritty romantic drama where they don't end up together in the end, and someone falls asleep in a puddle.' 'Too Much' features episode titles that pay homage to romance films like 'Notting Hill,' 'Pretty Woman' and 'Love Actually.' Dunham says the rom-com genre was the first she ever loved, but developed internalized snobbery around it as she got older. 'I felt like I was having this innocent romantic forced out of me,' she says. 'By the time I was in my 20s, I felt embarrassed to be that romantic person. I felt as though to even feel that way was sort of naive and silly. I didn't feel like I was allowed to want the things that I wanted or ask for the things that I really needed.' As she got older and started dating again after a period of being single in her early 30s, that began to change. 'When I met my husband, I was kind of back in that place in my 20s, where I thought, 'This is not something that's going to happen for me,'' she says. 'And as a result, I was very honest and I was very blunt, and I think it ended up having a really interesting effect, which is that it actually made it possible for us to get to know each other, and in turn, created something that was more romantic than anything I'd experienced before.' Enough to approach him with a proposal about a month into their relationship: Will you make this show with me? He said yes. In the time since, they've collaborated on other projects — she worked on two of Felber's music videos and he helped score her 2022 film 'Sharp Stick.' Working on a TV show, though, was a big commitment early into their relationship. But it turns out it wasn't too much. 'I remember thinking we could make something really cool if all the universe and all the Tetris pieces of life fall into place,' he says in a separate video call. 'When you're at the beginning of a relationship and you feel like someone's taste matches yours, improves yours — that was Lena. I didn't understand what it meant — 'Hey, do you want to make a TV show with me?' I was like, 'What does that entail? Do I walk up and down the room just cracking jokes and you write them down?' She's like, 'Basically.' I was like, 'I could do that.'' It's not their story directly, but the show was a way for them to put their experiences together. 'Our love was the germ of this, or the nucleus of it; we always wanted to make something joyful. But when you're going on set every day with your partner, you learn a lot about them quickly,' he says. 'Most couples get home from work and are like, 'How was your day, my love?' We had that down. I think it was a catalyst to our relationship, in a way. To be able to see Lena direct, act and write was like, 'Wow.' It was so inspiring to be around someone like that.' Dunham's mark on the rom-com genre is still in progress. She's currently in production on the upcoming film 'Good Sex,' also for Netflix, about a 40-something couples therapist who reenters the dating scene: 'The film is very much an examination of what it is to exit your 30s and wonder if your exploration decades have come to a close,' Dunham says. 'It's a question we are always asking ourselves because the 30s were the new 20s, but what are the 40s, especially if you haven't chosen to, or been able to be, a parent?' The film boasts Natalie Portman, Rashida Jones, Mark Ruffalo and '90s rom-com queen Meg Ryan. There isn't an Instagram backstory involved with the casting of that Meg. Dunham says she approached Ryan while at Taylor Swift's Eras tour stop in London. 'I tend to let icons have their space, but she and I shared Nora Ephron as a guiding force in our lives, and so I really just wanted to talk about Nora because remembering her makes me happy,' Dunham shared in a follow-up email. 'It led to a lovely, nonwork lunch and burgeoning friendship and I wrote with her in mind. But I was still stunned and honored when she said yes. Watching her at the table read, Natalie and Rashida and I were just pinching ourselves. Afterwards, we all texted 'Meg f—ing Ryan!' What can I say — I may be long sober, but I'm addicted to Megs.'

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