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28 Useful Purchases That Won't Even Have A Chance Of Sitting In A Dusty Corner Unused

28 Useful Purchases That Won't Even Have A Chance Of Sitting In A Dusty Corner Unused

Buzz Feed12-02-2025
1. A set of pastel "unbreakable" deep plates if your clumsy behavior has resulted in one too many shattered dishes. These minimalist beauties work for just about any meal you can dream up, are surprisingly lightweight, and are dishwasher- and microwave-safe.
Note that the dishes are microwave-safe for up to 3 minutes!!
Promising review: "These are microwaveable and light to carry. Love the colors. Wish they were available in one color only, but I can't complain. I primarily bought these for microwave purposes. But can be used for salads, hot soup, etc. Also, it's an in-between size, like a medium. Just right for me." — M. Zolnosky
Get a set of four from Amazon for $9.99 (also available as bowls!).
2. A beloved tub of pink cleaning paste for taking the guesswork out of figuring out what product is best for the job since this will perform small cleaning miracles on virtually any surface in your home without endless scrubbing. Try it out on those "forever" stains other solutions could never handle.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Found this product on TikTok. I don't think I've ever seen value like I do with this product! Literally, use it on EVERYTHING!! Kids and teens have dirt, grime, and grease on their walls? This will make it look like a new paint job. Baseboards need some love? A pea-sized amount of this makes them look brand new. Need a shoe cleaner? PERFECT for sneakers. I could name a million more uses, but I can ASSURE you this is worth every penny. What's more? You need so LITTLE of this product that it will last a VERY long time. Thank you, TikTok!!!" — Rachel in CLT
Get it from Amazon for $5.29.
3. A cruelty-free under-eye brightener to effortlessly conceal dark circles since you haven't gotten enough sleep in *checks watch* about a decade. The color-adapting formula is creamy and lightweight, so you don't have to worry about unwanted creasing and cakiness, either.
www.amazon.com
The color adaptive formula is designed so one of two 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." — Placeholder
Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in four shades).
4. A set of Snug Plugs — an almost aggravatingly simple solution to all-to-common wobbly outlets, so you'll never again accidentally wake up to a nearly dead phone battery because your charger got knocked loose.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Snug Plugs is a small business that specializes in home improvement products.
Promising review:"I saw Snug Plug on TikTok and immediately ordered them. I have outlets at home AND at work that I couldn't keep anything plugged into because they're so loose. Snug Plug quickly and easily solved that problem and now I can finally have a phone charger in my den. Yay! I highly recommend this product." — KSay
Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $10.99 (available in clear and glow-in-the-dark).
5. A pack of reusable Swiffer mop pads that's a multitasking purchase you can use again and again for dry or wet cleaning. Sparkling floors and a permanently shorter shopping list? Yes, please!
www.amazon.com
Turbo Microfiber is a small business that launched in 2018 on a mission to create top-quality cleaning accessories to help you get through your to-do list as sustainably and cost-effectively as possible.
Promising review:"I got both kinds, the ones with the wrap-around flaps for the regular green mop and I got the nonflap ones for the WetJet. They are made of a good quality material, well designed, fit perfectly, and are easy to put on and take off. They stick to the mop very securely; you don't have to worry about them coming off when cleaning, and when done, you just toss them in the washer. I am so happy I started using these. They are saving me loads of money on those wet and dry refill sheets and save the planet as well!" — Phoenix Hinton
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $13.44.
6. A versatile chop, slice, and dice unit so you can stop being embarrassed about your subpar knife skills and drastically *cut* down on food prep and cleanup time with interchangeable blades that can be popped into the dishwasher. You've been around long enough to know you never want to chop an onion by hand again.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Makes life so much easier. I can't imagine chopping onions or bell peppers by hand anymore, and it does so much more. We used to have a Prepworks chopper which was a similar idea, but you had to press so hard to chop, and it broke after not too long. This one requires very little effort to cut through the food, and it has a generous container." — Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in four colors and four other styles).
