The Etymology Nerd

what the evils of TV reveal about the evils of social media

Any time I think too hard about how social media is affecting us, I always end up back at the television.

Sep 2 • 

Adam Aleksic

181

13

August 2025

neural networks are changing our vibes

Last week, I published two op-eds that initially seem unrelated but actually aren’t.

Aug 25 • 

Adam Aleksic

281

12

against content

I’ve always felt that it’s very strange to have “followers” on social media.

Aug 12 • 

Adam Aleksic

516

19

stay on your phone

(within reason)

Aug 5 • 

Adam Aleksic

788

74

July 2025

how social media subjugates us

You’re hunched over on the toilet, pants around your ankles, watching me on TikTok.

Jul 25 • 

Adam Aleksic

345

12

algorithmic performativity

Chat, we all act differently when we’re being watched.

Jul 19 • 

Adam Aleksic

460

17

ALGOSPEAK IS NOW OUT IN BOOKSTORES

oh my god it’s been a crazy week.

Jul 15 • 

Adam Aleksic

164

31

I see more stars online than in the sky ✨

At some point in the last century, we collectively began looking at more representations of stars than stars themselves.

Jul 4 • 

Adam Aleksic

708

32

June 2025

social media and the collapse of ritual

Museums have kind of been freaking me out recently.

Jun 21 • 

Adam Aleksic

708

30

banality of the algorithm

This Tuesday, my father and I drove up to Bard College to pay our respects to the grave of Hannah Arendt.

Jun 6 • 

Adam Aleksic

404

6

why you should be smelling more things

One of the silly little quirks of being human is that we pretend that some experiences are more real than others.

Jun 1 • 

Adam Aleksic

545

37

May 2025

you're literally worshipping your phone

how scrolling becomes a religious act

May 18 • 

Adam Aleksic

1,064

40