Taylor Lorenz prefers not toengage with nature. The technology and culture reporter authored the chart-topping volume *Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet*, and her extensive screen usage corroborates this. Having formerly served as a correspondent for conventional news organizations, Lorenz amassed such an ardent fan base (and a host of detractors) that she decided to pursue an independent career path in 2024. Currently, nearly 100,000 admirers follow her publication, User Mag, due to her intimate understanding of viral phenomena and her exceptional aptitude for explaining how online trends influence, truly, all aspects of life.
In this inaugural User Behavior segment, Lorenz advocates for her intense online consumption habits, disclosing her early engagement with AI-generated content, the efforts involved in managing a meme account, and why she harbors no concerns about these activities diminishing her cognitive faculties.
Phone model:iPhone 15 Pro
I anticipate a substantial improvement. My update will occur once a superior camera becomes available. I maintain an acquaintance with an Apple influencer marketing specialist, yet I have never received a complimentary item through this connection. This proves to be quite disheartening. I lack the prominence required to be included in their complimentary distributions!
Computer model:2024 MacBook Pro, 14-Inch
Typical. A capable machine. Upon resigning from my position, I pondered which device most resembled my professional computer, and subsequently acquired it. Furthermore, I engage in video editing. Consequently, I require enhanced processing capability.
Average screen time across all devices:
My daily iPhone usage averages approximately 10 hours. I confess to being somewhat appalled, however, curiously, I find the act of composing less burdensome when using my phone. Thus, I frequently draft initial versions of my work on this device. My usage is work-related; it’s not merely for mind-numbing Instagram Reels.
Additionally, I prefer ambient sound throughout the day, as I dislike the quietness of central Los Angeles. Therefore, I consistently play music. Consequently, my primary applications are Spotify and YouTube. In the evenings, I enjoy viewing Netflix on my mobile device due to my continued enrollment in a family subscription, which limits the number of connected gadgets.
I consider concern regarding screen usage to be nonsensical. It represents a needless expenditure of cognitive effort. Indeed, I anticipate this widespread apprehension concerning digital consumption will dissipate within a decade, as technology will already be seamlessly woven into our environment. Should one be conversing with an artificial intelligence assistant continuously, issuing commands and engaging with it, visual display interaction will become unnecessary. It is likely that one will simply communicate with an auditory device implanted in the ear.
Music app:Spotify, Hype Machine
I believe I am among the few remaining patrons of Hype Machine, a platform that enjoyed significant popularity during the bloghouse period. Its inception in 2005 served as a method for unearthing MP3-focused weblogs. My recollection is that I commenced using it in 2010, and I consistently find a plethora of novel musical content there, alongside remixes and similar offerings. It is, candidly, unparalleled, and universal patronage is warranted. I perpetually worry about its potential cessation of operations, given its origins in the independent internet of a bygone era.
I am disinclined towards AI-generated playlists and the pervasive integration of AI into music suggestion systems. My preference is to encounter musical selections I would not have previously discovered. The exploratory dimension of Hype Machine appeals to me, as its content is handpicked by weblog authors, and a community of music bloggers persists, who unearth material I would otherwise overlook.
I consume podcasts incessantly via Spotify, and indeed, I also stream music through Spotify. However, my exposure to novel musical content is less frequent on that platform. I am subscribed to popular contemporary tracks. Pop genre appeals to me.
Number of unread emails:15,607
I do not subscribe to the Inbox Zero philosophy. One must essentially approach email as a dynamic news stream or a Twitter feed—acknowledging that some information will be overlooked, yet without undue concern. It is necessary to release the expectation of completeness and periodically review it. Much of the anxiety many individuals experience regarding technology stems from a compulsion to finalize tasks or achieve optimal efficiency, whereas my stance is simply indifferent. If a message captures my attention, it does. In instances of genuine urgency, an individual will devise a method to contact me.
Number of unread texts:712
This figure has substantially decreased. Previously, it numbered in the thousands. Given my participation in numerous group conversations, failing to designate them as read quickly inflates the count. However, I have been migrating a significant portion of my communications to Signal.
I experience no apprehension concerning any of this. What does it matter? An entire sector exists, predicated on compelling individuals to monitor their mobile devices and fostering a sense of obligation to do so. Moreover, I must admit, this approach has previously led to workplace difficulties for me. This is not an ideal disposition within a professional context, yet, being self-employed, I am free from managerial directives to review my electronic mail. This is the sole viable lifestyle. My productivity would suffer if I were continually monitoring messages, emails, and sundry notifications. The volume is excessive. For what reason do we participate in this collective obsession?
Last person FaceTimed:Barrie Segal (friend)
I do not frequently engage in FaceTime calls. While certain acquaintances initiate FaceTime calls with me, I am not one to readily commence such video interactions. My primary use for FaceTime is to engage in confidential discussions. It proves excellent for such conversations, as it simulates a shared physical presence. Confidential information sharing inherently possesses a degree of intimacy. One must utilize FaceTime to ensure privacy and the absence of eavesdroppers. Initiating a mere voice call and immediately delving into sensitive topics represents a considerably precarious undertaking.