7. A dual-layered fine-bristled toothbrush if you're tired of being reprimanded by your dentist for subpar flossing. This brush's extra-fine bristles are ideal for clearing out tough-to-reach crevices and deep grooves while being extra gentle on sensitive gums and teeth.
Emma Lord / BuzzFeed
Mouthwatchers is a small business established by Ronald Plotka, DDS, that specializes in antimicrobial toothbrushes designed to get deeper cleans even patients with "great" dental hygiene might miss with traditional brush and floss routines.
Promising review:"I don't write reviews often but this toothbrush is so amazing I just had to. My teeth have never felt so smooth after brushing my teeth. Excellent at removing plaque and tartar and keeping it off throughout the day. If you're on the fence about purchasing, consider this the green light to go for it. You won't be disappointed." — Cari C.
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $9.99.
8. A hydrating snail mucin repairing essence for soothing *all* skin types (reviewers love how gentle it is) with the potential to help heal acne scars, fade dark spots, and smooth fine lines...all for less than most Uber Eats deliveries!!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"My skin dries out severely during the winter, and I have to constantly use Vaseline to keep it moisturized (normal cream doesn't work on me). Imagine my surprise when my SO tried to put snail goo on me. Eww!! I resisted for weeks, refusing to use this product as she constantly vouched for its abilities. After a month, I finally gave in, and boy, it was amazing! My hands feel more moisturized than ever for longer, and it doesn't leave a disgusting, greasy feel like Vaseline. Take it from a once-nonbeliever: You have to try this. Even if it doesn't work for you, you paid a fraction of what you would've paid for any other name-brand moisturizers." — Kyoko Ozaki
Get it from Amazon for $18.95
9. A durable over-the-door shoe organizer to remind you that unused doors are a blank canvas for added storage, like this space-efficient rack that can hold up to 36 pairs of shoes. Let me repeat that — 36 pairs!! Consider that perma pile of shoes by the door a goner.
Promising review:"My teen loves shoes, especially high tops, but her collection was out of control. We hung these in her closet and were able to fit heels, high tops, cleats, and everything in between. I especially love that they don't bang on the door when you open/close it. Plus, they were quick and easy to assemble!" — Ashton
Get it from Amazon for $31.99 (available in white and gunmetal).
10. A patented ChomChom pet hair remover because Fido's shedding is taking over your home and you're sick of dragging out the vacuum every three seconds. This uses bristles, not sticky tape, to catch lint meaning you can clean and reuse it over and over and over again.
Promising review:" TikTok made me buy this, and it is money well spent!! I'm convinced my beagle sheds a full coat of hair and regrows it daily! I use this on my bed every single day, and it blows my mind how well it works. Before this, I was going through four to five disposable sticky rollers a month and spending three times longer to remove dog hair. I am buying these for everyone in my family as Christmas gifts this year! ❤️" — tiff4short
Check out our ChomChom pet hair remover review for more deets!
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in two colors).
11. A genius WD-40 pen that packs all the squeak-quieting, lubricating powers of the tried-and-true formula into a precision-tip pen that's much easier to use and even easier to keep on hand for quick fixes, so you don't let that squeaky door live on for far too long.
Promising review: "I love WD-40 products and use them for everything. I spray on shovels to keep dirt or snow from sticking, spray around windows and thresholds to deter bugs, clean Sharpies off wood and walls, and, of course, stop squeaky doors. These small direct-point application pens are great. Keep one in the glove box, my kitchen 'junk' drawer, and the house toolbox." — BBP623
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $14.99.
12. A cute and compact portable pill container with seven compartments so you don't have to dig through every bottle in your medicine cabinet just to stay on track with all your daily medications and supplements.
Promising review: "This is the best pill container I have found. It holds a month's worth of pills in each compartment and is compact and easy to store and travel with. It is very sturdy and I don't have to worry about the cap opening accidentally. The enclosed labels are a bonus, and the see-through exterior makes it easy to see how many pills are left. I keep it on my nightstand, and it doesn't take a lot of space." — TA
Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in three colors).
