The Los Angeles Times uncovered a covert electioneering campaign involving over 500 social media creators. Here’s the scoop.
Reset your social media algorithms
ChatGPT
Ever scroll through Instagram or Facebook and wonder, Why am I still seeing goat yoga videos and political or family drama from 2009? Our social media feeds are Frankenstein monsters built from everything we’ve clicked on, liked, hovered over or even winced at for half a second.
Good news: You can hit the big, shiny RESET. Let’s declutter the chaos.
📸 Instagram: Wipe it clean
Instagram learns your taste based on Reels, Explore clicks and who you engage with. Accidentally watched a slime video one too many times? Now it thinks you’re obsessed. Here’s how to fix that:
- Go to your profile and tap the three-line menu.
- Tap Settings & activity > Content preferences.
- Choose Reset suggested content.
📘 Facebook: Take back your feed
If your Facebook feed still thinks you’re close to deciding the fate of American politics, reuniting with old friends you muted in your head years ago, and laughing at several pages dedicated to Minion memes, time for a change.
Quick fixes:
- Hit the three dots on any post and choose Not interested to see fewer posts like it or Unfollow to stop seeing updates (they won’t know).
- Want someone to appear first? Tap those three dots and select Favorites.
- Head to Settings & privacy > Settings > Accounts Center > Ad Preferences to adjust what shows up.
🐦 Twitter/X: Bring forth sanity
Elon’s playground gives you two feed views: the chaotic, algorithm-curated “For You” or good old-fashioned chronological order.
Here’s how to switch:
Your privacy restored
© Eduard Goricev | Dreamstime.com, © Tero Vesalainen | Dreamstime.com
Ever Googled yourself and thought, “What the heck is that doing online?” Old addresses, phone numbers and even the car you drive are all out there. Worse, it’s probably on some sketchy people search site or buried in a mountain of search results.
🔞 Sick social media trend: Awful accounts are using AI filters to make the women in overly sexual TikTok and IG gym videos look as if they have Down syndrome. They’re adding captions like “Syndrome is down but your d is up.” Why? It goes viral, and they try to redirect people to adult sites. And yes, the original clips are stolen.
Less than 100
That’s how many shark bites are reported globally each year. Not a huge number, but it’s been going up. Why? Blame social media. Some influencers are telling tourists to snap selfies or reach out for a pat. Add to that the fact that most people can’t tell a reef shark from a bull shark. Yeah, natural selection in action.
📨 No contact info? No prob, here’s how to find someone’s email: Search for “John Smith” + “email.” The quotes help Google look for that exact phrase. Pro tip: Check their social media profiles. Some folks put their contact details right on their pages.
Good post + bad timing = zero likes. Let’s fix that.
Midjourney
Are your carefully crafted social media posts getting the same amount of attention as a tree falling in the forest with no one around? As the French say, that’s no bueno.
Running a business is hard enough without your social media posts falling flat. You spent 30 minutes picking the perfect image, debated emojis for another 12, added hashtags that deserve a Pulitzer, and then? Radio silence.
Romance scam victim faces 29 years in prison
Midjourney
Jean lives in the Midwest. She’s smart. She’s done well for herself. The kind of woman you’d think could spot a scam a mile away. Btw, that’s not her picture. It’s what I envision her looking like after talking to her.
📵 Virginia limits kids’ screen time: A new law will ban anyone under 16 from using social media for more than one hour a day. Apps will verify age, and parents can adjust if their kids get more time. Once they hit the limit, the app is supposed to block access … though it’s unclear how that’ll work.
✍️ ABC = Always Be Selling: I know that’s not a C. Adding a call to action turns your email signature into marketing gold. It can be a link, a special offer or anything else you want to promote. Here’s how to change them. But don’t stop there. Put CTAs in your social media bio, website footer and even your store’s Wi-Fi name.
💎 Kim K’s robbery trial update: Not me, silly. That Paris heist from 2016 when she was held at gunpoint and lost $10 million in jewelry. One of the thieves now says he regrets it because of, wait for it, all the media attention. FYI: They tracked her through her nonstop social media posts. She’s still oversharing today. Classic.
👎 Social media is over: That’s what Mark Zuckerberg says. Meta’s being sued by the government for acting like a monopoly, but Zuck says every app does the same thing. TikTok and YouTube are just news, celebrity promos and AI slop now, like Meta. So really, what hold do they have? The days of friends posting real updates are long gone (paywall link).
🚭 Parents, watch out for smart vapes! They look like colorful gadgets that play music, run games, take calls and send social media notifications. But they’re actually vapes … with up to 30,000 puffs, and some even give you points for every hit. Yep, it’s nicotine, sweet flavors and gaming all rolled into one. It’s kind of like a Tamagotchi, except instead of you keeping it alive, it’s killing you.
🧠 New Gen Z term to know: “Locking in.” If someone you know uses that phrase, it means they are cutting out distractions to focus on a personal goal. Think quitting social media, skipping parties and going all-in on fitness or making money. My dad used to call it “a kick in the a$$.”
💍 Be smitten, not bitten: Couples are losing thousands to photographers they find on social media. It all seems legit with a digital contract. Then, the shady shutterbugs ask for a cash deposit through Venmo or Zelle. But on the big day? They ghost you or show up and never deliver the photos. Folks, do your homework.
🐶 For pup’s sake: Want to help shelter animals but can’t bring one home? Try virtual fostering. You’ll be matched with a pet and share their updates on social media to help them get adopted. Search “[your city] virtual fostering” for programs near you.
A crypto guide for busy people that won’t make you cry
ChatGPT
Let’s get one thing straight: Crypto isn’t disappearing into the tech void. Love it, hate it or meme it into oblivion, digital currency is sticking around, and the U.S. is auditioning to become the crypto capital of the world.
How to make your pet go viral — April 12th, Hour 2
Got a super cute pup or kitty? I chat with the creator behind The Oreo Cat on how to make your pet a social media superstar — and even make a little cash doing it. Plus, scientists clone direwolves (kind of), and AI is outpacing doctors on MRIs.
Kim Komando Show Preview: How to make your pet go viral
Got a super cute pup or kitty? I chat with the creator behind The Oreo Cat on how to make your pet a social media superstar — and even make a little cash doing it. Plus, scientists clone direwolves (kind of), and AI is outpacing doctors on MRIs.
What to stream now
ChatGPT
I don’t know about you, but when Friday hits, the last thing I want to do is scroll for an hour trying to find something to watch. Usually, I give up and rewatch The Office for the 10th time.
Not this weekend. I made you a watch list, meticulously crafted between dopamine crashes, for the entertainment-decision-deficient among us. You’re welcome.