“In the next few years,” Kyle Chayka tweeted yesterday, “the last desperate search for shreds of authentic local culture will convulse the globe as the internet consumes every interesting quirk and scales it up to the size of TikTok.” That all-too-plausible prediction fits well alongside Chayka’s concept of
> “In the next few years,” Kyle Chayka tweeted yesterday, “the last desperate search for shreds of authentic local culture will convulse the globe as the internet consumes every interesting quirk and scales it up to the size of TikTok.” That all-too-plausible prediction…
> The social media era seems to have already peaked, as I predicted at the end of last year, calling our present moment…
You can’t predict something that has already occurred or is presently widely agreed upon to be well underway.
Glad you liked it, thanks. I agree with your assessment that these conditions have already arrived but both uses are quoting statements about what will happen in the future so the word predictions felt appropriate. Appreciate the thoughtful feedback!
This is a mistake people fall into and it’s come to bother me regardless of context. The generalized case (which I don’t believe applies here) is that of dystopia, people say “one day” we will reach some dystopian condition, and they’re describing the present. My suspicion is this is done in order not to have to face feelings of futility and powerless.
I once stumbled upon a place in Fujian China that was about to break full on airspace, but still had that amazing chaotic mix that Camden Market had in the 90's. No Starbucks or KFC's yet. Full of weird stuff (now I'm back in china again) like berrshops that sold cans from all over the world, a swedish restaurant that served bad italian food, and a student run flea market. Just one short alley back from the LED drenched waterfront and the pavements were full of fisher families eating gianormous bowls of seafood, whils sitting on tiny tiny plastic stools.
I know that if I go back there will be Uniqlo, Starbucks and that chinese drum chain all over the place. And I'm part of that problem.
I predict we will see the rise of family-centric, hyperlocal cultures. Define family any way you want, of course—we will see groups of people come together more or less deliberately / intentionally to support each other financially, emotionally, and otherwise. As they spend enormous amounts of time in each other's close proximity, these groups will develop their own memes, inside jokes, and referents, which will grow into distinct cultures of their own. And they won't feel like sharing any of it online.
This essay is fantastic; you’re just casually mentioning facts that would feel like profound, hard-won insights to me. Concision and grace and power.
Thank you Chip!
Very well said.
Thank you!!
> “In the next few years,” Kyle Chayka tweeted yesterday, “the last desperate search for shreds of authentic local culture will convulse the globe as the internet consumes every interesting quirk and scales it up to the size of TikTok.” That all-too-plausible prediction…
> The social media era seems to have already peaked, as I predicted at the end of last year, calling our present moment…
You can’t predict something that has already occurred or is presently widely agreed upon to be well underway.
Otherwise a fine essay
Glad you liked it, thanks. I agree with your assessment that these conditions have already arrived but both uses are quoting statements about what will happen in the future so the word predictions felt appropriate. Appreciate the thoughtful feedback!
This is a mistake people fall into and it’s come to bother me regardless of context. The generalized case (which I don’t believe applies here) is that of dystopia, people say “one day” we will reach some dystopian condition, and they’re describing the present. My suspicion is this is done in order not to have to face feelings of futility and powerless.
We are thinking on the same level.
https://culturalfuturist.substack.com/p/offline-is-the-new-online
I once stumbled upon a place in Fujian China that was about to break full on airspace, but still had that amazing chaotic mix that Camden Market had in the 90's. No Starbucks or KFC's yet. Full of weird stuff (now I'm back in china again) like berrshops that sold cans from all over the world, a swedish restaurant that served bad italian food, and a student run flea market. Just one short alley back from the LED drenched waterfront and the pavements were full of fisher families eating gianormous bowls of seafood, whils sitting on tiny tiny plastic stools.
I know that if I go back there will be Uniqlo, Starbucks and that chinese drum chain all over the place. And I'm part of that problem.
I predict we will see the rise of family-centric, hyperlocal cultures. Define family any way you want, of course—we will see groups of people come together more or less deliberately / intentionally to support each other financially, emotionally, and otherwise. As they spend enormous amounts of time in each other's close proximity, these groups will develop their own memes, inside jokes, and referents, which will grow into distinct cultures of their own. And they won't feel like sharing any of it online.