13. A pair of charcoal shoe deodorizers if you're tired of sweat stank ruining your favorite shoes. These little packets use bamboo charcoal to absorb odors and moisture for 100% chemical-free freshness.
www.amazon.com
You can reuse them for up to two years! Set them out in the sun for an hour to re-activate the charcoal.
Promising review:"I have a pair of black leather flats that stank so badly my husband would yell at me if I took them off anywhere near him. But I love the shoes!!! So, I had to find something to make the stench go away without leaving me with an allergic reaction. This was the answer. I honestly couldn't believe it. A few days after placing them in my prised-off shoes, I took a whiff from about a foot away. Nothing. I got closer. Nothing. I stuck my nose practically in the shoe. OK, maybe that's pushing things, but I've got to tell you that 95% of the broken-in leather grossness was gone. So happy!!!" — Erin
Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.95.
14. A pack of duster sponges designed with curved ridges for actually picking up dirt, dust, and hair on the first swipe instead of just moving it around. When you're done, give it a rinse, let it dry, and it'll be ready for another round.
These resemble the Scrub Daddy Damp Duster, which is usually sold out!
Promising review: "I rarely review products, but this little sponge literally changed my life! It picks up EVERYthing in one swipe! Hard water marks on your bathroom mirror, no problem! Hair clippings on your sink and counter, one swipe and they are gone! Dusty blinds? Swoosh, swoosh, swipe! And ala-presto ka-bam, like magic they are perfect and dust free! I just need one of these for my floors! I love, love, love how the sponge picks up everything, and with a little running water, all the dust, hair, muck, and guck just rinsed away! This will not disappoint! Thank you!" — DayDreamer
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $8.49+ (available in six color packs).
15. A nongreasy hair wax stick to tame flyaways and smooth edges without weighing down your entire look with globs of gel. Feel free to apply the stick directly to your hair for mess-free application and all-day staying power.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Just a note that you don't have to lay your edges, but this is great if you do!
Promising review:" Perfect for humid weather. I have relatively fine hair, and my hair looks HORRIBLE every time we travel somewhere topical. I came across this wax one day, and I am in love. I've been able to do cute hairstyles and have them stay in place all day." — arlerh n.
Get it from Amazon for $7.99.
16. A portable vacuum including several attachments because 'tis the season for grimy car interiors. This vacuum conveniently plugs into the car's aux outlet and has a SUPER long cord so you can easily suck up every mess (even ones in the backseat) on the go.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Check it out on TikTok.
Promising review:"I saw this product recommended by a TikTok user, so of course I bought it! This car vacuum works wonderfully. The cord is super long — I drive an '08 Prius, and I still had the cord length left after I swept in the trunk! The vacuum has a bristle suction piece, a long, narrow one, and a hose like a regular sweeper would have. It comes with one filter inside the vacuum and an additional one with a small brush to help clean it. It also came with the bag which everything fits in and a nice car air freshener! I love this product; it works very well." — Ken
Get it from Amazon for $29.96+ (available in three styles).
17. A set of legging organizing hangers that's a major space saver for any fitness and/or loungewear lover with an extensive legging collection that's quickly outgrowing your closet space.
www.amazon.com
Each hanger holds 10 pairs of leggings.
Promising review:"Yes...I have too many clothes. I LOVE my leggings. These saved me soooo much room! Now I have much more space, AND I can see them all easier." — Larry Seymour
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $16.99 (available in larger multipacks).
18. A gentle pore-clearing cleansing oil so effective at removing the day's grime that reviewers say you can actually see bits of gunk leaving your pores. WILD. It's suitable for all skin types and is formulated with heartleaf extract to help you get that *glowy* glass skin look.
See it in action on TikTok.
Promising review:"This is my first time ordering an oil-based cleanser and I'm so glad I purchased this one. I originally saw this product on TikTok and wanted to see what the hype was all about. After using the cleanser on my dry face for 2–3 minutes, I could visibly see the white- and blackheads on my fingers. I was a little hesitant to try oil cleansing because I have acne-prone skin. However, my face has never looked better. After each use, my face is as soft as a baby's bottom, and my scarring doesn't look as deep! The cleanser has a light, clean scent. Not super strong! I am currently pairing this cleanser with the Anua heartleaf soothing toner to achieve glass skin. #glassskinera" — Myshel Cagle
Get it from Amazon for $17.69.
