Newsletter: Look out for this sketchy ‘lost’ iPhone scam

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Hello fellow web crawlers! Andrew here. Welcome to today’s edition of web_crawlr. 

Our top stories today are about: A man going viral after warning people abouta new “lost” iPhone scam being used to rob people, Elon Musk admitting that he had a burner account where he pretended to be his 3-year-old child, why a Chinese company making industrial-grade food additives has suddenly taken over TikTok, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) raising eyebrows online after posting a bizarre video showing the “holy spirit” helping her through her CrossFit workout. 

After that, our Assistant Editor Kira has a “Decoding Fandom” column for you. 

See ya tomorrow! 

— A.W. 

⚡ Today’s top stories

📱 SCAMS
‘This is why I dont trust anyone’: Man says lost iPhone scam is being used to rob people. Here’s how

A man went viral on TikTok after warning users about an iPhone scam that he said is being used to rob or harm people.

➤ READ MORE

💻 TECH
Elon Musk admits to running burner account where he pretended to be his 3-year-old child

X CEO Elon Musk confirmed in a deposition that a burner account where he role-played as his toddler actually was his account.

➤ READ MORE

⁉️ VIRAL
How a Chinese company making industrial-grade food additives accidentally took over TikTok

Glycine, an amino acid known for its umami taste, is suddenly all the rage on TikTok. And everyone is focused on glycine specifically from Donghua Jinlong, a Chinese chemical manufacturer. But why?

➤ READ MORE

🏋️ POLITICS
Marjorie Taylor Greene posts bizarre video showing ‘Holy Spirit’ helping her get through CrossFit workout

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) shared a video yesterday showing what she dubbed the “Holy Spirit” guiding her through a workout. The video raised eyebrows online.

➤ READ MORE

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⭐ Decoding Fandom

By Kira Deshler
Assistant Newsletter Editor

KatyCats want #JusticeForKatyPerry

In each edition of web_crawlr we have exclusive original content every day. On Wednesdays our Assistant Newsletter Editor Kira Deshler dives deep into the world of fan culture in her “Decoding Fandom” 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.

🍰 Anyone who has been to Cheesecake Factory has likely had the experience of being overwhelmed by the chain’s expansive menu. One expert revealed how the restaurant can cook such a large menu. 

🍽️ A server says viral “how much I make in a shift” videos are going to cause customers to stop tipping.

🧺 This expert revealed in a viral video why you shouldn’t fill up the cap with detergent and drop into laundry load.

🚙 Since the pandemic, cars have become more and more unaffordable. Data shows that since 2020, for instance, used car prices have soared up to 38%.

🥐 A tourist in Las Vegas got what he thought was a simple breakfast—two croissants and two waters—only to find it astronomically priced when the bill came.

📝 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. 

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👋 Before you go

In a heart-wrenching series of TikTok videos viewed over 5 million times, Vashti (@revivedbyvashti) shares a personal tragedy to spotlight a lesser-known danger lurking in homes and gardens across the country: Spontaneous combustion from mulch.

Through her story, where a nephew died in a fire and another had serious burn injuries, Vashti underscores the importance of carefully handling staining rags and mulch to prevent catastrophic fires.

“This is my sister and nephews, and this is our reality,” Vashti begins, drawing a parallel between the tragic fire ignited by mulch at her family’s home and the similar risk posed by improperly managed staining rags.

“Although this fire did not start from staining rags, it is very similar,” she explains, detailing how the fire began in the mulch before spreading to the front porch, where it intensified after reaching a propane tank. Her message is clear: “This might save a life.”

Another was thankful for the video: “This is the FIRST I have heard this!!!”