Last thing Googled:“WSJ A-hed”
This is quite mortifying. I search for that term daily. I am unaware of its precise meaning, yet it constitutes my sole reading material from The Wall Street Journal. The nomenclature ‘A-hed’ remains a mystery to me. They are consistently merely amusing narratives.
Last photo taken: A girl at an anti-ICE protest dragging an ICE agent piñata
Courtesy of Taylor Lorenz
Last AI prompt:“Vegan chickpea recipe garlic eggplant tahini”
My artificial intelligence interaction log primarily consists of various culinary combinations. I am aware of the perceived drawbacks of AI, et cetera, et cetera, yet I frequently employ it for generating recipes. My typical choice is Gemini.
Top three emoji: 💓 🫠 🙌
The heart symbol consistently ranks as my foremost emoji. The remaining two are rotated depending on the context of my messages. I frequently employ the melting face emoji as a response akin to ‘LOL.’ It also conveys a sense that the global outlook is grim. I believe my usage today was in connection with Jasmine Crockett’s Super Bowl advertisement.
Favorite social network:X
Alas, I admit to being peculiar. X functions as a deplorable right-wing indoctrination channel that Elon Musk has corrupted. I recognize it as a highly biased informational ecosystem. It encourages detrimental conduct. Nevertheless, I value immediate data, and no other platform delivers large-scale instantaneous information while simultaneously offering such a broad perspective into diverse communities. I am deeply immersed in the technology discussions on X, despite my disdain for many participants, and I wish to observe current activities. I desire to follow the recent discussions concerning Alex Karp’s most recent interview or similar topics. To stay abreast of developments in Silicon Valley, presence on X is essential.
Least favorite social network:Threads
Max Read originated the designation ‘gas-leak social network’ for Threads, which serves as an impeccable characterization. Threads undeniably presents as an eccentric realm populated by some of the most media-illiterate individuals I have ever encountered. It is astonishing. It resembles a heterogeneous blend of corporate promotions, zealous liberal partisanship, and somewhat progressive viewpoints.
Key Takeaways
- The Digital Anthropologist:This tech journalist embraces deep immersion in online subcultures, utilizing numerous “burner” accounts and relentless rabbit-holing to understand community dynamics, bypass algorithmic bubbles, and expose underlying manipulations and scams.
- Pragmatism Over Purity:Rejecting conventional “tech hygiene” anxieties, they advocate for a relaxed, utility-first approach to personal technology, prioritizing practical convenience (like a 15-foot charging cord) and basic security over exhaustive data control.
- Cartographer of Chaos:Driven by an “unmedicated ADHD” curiosity, their work is a continuous exploration of the internet’s most bizarre corners—from AI-generated headlines and meme conspiracies to subreddit dramas—seeking to map the ever-shifting landscape of online culture, misinformation, and the human impulse for connection and conflict.
In the frenetic, often bewildering landscape of modern technology and online culture, finding a guide with both a sharp intellect and an unfiltered perspective is rare. MeetThe Internet Alchemist, a tech journalist whose approach to understanding the digital world is as unconventional as it is insightful. With a role that involves “being really online, talking to people, and covering memes and internet culture,” their methods eschew corporate jargon and embrace the messy, human reality of the web. This is a profile of a journalist who doesn’t just report on the internet, but lives deep within its intricate, often chaotic, currents.
Name:The Internet Alchemist
Role:Tech journalist covering memes, internet culture, and social platforms.
The Investigator: Diving Deep with Burner Accounts and Rabbit Holes
For The Internet Alchemist, true understanding of online phenomena doesn’t come from official reports or filtered feeds, but from immersion. This means maintaining an “unknown” number of burner accounts. “I just make them all the time,” they confess. “The only way to understand a community or trend or phenomenon, you have to get into that world.” This isn’t merely for professional curiosity; it’s a fundamental strategy to combat the inherent biases of personalized algorithms. “Because we don’t have any sort of coherent tech policy that would give us the ability to exert control over our feeds, I feel like I just have to constantly make new burner feeds to get the information that I want and break out of what my personal algorithm would show me.” Beyond professional pursuits, these accounts also serve personal interests, from following Summer House news to tracking Bravo updates.
This deep-dive methodology extends to their “last internet rabbit hole”—the bizarre “Melania movie meme conspiracy.” What began as a casual observation quickly escalated into an eight-hour investigation. “A few days ago I noticed that dozens (I think actually hundreds) of meme pages were all posting the exact same memes about the Melania movie. They were appearing on everything from many many cat-theme pages, to a page dedicated to Twin Towers remembrance, a Millie Bobby Brown stan account, to pages about boxing, astronomy, and scuba diving adventures.” The tell-tale signs: no ad disclosure, terrible engagement, yet the posts remained. This anomaly led them to uncover the agency behind the campaign, a testament to their relentless pursuit of underlying truths in a world rife with engineered content. “All day I’m like, ‘Wait, what’s that? What’s that?’ It’s just fun to go down and see what’s going on in whatever corner of the internet. A lot of them are about scams. ‘What way is this platform being manipulated or what scam is this person running?'” This investigative drive is fueled by a self-described “severe unmedicated ADHD,” leading them down “a dozen different rabbit holes” daily.