19. An oh-so-smart Pikk-it tool if shredding your fingers trying to rip the hair out of a clogged vacuum head is not exactly your idea of a good time. The pick end works wonders to untangle knots and can be used to clean out hairbrush bristles, too.
Amazon, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Between myself (medium long hair) and my overly fluffy cat, a lot of hair and fluff was continually getting caught up on the roller brush of my vacuum. I dreaded vacuuming because it took so long to pull and snip the hairs wrapped up on the roller brush out with scissors. Not anymore! This silly, little, inexpensive thing works great! Super quick to remove all the hair/fur — in virtually a minute, then back to vacuuming with my lovely Miele vacuum." — MKS
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
20. A roll-on migraine stick packed with cooling essential oils for help getting relief from painful headaches and migraines. It's compact enough to stash in a purse or pocket!
www.amazon.com
Read more about aromatherapy and stress and tension at Johns Hopkins.
Promising review:"So easy to use and carry with you. In fact, get several and have them with you at home or wherever is handy. This is the holy grail of migraine relief. Very little is needed. I roll on temples, by ears, above eyebrows, below cheekbones, back of the neck, and base of the skull. I use this anytime I need it. No offensive odor. Better than any medications that are prescribed or OTC. Very good with sinus congestion also." — c.b.
Read BuzzFeed's Migrastil migraine stick review for more deets!
Get it from Amazon for $12.95.
21. A pair of Sony Bluetooth headphones to deliver next-level sound quality combined with comfort that won't leave your ears feeling achy and squished after hour eight of your latest audiobook. Honestly, the affordable price tag has me shooketh.
BuzzFeed writer Kelsie Hammond has them and says,
"You won't catch ME alone with my thoughts, so I listen to music or an audiobook at all times. These headphones are basically an extension of my very being because I wear them 24/7. Some other over-the-ear headphones left my ears feeling sore after a few hours, but these are like comfy pillows resting delicately without any irritation whatsoever. The sound quality is soothingly crisp and noticeably balanced. I didn't know Fleetwood Mac could sound even better until I put these on. The instrumentation is so balanced that it's almost TOO good — like, I'm listening to songs I've heard a million times and hearing instruments I've never heard before. There have been surprise tambourines all over the place ever since I bought these headphones. Honestly, it feels like they should have cost way more than they did. Between the battery life, comfort, and sound quality…I honestly have no notes. Bury me in these!!!"
Get it from Amazon for $38+ (originally $59.99; available in three colors).
22. A heavy-duty Luigi's sink and drain plunger because you've spent more time waiting for water to go down your backed-up drain than you care to admit. This small-but-mighty helper clears blocked kitchen and bathroom sinks with 8x the air volume compared to a traditional plunger. Needless to say, it gets the job done!
Promising review:"Y'all, this thing is amazing! My kitchen sink was completely clogged for four days. I've been trying to clear the drain with a different sink plunger that I already had, and it didn't do diddly-squat. I was about to give up and call a plumber. Then I decided to order this one, and it just arrived...it completely cleared the drain in like three minutes. So then I decided to take it to the bathroom sink that had been draining extremely slowly and within a minute, I had the water running so quickly and smoothly again. I got the small one, and it's the perfect size for kitchen and bathroom sinks." — JNeen
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three sizes).
23. A stainless-steel automatic pet fountain that just might encourage your favorite feline to drink more water since many prefer running water to get their daily dose of hydration. It's equipped with a large-capacity tank, so you're not constantly refilling it *and* it's whisper-quiet.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:" I have gone through so many pet water fountains and this one has been the best and most durable. My cats tend to get their food in the water, and with most water fountains, that breaks them, but this one's filter system prevents that." — Tee Tee
Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in silver and black).
24. A set of reusable Gripstic bag sealers so you can give your half-eaten bag of Doritos the actually tight seal it needs to stay fresh until next weekend's snack attack strikes.
