Hello fellow web crawlers! Kira here. Welcome to today’s edition of web_crawlr.
Today’s top stories are about: Wojak, one of the most-used reaction memes in internet history, the Democrats’ response to Trump’s red-bottomed shoes, the backlash to ‘Gen Alpha’ influencers, and a frequent traveler’s hack for checking bags for free.
After that, check out Mikael’s ‘One Dumb Conspiracy’ column.
Until next time,
— K.D.
⚡ Today’s top stories
😟 MEMES
How Wojak became the internet’s all-encompassing reaction meme
Wojak is undoubtedly one of the most prominent memes in the modern era.
👟 POLITICS
Democrats dream up AI-generated Hypebeast Biden sneaker to counter Trump’s sold-out kicks
They’re definitely Dem-coded.
🧒🏻 VIRAL
‘They can barely talk’: Walmart worker in shock over viral video of ‘Gen Alpha influencers’
We’re being introduced to “Gen Alpha influencers” – those born between the 2010s and 2020s – and they’re already causing discourse in a new viral video.
🧳 HACK
‘I’ve done this several times’: Woman shares hack for never having to pay for checked bag
What Nina is proposing is patience.
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🔍 One Dumb Conspiracy
By Mikael Thalen
Staff Reporter
Conspiracy theorists think WWII era executive order gives migrants $5k visa gift cards
In each edition of web_crawlr we have exclusive original content every day. On Mondays our Tech Reporter Mikael Thalen debunks the most wild conspiracy theories swirling around the web in his “One Dumb Conspiracy” column. If you want to read columns like this before everyone else, subscribe to web_crawlr to get your daily scoop of internet culture delivered straight to your inbox.
🕸️ Crawling the web
Here is what else is happening across the ‘net.
🧋 A parent sparked discussion on TikTok after revealing that a gas station accidentally sold her underage son alcoholic iced tea.
✉️ A viral screenshot claiming that Gmail is shutting down was trending on X––but don’t worry, it’s just a prank.
📮 A Black influencer received a very rude email from a brand stating they will not be working with Black creators.
🍔 A Customer shared an app hack to get free food from places like McDonald’s and Domino’s.
🍹 Viewers are divided after a bartender blasted a customer who wanted light ice in their drink.
🎯 A Target shopper went viral after telling the story of being approached by scammers in the store.
👚 A T.J. Maxx customer discovered the store was filled with clothes from 2014, leading commenters to question how the supply chain works.
📺 From the Daily Dot archive: What do users actually want from streaming services?
📝 Question of the Day
Everyone’s got opinions, and we want to know yours. Just click a button below to answer the question, and tomorrow we will let you know how fellow web crawlers like you answered.
IS IT OKAY FOR PARENTS TO POST VIDEOS OF THEIR YOUNG KIDS ON TIKTOK?
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👋 Before you go
TikToker Kirpa Sudick (@kirpa_sudick) had a trip to Portugal planned with her boyfriend for later in the year. But then they broke up.
She made the dreaded phone call to American Airlines––to see if she could get her money back––and the customer service representative said something she couldn’t have prepared for, she recalled.
She said “a lovely woman Keisha answers, and I tell her the situation.” Sudick said she could hear the worker clicking through her computer trying to find her tickets. Sudick recalled the worker saying to her, “’Oh, honey, this trip is all the way in September. You really had high hopes for this relationship.’”
“’Better that you learned and figured this all out now than later,’” the supportive worker added, according to Sudick. Before her video ended, Sudick zoomed in on her face, saying, “Damn, girl. Thanks.”
🎶 Now Playing: “The Drugs Don’t Work” by The Verve 🎶