Navigating the Modern Web: Misinformation and Social Dynamics
The unfiltered experience of the internet often highlights its darker facets. Their “internet pet peeve” is rooted in the rampant spread of misinformation and delusion. “People creating really wild AI-generated headlines… there’s so much fighting on Threads. It’s truly just a giant soup of misinformation and delusion.” This constant exposure to the chaotic side of the web underscores the importance of their investigative work. In an environment where truth is often obscured, understanding the social dynamics is paramount.
Their “favorite news source” isn’t a traditional media outlet but Terrence O’Connor’s weekly cultural digest videos on TikTok. “I like the presentation. It’s a lot of news that I’m going to probably see on PopCrave, but he adds his own analysis. He is extremely good at recognizing things that are in the zeitgeist.” This preference reflects a desire for news that not only reports facts but also contextualizes them within broader cultural trends, a skill vital for a journalist covering internet culture. Similarly, their “favorite subreddit,” r/SubredditDrama, speaks to a keen interest in understanding the underlying social currents of online communities. “I love to know the drama. I think mod drama is an eternal form of content on the internet, and I love to keep tabs on what’s going on. I also think this subreddit provides a good picture of the social dynamics that are happening on Reddit broadly.”
Tech Philosophy: Pragmatism Over Purity
When it comes to personal “tech hygiene,” The Internet Alchemist offers a refreshing, counter-cultural perspective, ranking themselves a “7” out of 10. “I don’t buy into any of the classic ‘tech hygiene’ stuff. Maybe I’m just a pig or something, but the movement exists to cause people stress and anxiety. And I think you just have to relax a little bit and not think about it.” While acknowledging the importance of basic privacy (“I do try to be good about privacy. I don’t post certain things… just have a secure password”), their overarching philosophy is one of pragmatic acceptance. “Everything else, don’t stress about it. Everyone has our data anyway.” This relaxed approach extends to their “favorite tech product”: the 15-foot iPhone charging cord. “I have these cords everywhere. Any room that I’m in, I bring it. I don’t like to feel tethered. It’s so humiliating to have to sit next to an outlet and charge your phone.” It’s a simple, yet profound, statement about valuing convenience and freedom over perceived digital purity.
Echoes of the Past, Shaping the Future
Nostalgia plays a significant role in shaping their understanding of the internet’s evolution. Their “nostalgic tech obsessions” include Tumblr and the BlackBerry Pearl. The BlackBerry, in particular, evokes a powerful memory of a bygone era of mobile communication. “I remember I had a rule: I would never date anyone that doesn’t have BBM, because how am I going to communicate with them? BBM is life. And me and my best friend had both got Blackberry Pearls at the same time, and it was everything to me.” The eventual transition to iPhone, and the immediate abandonment of BBM, highlights the rapid, often irreversible, shifts in tech adoption. Yet, the tactile experience of the BlackBerry keyboard remains a cherished memory.
Tumblr, however, was more than nostalgia; it was a foundational experience. “I had many Tumblrs. This is how I got into media.” They recall the era of “single-serving Tumblrs” like “Fuck yeah, bagels” or “Fuck yeah, L Train.” Many of their Tumblrs were submission-based, fostering a sense of community and discovery. While many have been deleted (“I don’t know what I was reblogging in 2011. I don’t think it was problematic. It was just a weird era of internet content.”), one remains: “Fuck yeah, communism.” This history with early social platforms, centered on discovery and community building, informs their current perspective on understanding online trends and content creation.
The Content Cartographer: Screenshots and Meme Pages
Their daily life as a tech journalist is intrinsically linked to content creation and curation, even in its most raw forms. The “last screenshot” is almost always “Clavicular,” a piece of content destined for their meme page, “Taylor Lorenz 3.0.” This page is a critical outlet and a reflection of their constant engagement with internet culture. “I would say I take probably dozens, if not hundreds, of screenshots a day. My default bookmarking is screenshotting and faving.” This habit is not just about personal archiving but about actively gathering and processing the ephemeral nature of online content, ready to be analyzed, shared, or integrated into their reporting.
Ultimately, The Internet Alchemist embodies a new breed of tech journalist—one who doesn’t observe the digital world from a distance but plunges headfirst into its depths. Their methods, from burner accounts to relentless rabbit-holing, are not just quirks but essential tools for navigating an increasingly complex and manipulated online environment. They are a chronicler of chaos, a detective of delusion, and a pragmatic voice in a world often overwhelmed by digital anxieties.
Bottom Line
The Internet Alchemist offers a refreshing, unfiltered, and deeply immersive perspective on tech journalism. By embracing the messy, often chaotic realities of online culture through relentless investigation, a disregard for conventional digital anxieties, and a profound curiosity, they provide an invaluable lens through which to understand the true pulse of the internet, its inherent contradictions, and its constant evolution.
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