Gripstic is a small business that specializes in reusable chip clips.
Promising review: "I'm a stickler about stale chips and have always used those little snapping clips. I thought they worked pretty well, but they really don't compare to Gripsticks. The snack that proved this the most was Pirate's Booty. If these are exposed to air for more than three minutes, they turn into styrofoam peanuts. I promise they're just as fresh as when you first open them with Gripsticks. They're going to be my go-to chip clips moving forward." — Rachel Campbell
Get an assorted set of 12 from Amazon for $23.95 (available in four other styles).
25. A silky satin-lined beanie if it breaks your heart to sacrifice your hair in pursuit of a warm noggin. This unisex style glides over strands, so when it is time to step inside you won't be greeted with hair that's angry, dry, and frizzy.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"This beanie is perfect for curly and wavy girls! The entire inside is satin-lined. When I took the hat off it did not cause any damaged or frizzy curls! I am in love and need more colors!" — Crystal Ingram
Get it from Amazon $14.99+ (available in nine colors).
26. An easy-to-use denture cleaner tablet you simply plop in warm water with your dentures, mouth guard, retainer, or aligners for a stain-fighting, odor-busting clean that's worth smiling about.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I have a TMJ mouth guard that is about 12 years old, and nothing else I've tried had managed to clean it like this stuff. It didn't take everything off the first time, but it makes a HUGE difference. Very satisfied." — Sara E
Get 120 tablets from Amazon for $20.79.
27. A pack of biodegradable foaming drain-cleaning pouches to effortlessly take care of all the out-of-sight grime clogging (and stinking) up your garbage disposal since you must have missed this module in Housekeeping 101.
Promising review:"My disposal developed a bad odor, and all the usual remedies failed to eliminate it. I bought the Glisten disposal cleaner without expecting it to work. It worked exactly as shown in the video, and the bad odor disappeared after one application. I intend to use it once every two weeks in the future. I am very pleased to have found this product. I was on the verge of replacing the disposal, which was otherwise working fine." — Errol Levine
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $8.
28. A set of fridge organizers because the perpetually chaotic nature of your fridge makes it a little too easy to forget what's in there, resulting in spoiled food and wasted money.
Promising review: "For this item, save yourself the time reading the reviews and just buy the refrigerator organizing storage bins. If you need the organization and ease of locating refrigerator items, you will love these bins. The bins are that good and more! I wish I had bought these bins years ago!!! The seller was prompt with delivery with no issues." — Carol
Get a set of eight bins from Amazon for $23.99 (available in four sizes and sets of 2, 4, 6, 10, and 14).
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Man Ruins Wife's Lululemon Leggings, She Plots Revenge and Captures It All
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Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A woman's revenge plot against her husband has gone viral on social media after she decided to target one of his most-loved belongings, his Xbox. In a viral TikTok video shared in December under the username @kostandinageorgia, the poster says that, after finding out her husband had ruined a pair of her favorite leggings in the dryer, she went ballistic on his console. "My husband put my Lululemon leggings in the dryer, so let's superglue 500 charms on his Xbox. Weaponized incompetence works both ways." The hilarious footage shows the poster gluing all of the purple-and-green, glittery charms on the Xbox one by one, to teach her husband a lesson. However, his reaction to it is not what she had in mind. "You did this? it's awesome!" he can be heard saying, "I like the M&Ms, the little flowers; that's really nice babe." Screenshots of the viral video show the poster gluing 500 charms to her husband's Xbox. Screenshots of the viral video show the poster gluing 500 charms to her husband's Xbox. getty images He even starts taking pictures of his new fairy Xbox to send to his friends. "Henry thinks it's really cool!" he adds. The poster, Kostandina, told Newsweek that it wasn't actually her husband who ruined her Lululemon, but she herself when she mistakenly put them inside the dryer. "The leggings part of the video was actually a joke, which is why I included a #satire hashtag in the caption. I'm the one who ruined my leggings by putting them in the dryer, and I thought it would be a funny start to the video where I surprise him by bedazzling his Xbox with charms," Kostandina said. The process of arranging the charms and editing the video took her over 10 hours to complete, but her husband loved it so much that he took it to his office where he still has it on display. "He actually decided to keep them on because he liked them so much. I offered to take them off, but he told me not to. Six months after the video was posted, he still has them on," Kostandina added. A 2022 YouGov survey found that most Xbox players often play to relax, while others play pass time, or to escape reality for a while. Only 23 percent played out of habit. Figures changed slightly among other consoles but remained very similar. The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 24.4 million views and more than 3.3 million likes on the platform. One user, Sou, commented: "Wait are we not supposed to dry them? No wonder mine always get messed up." CrazyKC posted: "He did the laundry AND thinks your art is cool? He's a keeper for sure!" Seanxray added: "So we can all agree this is psychotic, right? You don't have to put on a fake smile bud, run before you don't wake up." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.

