SF Gate: Calif. woman sentenced after bragging about luxury lifestyle on Instagram. “Mary Ann Magdamit, a 31-year-old former mail carrier with the United States Postal Service, worked at the Torrance Main Post Office, where she stole checks and sensitive personal information from at least 2022 until July 2025. … Under the Instagram handle @yourfawkenmom, Magdamit posted photos flaunting $100 […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2025/12/12/sf-gate-calif-woman-sentenced-after-bragging-about-luxury-lifestyle-on-instagram/

AY fires off a warning about fake friends who chase bad news for clout; see how one tweet sparked old claims and fresh debate in comedy below. #ValidUpdates #AYMakun #NigerianComedy #CelebrityNews #FakeFriends #CloutChasing

https://validupdates.com/2025/12/ay-comedian-warns-fans-blasts-fake-clout-chasing-friends/

Los Angeles Times: Study sheds light on how reams of fake scientific papers are getting into literature. “Fraudulent scientific research is now being produced and published on a large scale, with some unethical researchers colluding with unethical editors to attain the prestige that comes with publication, according to a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2025/08/07/los-angeles-times-study-sheds-light-on-how-reams-of-fake-scientific-papers-are-getting-into-literature/

Boing Boing: Why LinkedIn’s corporate influencer culture has become social media’s biggest cringe . “I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole of the r/LinkedInLunatics subreddit recently, which compiles the very best LinkedIn’s movers and shakers have to offer without necessitating a personal dive into that coffee-scented hellhole. Whether it be the posts clearly written just to flex or railing […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2025/05/29/boing-boing-why-linkedins-corporate-influencer-culture-has-become-social-medias-biggest-cringe/

Social media is a false promise, beckoning all unsatisfied with their societal standing.

#SocialMedia #FalsePromise #SocietalStanding #SocialStatus #CloutChasing

University of Florida: Chasing followers makes crypto traders perform worse on social investment sites. “The research tracked performance on social investment sites, where individuals can trade assets like cryptocurrency while attracting audiences based on their performance — like YouTube, but for investments. Both gaining and losing followers led investors to make more frequent, riskier […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2025/03/16/university-of-florida-chasing-followers-makes-crypto-traders-perform-worse-on-social-investment-sites/

FStoppers: Why Social Media Is Making Your Photography Worse. “Social media rewards predictable photography. Popular trends get likes, shares, and engagement, but they don’t necessarily make you better. If you want to improve, you need to stop repeating the same shots that flood Instagram and start thinking more critically about what you create.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2025/02/18/fstoppers-why-social-media-is-making-your-photography-worse/

9to5 Mac: PSA: Avoid faking your Spotify Wrapped results if you’re in Congress. “[U.S. Representative Josh] Gottheimer’s X account posted. ‘Fun fact: My first ever concert was at Meadowlands to see The Boss!’ But it turns out there was an even more fun fact! Despite New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen topping Gottheimer’s top five songs played on Spotify, the screenshot showing […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2024/12/15/psa-avoid-faking-your-spotify-wrapped-results-if-youre-in-congress-9to5-mac/

Why Social Media is Terrible, Lesson #14,694. #socialmedia #mentalhealth #cloutchasing #idiocracy

Man pops cobra in his mouth after dad says stunt will be great for social media. Naturally, he dies https://boingboing.net/2024/10/09/man-pops-cobra-in-his-mouth-after-dad-says-stunt-will-be-great-for-social-media-naturally-he-dies.html