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Hello fellow web crawlers! Andrew here. Welcome to today’s edition of web_crawlr.
Our top stories today are about: Trump’s campaign sending supporters a very suggestive text message, why candy salad is the latest challenge on TikTok, customerstrying out a “phone trick” at Chipotle to try and get bigger portions, and why people are upset that Spotify is ditching a popular screen.
After that, our Assistant Newsletter Editor Kira has “Decoding Fandom” column for you.
See you tomorrow!
— A.W.
⚡ Today in internet culture
💬 SUGGESTIVE DMs
People thought Trump’s newest fundraising text was him trying to get down
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign texted voters and the way the message clipped made it very suggestive. Obviously people had a lot of jokes about it.
🍬 VIRAL TRENDS
Candy Salad is the sweetest challenge to ever hit TikTok
It seems like everyone is lining up to make a candy salad, but what exactly is it?
🌮 FAST FOOD NATION
‘Y’all ain’t scamming me today’: Customers tests ‘phone trick’ at Chipotle. Then he sees the workers’ reactions
Someone tested out an emergent Chipotle trend—filming yourself ordering, allegedly to get bigger portions—taking the concept to an extreme.
🔊 TECH
Spotify is ditching this popular screen. And drivers aren’t happy
Spotify is removing compatibility for its “Car Thing” touchscreen, designed to allow people to use the app while driving older cars. People aren’t happy about it.
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⭐ Decoding Fandom
By Kira Deshler
Assistant Newsletter Editor
Jenny Nicholson’s Star Wars hotel video essay has fans cheering on her Disney takedown
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.
🌡️ Have you been using your air conditioning unit wrong? A popular TikToker shared a tip that he claims could save air conditioner (AC) users on their electric bill this summer.
👟 Did you know that the grocery store Aldi is now selling branded sneakers?
🚙 A TikTok video capturing an autonomously operated Waymo Onegoing the wrong way in busy traffic has gone viral on the video-sharing platform.
🥗 This woman got a lot of attention after she shared a hack that got her 3 meals for $15 from Olive Garden.
🔑 A woman shares shocking footage of an unknown couple walking into her apartment while she is home. The couple explains that the leasing office gave them keys to view her unit.
📺 From the Daily Dot archive: Here’s why Netflix action movies always suck.
📝 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.
DO YOU NOTICE PORTION SIZE ISSUES WHEN EATING AT CHIPOTLE?
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👋 Before you go
A radio DJ has gone viral after pointing out a “creepy” painting she came across in a hotel. LeighAnn Adam (@star1021fm), who is known for presenting on Star 102.1 FM, amassed 336,700 views on the video sharing the artwork.
“I’m in my hotel room in New York City,” she said. “And last night before I went to bed—like I didn’t even notice, like for hours, I didn’t notice until I [lay] down on the bed—and I look over, and I see the weirdest thing.”
She then proceeds to show viewers a greyscale picture partially hidden by the TV. The picture shows a man touching up a painting, with the painting itself including two hyperrealistic pandas, a person dressed up in a panda mask, and another man dressed in regular clothing.
After clocking the man wearing a “creepy panda head,” LeighAnn said she felt compelled to cover up the picture with a towel.
“We can’t really see, but I have to cover it up because now I’m just freaked out by this. I know I’m being dramatic, but something’s up with that picture.”
🎶 Now Playing: “princess leia” by Shura 🎶