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Blogger, journalist and science fiction writer Cory Doctorow coined the term 'enshittification' to describe how experiences on online platforms gradually deteriorate as companies increasingly exploit users' data and tweak their algorithms to maximize profits. For these reasons, much of people's time spent online involves dealing with toxic interactions or mindlessly doomscrolling, immersed in dopamine-driven feedback loops. This cycle is neither an accident nor a novel insight. Hate and mental illness fester in this culture because love and healing seem to be incompatible with profits. In his 2009 book 'Envisioning Real Utopias,' the late sociologist Erik Olin Wright discusses places in the world that prioritize cooperation, care and egalitarianism. Wright mainly focused on offline systems like worker-owned cooperatives. But one of his examples lived on the internet: Wikipedia. He argued that Wikipedia demonstrates the ethos 'from each according to ability, to each according to need' – a utopian ideal popularized by Karl Marx. Wikipedia still thrives as a nonprofit, volunteer-ran bureaucracy. The website is a form of media that is deeply social, in the literal sense: People voluntarily curate and share knowledge, collectively and democratically, for free. Unlike social media, the rewards are only collective. There are no visible likes, comments or rage emojis for participants to hoard and chase. Nobody loses and everyone wins, including the vast majority of people who use Wikipedia without contributing work or money to keep it operational. Wikipedia is evidence of care, cooperation and love hiding in plain sight. In recent years, there have been more efforts to create nonprofit apps and websites that are committed to protecting user data. Popular examples include Signal, a free and open source instant messaging service, and Proton Mail, an encrypted email service. These are all laudable developments. But how can the internet actively promote collective flourishing? In 'Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want,' sociologist Ruha Benjamin points to a way forward. She tells the story of Black TikTok creators who led a successful cultural labor strike in 2021. Many viral TikTok dances had originally been created by Black artists, whose accounts, they claimed, were suppressed by a biased algorithm that favored white influencers. TikTok responded to the viral #BlackTikTokStrike movement by formally apologizing and making commitments to better represent and compensate the work of Black creators. These creators demonstrated how social media engagement is work – and that workers have the power to demand equitable conditions and fair pay. This landmark strike showed how anyone who uses social media companies that profit off the work, emotions and personal data of their users – whether it's TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram or Reddit – can become organized. Meanwhile, there are organizations devoted to designing an internet that promotes collective flourishing. Sociologist Firuzeh Shokooh Valle provides examples of worker-owned technology cooperatives in her 2023 book, 'In Defense of Solidarity and Pleasure: Feminist Technopolitics in the Global South.' She highlights the Sulá Batsú co-op in Costa Rica, which promotes policies that seek to break the stranglehold that negativity and exploitation have over internet culture. 'Digital spaces are increasingly powered by hate and discrimination,' the group writes, adding that it hopes to create an online world where 'women and people of diverse sexualities and genders are able to access and enjoy a free and open internet to exercise agency and autonomy, build collective power, strengthen movements, and transform power relations.' In Los Angeles, there's Chani, Inc., a technology company that describes itself as 'proudly' not funded by venture capitalists. The Chani app blends mindfulness practices and astrology with the goal of simply helping people. The app is not designed for compulsive user engagement, the company never sells user data, and there are no comments sections. What would social media look like if Wikipedia were the norm instead of an exception? To me, a big problem in internet culture is the way people's humanity is obscured. People are free to speak their minds in text-based public discussion forums, but the words aren't always attached to someone's identity. Real people hide behind the anonymity of user names. It isn't true human interaction. In 'Attention and Alienation,' I argue that the ability to meet and interact with others online as fully realized, three-dimensional human beings would go a long way toward creating a more empathetic, cooperative internet. When I was 8 years old, my parents lived abroad for work. Sometimes we talked on the phone. Often I would cry late into the night, praying for the ability to 'see them through the phone.' It felt like a miraculous possibility – like magic. I told this story to my