social media | The Walrus

Line drawing of a woman catching a baby with iPhones behind her against a mauve background.

Technology

Instagram’s Parent Trap

June 30, 2021June 30, 2021 - by Michelle Cyca

Influencers modelling an idyllic image of motherhood are highly clickable—but pictures never tell the whole story

Collage of Erica's one-eyed dog Belle, superimposed on the Hollywood sign next to cell phones and heart emojis.

June 2021 / Technology

My Quest to Make My Dog Internet Famous

May 17, 2021June 8, 2021 - by Erica Lenti

I loved Belle, my one-eyed puppy. But could I convince everybody else that she was a star?

Illustration of a copper jug amidst yellow and white and purple flowers.

March/April 2021 / Memoir

Death in the Age of Facebook

February 23, 2021July 20, 2021 - by Sandy Pool

What it’s like to mourn a mother via social media

Technology

Everybody Hates Millennials: Gen Z and the TikTok Generation Wars

February 9, 2021June 8, 2021 - by Sejla Rizvic

The video-based platform may not have created generational animosity, but it’s happy to fan the flames

Illustration of an army tank against a bright orange background. Instead of a firearm, the tank is shooting flowers.

Society

The Military’s Uphill Battle for Inclusivity

January 13, 2021January 14, 2021 - by Benjamin Hertwig

“Progressive” has never been a label associated with Canada’s armed forces. But one of its Twitter accounts is trying very hard

Technology

The Rise of Digital Despots

September 23, 2020September 23, 2020 - by Ronald J. Deibert

How Facebook and Twitter became the favourite tools of dictators around the world

Over-the-shoulder photo of a woman holding a smartphone to take a picture of the autumnal forest around her.

Environment / Society

Hate Social Media but Love Nature? There’s an App for That

August 19, 2020August 20, 2020 - by Emily Urquhart

Facebook and Twitter can be sinkholes of rage and despair. But virtual communities like iNaturalist might usher in the digital utopia we were promised

A collage of screenshots of various celebrities' pages from the Cameo app––photographs of celebrities with their names underneath––against a pink background.

Arts & Culture

Have Celebrities Become the Grifters of Quarantine?

June 11, 2020June 11, 2020 - by Joelle Kidd

Even in a pandemic, the famous are finding new ways into our minds and wallets

Illustration of a woman in a head wrap and hoop earrings, holding a phone up to take a selfie. Around her are hands offering free products––boots, headphones, sunglasses, and a tube of cream.

Business / May 2020

We’ll All Be Social Media Sellouts Soon

April 15, 2020March 9, 2021 - by Tatum Dooley

Companies are turning to small-time influencers to promote their brands. Will any of us be able to resist the lure of free products and cash?

An illustration of two cartoon faces arguing against a red background

Democracy

It’s Time to Fix How We Fight Online

October 29, 2019November 5, 2019 - by Erica Lenti

Social media was supposed to save democracy. So why do hatred and violence feel inseparable from online life?