I thought the “Dead Internet” was something we wanted to avoid?

But it’s starting to look like Meta’s actual goal.

Silicon Valley’s tech titans are rolling out a lineup of AI tools designed to keep Gen Z glued to their platforms. One standout? An AI “character creator,” which the company believes will eventually exist on the platforms the way human accounts do.

In today's newsletter:

• If you thought your feed was full of fakes (wait until Metas done with it!)

• 90’s angst rock is back (here’s why it matters)

• Trend plug - Bing bop boom

• Ask the Editor - How do I get my name out in Facebook groups?

- Sophie, Writer ♡

We're not even 2 weeks into 2025, yet the biggest tech-based backlash of the year may have just begun.

Meta - Facebook and Instagram's parent company - has publicly set out a vision for the social media experience of tomorrow. And, from their perspective, it's loaded with AI-generated bots.

Thing is, AI-powered accounts and content aren't even new to FB or Insta! But, a recent comment by a high-up Meta AI official quickly turned existing mixed reactions from the public into fever-pitch rejection.

Hot damn - what was even said?

[Keep reading]

-Devin, Copywriter

How Social Media Made Nickelback Cool

The youth yearn for rap-rock, beer-fuelled anthems and DJ-scratching solos.

I'm amongst the oldest of the internet generation, meaning I've seen the early days of meme culture and strange social media trends.

(I really felt my age seep in when my younger coworker told me he'd never seen "tag your friends" pics from early Facebook like these).

As an internet elder, I remember when it was the "thing" to hate on nu-metal bands and other mainstream rock bands from the 2000s.

You might know the usual culprits: Limp Bizkit. Korn. Linkin Park. Creed. Nickelback.

But in the last decade or so, the tides have turned. I don't exactly know why, but those bands 10-year-old me was taught to make fun of...are cool now?

Limp Bizkit's shows are selling out and full of under-30s. Nickelback's talked about online with rarely a peep of criticism. People make memes about and ADORE Creed's "Higher," and Linkin Park's new album is selling like hotcakes.

Even if most of these bands aren't close to competing with today's pop, R&B and hip hop artists on mainstream charts, the numbers they're getting from my generation - mostly for music made 20+years ago - are absolutely bananas.

But wait, why should you care?

[Keep reading]

-Devin, Copywriter

Trend Plug - Bing Bop Boom

Ok, get ready for today's trending sound to live rent-free in your head for the next week (you've been warned)!

This catchy sound is a clip from Kendrick Lamar's "Peekaboo." The lyrics go, "Losses to the neck, but now I’m trophied up, I’m sayin’, like bing-bop-boom-boom-boom-bop-bam..."

A lot of creators are using this sound to show progress of some kind, like the progression of their weight loss journey. But others are using it to make silly pet content like this or this. I mean, the sound is on the goofy side so it works!

How you can jump on this trend:

First, think about what you want to showcase in your video. You'll need a short clip of the "before" and a short clip of the "after." Then, you'll need 7 photos of the process that will pop up on each word of the "bing-bop-boom" line. Watch the examples to see how to do the edit.

A few ideas to get you started:

• Show the progress of a video shoot set-up

• Show the timeline of an event your brand has hosted

• Show the journey of building your business from the beginning to now

- Charlotte, Editor

Today on the YAP podcast…

Want even more ‘YAP’ing? Check out the full podcast here.

Ask the Editor

Q - I've just started a money management coaching business and I'm trying to get my name out there in a couple Facebook groups. What advice do you have for me? - Bevin

Hey Bevin!

If you haven't already, you need to really think about where your target audience hangs out. If you're focusing on FB right now, you want to make sure you're in groups that are full of potential clients. For you, that might be small business owners, entrepreneurs--totally depends on who you want to work with!

Then, the key is to invest time in being active in the group. Answer questions and give good advice in your area of expertise. You can also make educational (NOT SALESY) posts with genuinely helpful information related to money management. If you do this enough, people will start to recognise you, and you will get tagged when others ask questions about money.

Use those opportunities to continue to show your expertise. When it makes sense, you can offer your services. It will take time to build your network and reputation this way, but it will work!

- Charlotte, Editor ♡

For the group chat

😂Yap’s funniest home videos: POOR KITTY NOO
❤How wholesome: my faith in humanity has been restored
🎧Soooo tingly: FOAM CRUNCHERS
🍝What you should make for dinner tonight: Garlic butter fried rice

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