students in a moment of shared vulnerability. This was in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, so the class was taking place over videoconferencing. In these online classes, one person talked at a time. Others listened. It wasn't perfect, but I think a better internet would promote this form of discussion – people getting together from across the world to share the fullness of their humanity. Efforts like Clubhouse have tapped into this vision by creating voice-based discussion forums. The company, however, has been criticized for predatory data privacy policies. What if the next iteration of public social media platforms could build on Clubhouse? What if they brought people together and showcased not just their voices, but also live video feeds of their faces without harvesting their data or promoting conflict and outrage? Raised eyebrows. Grins. Frowns. They're what make humans distinct from increasingly sophisticated large language models and artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT. After all, is anything you can't say while looking at another human being in the eye worth saying in the first place? This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Aarushi Bhandari, Davidson College Read more: Social media can support or undermine democracy – it comes down to how it's designed A 'coup des gens' is underway – and we're increasingly living under the regime of the algorithm The hidden cost of convenience: How your data pulls in hundreds of billions of dollars for app and social media companies Aarushi Bhandari does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Is there any hope for the Internet?
Is there any hope for the Internet?

Miami Herald

time33 minutes ago

  • Miami Herald

Is there any hope for the Internet?

In 2001, social theorist bell hooks warned about the dangers of a loveless zeitgeist. In All About Love: New Visions, she lamented "the lack of an ongoing public discussion ... about the practice of love in our culture and in our lives." Back then, the Internet was at a crossroads. The dot-com crash had bankrupted many early Internet companies, and people wondered if the technology was long for this world. The doubts were unfounded. In only a few decades, the Internet has merged with our bodies as smartphones and mined our personalities via algorithms that know us more intimately than some of our closest friends. It has even constructed a secondary social world. Yet, as the Internet has become more integrated in our daily lives, few would describe it as a place of love, compassion and cooperation. Study after study describe how social media platforms promote alienation and disconnection -- in part because many algorithms reward behaviors like trolling, cyberbullying and outrage. Is the Internet's place in human history cemented as a harbinger of despair? Or is there still hope for an internet that supports collective flourishing? Algorithms and alienation I explore these questions in my new book, Attention and Alienation. In it, I explain how social media companies' profits depend on users investing their time, creativity and emotions. Whether it's spending hours filming content for TikTok or a few minutes crafting a thoughtful Reddit comment, participating on these platforms takes work. And it can be exhausting. Even passive engagement -- like scrolling through feeds and "lurking" in forums -- consumes time. It might feel like free entertainment -- until people recognize they are the product, with their data being harvested and their emotions being manipulated. Blogger, journalist and science fiction writer Cory Doctorow coined the term "enshittification" to describe how experiences on online platforms gradually deteriorate as companies increasingly exploit users' data and tweak their algorithms to maximize profits. For these reasons, much of people's time spent online involves dealing with toxic interactions or mindlessly doomscrolling, immersed in dopamine-driven feedback loops. This cycle is neither an accident nor a novel insight. Hate and mental illness fester in this culture because love and healing seem to be incompatible with profits. Care hiding in plain sight In his 2009 book, Envisioning Real Utopias, the late sociologist Erik Olin Wright discusses places in the world that prioritize cooperation, care and egalitarianism. Wright mainly focused on offline systems like worker-owned cooperatives. But one of his examples lived on the Internet: Wikipedia. He argued that Wikipedia demonstrates the ethos "from each according to ability, to each according to need" -- a utopian ideal popularized by Karl Marx. Wikipedia still thrives as a nonprofit, volunteer-ran bureaucracy. The website is a form of media that is deeply social, in the literal sense: People voluntarily curate and share knowledge, collectively and democratically, for free. Unlike social media, the rewards are only collective. There are no visible likes, comments or rage emojis for participants to hoard and chase. Nobody loses and everyone