Very Online

Very Online: Wine Memes Are Taking over during Quarantine, and They’re Targeting Women

A margarita with the words “urge to escape.”
by Rachel Charlene Lewis
May 22, 2020 at 11:03am
It’s not cute and relatable for a brand to keep pushing women toward alcohol during a pandemic.
A person types on a laptop alongside the words "freelance isn't free".

Very Online: Twitter Has United Freelance Writers and Fair-Pay Advocates

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
May 8, 2020 at 10:50am
“People are reading more content, and there are more freelancers, but there are fewer editors and staffers, and less money.” Read more »
A white woman with blond hair and a button up shirt on smiles against a breeze. There's a text overlay that reads, Okay, Karen.

Very Online: “Karen” Isn’t a Slur—It’s a Critique of Entitled White Womanhood

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
April 10, 2020 at 9:47am
A Karen’s racism is inextricable from her white womanhood. Read more »
A statue holds a crown over its head; the text "the work ethic of Shakespeare" is overlaid.

Very Online: All the Ways the Internet Is Pushing Hustle Culture during the Quarantine

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
March 20, 2020 at 12:01pm
Apparently, doing nothing is not allowed—even during an international pandemic. Read more »
A pile of money with the text "eat the rich."

Very Online: Michael Bloomberg’s Campaign Tried to Make Capitalism “Cool”

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
March 6, 2020 at 12:57pm
Bloomberg set a dangerous precedent, creating yet another space where the wealthy can skirt social-media restrictions—and do so in a way that makes users who are Very Online cringe. Read more »
Controversial political commentator Kaitlin Bennett interviews college students about Thanksgiving and other social/political topics at Rutgers University on November 22, 2019.

Very Online: Kaitlin Bennett Is the Latest Conservative White Woman to Build a Career on Outrage

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
February 25, 2020 at 4:46pm
Kaitlin Bennett has built a career via the digitization of white women’s tears. Read more »
A Black woman's face peaks out, partially obscured. The words "full-blown stalkerware" are overlaid.

Very Online: Making Facial Recognition Easier Might Make Stalking Easier Too

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
January 31, 2020 at 3:59pm
 This technology is powerful and incredibly invasive. Read more »
A Black woman with natural hair and a dress steps into a doorway. A text overlay reads, "there has to be room."

Very Online: Influencers of Color Are Starting a Quiet Revolution about Pay Disparities

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
January 17, 2020 at 2:59pm
Brands are not being inclusive or diverse at all, and, when they are, they’re doing the bare minimum. Read more »
photo collage of a blonde, curvy femme with a closely-shaved head power posing and wearing a netted neon orange dress with a pink leopard print, sunglasses and hoop earrings.

Very Online: Feminist Publishers Are Finding Alternatives to Facebook Overlords

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
January 3, 2020 at 10:06am
The patriarchy is in the algorithms. Read more »
Three young women of color stand in a row doing a dance from "Heathers." Above their heads from left to right reads, "Pence, Trump Rudy."

Very Online: What TikTok Reveals about Gen Z’s Impeachment Concerns

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
December 20, 2019 at 4:03pm
TikTok offers a unique space for young people to engage with each other and feel validated in their political opinions. Read more »
A photo of Kamala Harris, which reads, "Is Kamala a cop?"

Very Online: “Kamala Is a Cop” Is More Than a Meme for Many Black Voters

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
December 6, 2019 at 12:21pm
What does it mean that “Kamala is a cop” is being called a meme as a means to dismiss it, especially considering that Black people drive much of meme culture? Read more »

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