A New Word For Our Times

Hi friend,

Seeing what our friends were up to — from the banal (food pics) to the life-changing (new baby) — used to be what Instagram was all about. But that platform, and other social media sites, have changed. The fact of the matter is: Social media is no longer social. It’s entertainment.

“In the years to come, we may well look back on September 2025 as the point at which social media jumped the shark and began rapidly accelerating its transition from the place to be seen (through a flattering Instagram filter), to a gaudy backwater of the internet inhabited by those with nothing better to do,” opines data reporter John Burn-Murdoch for the Financial Times.

A good rule of thumb for prognestations like this is to back-date them significantly. The nail in the coffin of “social” media wasn’t OpenAI’s Sora or Meta’s AI content feed. This has been many years, and many app updates, in the making. According to data sourced by the Financial Times via an audience insights company, social media usage peaked in 2022. “And this is not just the unwinding of a bump in screen time during pandemic lockdowns — usage has traced a smooth curve up and down over the past decade-plus,” says Burn-Murdoch.

For those of us who were early adopters of these platforms, the shift can feel like a betrayal. “I just want to post a photo,” laments elder millennial Allison Johnson for The Verge. Wake up, Allison! That Instagram is gone. 

This is, in part, the subject of tech writer Cory Doctorow’s new book, Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It (Bookshop, Amazon). His overarching theory is that these platforms have predictable life cycles. At first, they’re good to users. Then they begin to “abuse” users, but are good for businesses. Finally, they arrive at stage three, which he calls “a giant pile of shit.”

Doctorow coined the term “enshittification” in 2022, the same year that we all apparently fell out of love with social media. He’s 54, so he’s of the generation that distinctly remembers the excitement and promise of the internet. He also understands the complex business incentives that undergird the technology, and has ideas for how this can all be improved. At the very least, he’s given us a word to understand our new reality.

Bye,
Your friends at Gloria

This fall is really about the classics — great-fitting jeans, tweedy blazers or barn jackets, button-down shirts or simple sweaters — paired with a few choice accessories. Like a chic belt, bag, pendant, or collar necklace. Materials, like polished or croc-print leather, supple suede, and shiny metal accents, add the interest. Below, a few we’re eyeing.

• This feels cool and artsy. Hunting Season The Pendant Necklace, $275.

• A great shape and size. Madewell The Essential Curve Shoulder Bag, $219.50.

• This would make any look more fancy. Me + Em Croc-Print Reversible Belt, $145.

• Over-the-top, but we covet it. Loeffler Randall Elijah Studded Denim Jacket, $395.

• Just the right amount of flare. Anderson’s Narrow Leather Belt, $155.

• In our opinion, pointy-toe flats are easier to pull off than regular ballet styles. H&M Leather Slingback Ballet Flats, $65.

• Just very pretty. Mignonne Gavigan Lelani Necklace, $225.

• The metal accents make a simple black leather tote more fun. BTB Los Angeles Destan Tote, $318.

• A present idea for the holidays: this chic pendant, which comes in every Zodiac sign. Pamela Love Libra Spinner Pendant, $275.

• A stripped-down take on the Western belt buckle trend. B-Low the Belt Myra Washed Leather Belt, $168.

• Wow, Cuyana has gone high-end. Cuyana Dia Bag, $498.

• A statement-making pair of earrings from a limited-edition collab. Khiry x J.Crew Talon Coalition Earrings, $89.50.

• Love the rust suede and the shiny buckle. Staud Harlow Bag, $350.

• Costume jewelry makes its return. Mango Metal Choker Collar, $60.

• Top of our wishlist right now. Déhanche Hollyhock Embellished Leather Belt, $290 (more affordable one here).

• We like this as a tougher alt to the diamond tennis necklaces that are everywhere right now. Clare V. Mariner Chain Necklace, $195.

• If you’re going to go in the polished leather direction (and not suede), this is our pick. Sézane Gary Bag, $370.

Shop the Story

TO READ Marisa Meltzer's last book dove into Glossier’s Emily Weiss. Now she’s back with a primer on Jane Birkin. Out today, It Girl (Bookshop, Amazon), tells the fashion icon’s story, including her high-profile romance with Serge Gainsbourg.

TO TRY Mental health challenges are a normal part of life, and so is asking for help. With BetterHelp, you can match with a therapist easily, message anytime, and get the convenience of therapy that’s 100 percent online. Get started with 25 percent off your first month. #partner

TO LISTEN We just realized that Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood did the entire soundtrack of Leo’s One Battle After Another (you can listen on streaming services now). If you’re craving chiller (and frankly, less ominous) vibes, the new album Friend by James K. is v. v. good.

TO MAKE This braised beans and greens recipe doesn’t look like much, but we have to say that it deserves its five-star reviews. It’s simple, adaptable, and is satisfying but light. We paired it with roast chicken, but it can be a meal, too. 

EBY, the celebrity-backed intimates brand, makes the kind of bras we actually want to wear: entirely wireless, yet still supportive. The secret is in the design: A nylon thread is 3D-printed inside a line of silicone, then coated with slip-proof flocking so it stays put, forms to your figure, and never pokes. They’re soft enough for everyday and designed to layer or lounge in. Right now, the brand is running its best sale of the year: a sitewide BRA BOGO. (No codes, no exclusions. Just add to cart and the discount auto-applies.) We’re stocking up on the Nude Relief Bra, which lifts without digging, the Seamless Sheer Bralette, which is comfy while still staying sexy, and the new T-Shirt Bra to round out our collection. Don’t wait; the sale wraps Wednesday at 9am. Shop it all here. #partner

Excited for the potential of this new comedy podcast. • What really draws women to true crime? • Women are suing Pfizer over potential link between Depo-Provera and brain tumors. • This story about online debate shows is both fascinating and a total bummer. • Wait, a new hormone?

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