wins, including the vast majority of people who use Wikipedia without contributing work or money to keep it operational. Building a new digital world Wikipedia is evidence of care, cooperation and love hiding in plain sight. In recent years, there have been more efforts to create nonprofit apps and websites that are committed to protecting user data. Popular examples include Signal, a free and open source instant messaging service, and Proton Mail, an encrypted email service. These are all laudable developments. But how can the Internet actively promote collective flourishing? InViral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want, sociologist Ruha Benjamin points to a way forward. She tells the story of Black TikTok creators who led a successful cultural labor strike in 2021. Many viral TikTok dances had originally been created by Black artists, whose accounts, they claimed, were suppressed by a biased algorithm that favored White influencers. TikTok responded to the viral #BlackTikTokStrike movement by formally apologizing and making commitments to better represent and compensate the work of Black creators. These creators demonstrated how social media engagement is work -- and that workers have the power to demand equitable conditions and fair pay. This landmark strike showed how anyone who uses social media companies that profit off the work, emotions and personal data of their users -- whether it's TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram or Reddit -- can become organized. Meanwhile, there are organizations devoted to designing an Internet that promotes collective flourishing. Sociologist Firuzeh Shokooh Valle provides examples of worker-owned technology cooperatives in her 2023 book,In Defense of Solidarity and Pleasure: Feminist Technopolitics in the Global South. She highlights the Sulá Batsú co-op in Costa Rica, which promotes policies that seek to break the stranglehold that negativity and exploitation have over Internet culture. "Digital spaces are increasingly powered by hate and discrimination," the group writes, adding that it hopes to create an online world where "women and people of diverse sexualities and genders are able to access and enjoy a free and open internet to exercise agency and autonomy, build collective power, strengthen movements and transform power relations." No comments In Los Angeles, there's Chani, Inc., a technology company that describes itself as "proudly" not funded by venture capitalists. The Chani app blends mindfulness practices and astrology with the goal of simply helping people. The app is not designed for compulsive user engagement, the company never sells user data and there are no comments sections. What would social media look like if Wikipedia were the norm instead of an exception? To me, a big problem in Internet culture is the way people's humanity is obscured. People are free to speak their minds in text-based public discussion forums, but the words aren't always attached to someone's identity. Real people hide behind the anonymity of user names. It isn't true human interaction. In Attention and Alienation, I argue that the ability to meet and interact with others online as fully realized, three-dimensional human beings would go a long way toward creating a more empathetic, cooperative Internet. When I was 8 years old, my parents lived abroad for work. Sometimes we talked on the phone. Often I would cry late into the night, praying for the ability to "see them through the phone." It felt like a miraculous possibility -- like magic. I told this story to my students in a moment of shared vulnerability. This was in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, so the class was taking place over videoconferencing. In these online classes, one person talked at a time. Others listened. It wasn't perfect, but I think a better Internet would promote this form of discussion -- people getting together from across the world to share the fullness of their humanity. Efforts like Clubhouse have tapped into this vision by creating voice-based discussion forums. The company, however, has been criticized for predatory data privacy policies. What if the next iteration of public social media platforms could build on Clubhouse? What if they brought people together and showcased not just their voices, but also live video feeds of their faces without harvesting their data or promoting conflict and outrage? Raised eyebrows. Grins. Frowns. They're what make humans distinct from increasingly sophisticated large language models and artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT. After all, is anything you can't say while looking at another human being in the eye worth saying in the first place? Aarushi Bhandari is an assistant professor of sociology at Davidson College. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The opinions in this commentary are solely those of the author. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

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