Victoria Song
@vicmsong.bsky.social
Senior reviewer and author of the Optimizer newsletter for The Verge. I write about wearables, health tech, and other gadgets. Previously: Gizmodo, PCMag, Yomiuri Shimbun.
Signal: @vicmsong.14
Grand poobah of the penguin brigade.
Signal: @vicmsong.14
Grand poobah of the penguin brigade.
All I want from CES 2026…
Is to not get the superflu.
Is to not get the superflu.
January 3, 2026 at 3:08 AM
All I want from CES 2026…
Is to not get the superflu.
Is to not get the superflu.
What scrambled my brains was watching influencers who claim to "only put clean food into their bodies" advocate for injecting dubiously sourced, unapproved drugs.
And then calling people "Big Pharma shills" for suggesting that buying unapproved drugs off a gray market is dangerous.
And then calling people "Big Pharma shills" for suggesting that buying unapproved drugs off a gray market is dangerous.
In this week’s Optimizer, I buy an experimental “GLP-3” drug off the gray market after five minutes on TikTok.
The Wellness Wild West is unregulated and people are turning themselves into guinea pigs with unapproved weight loss drugs.
www.theverge.com/column/84640...
The Wellness Wild West is unregulated and people are turning themselves into guinea pigs with unapproved weight loss drugs.
www.theverge.com/column/84640...
The wellness wild west is back on its bullshit with unapproved weight loss drugs
I bought an unapproved, experimental drug in five minutes on TikTok.
www.theverge.com
December 19, 2025 at 8:39 PM
What scrambled my brains was watching influencers who claim to "only put clean food into their bodies" advocate for injecting dubiously sourced, unapproved drugs.
And then calling people "Big Pharma shills" for suggesting that buying unapproved drugs off a gray market is dangerous.
And then calling people "Big Pharma shills" for suggesting that buying unapproved drugs off a gray market is dangerous.
Reposted by Victoria Song
Incredible @vicmsong.bsky.social banger looking into the wild west of unregulated "GLP-3" weight loss injections being sold on TikTok — bananas that influencers have incremented "GLP-1" like a version number to make it sound newer www.theverge.com/column/84640...
The wellness wild west is back on its bullshit with unapproved weight loss drugs
I bought an unapproved, experimental drug in five minutes on TikTok.
www.theverge.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Incredible @vicmsong.bsky.social banger looking into the wild west of unregulated "GLP-3" weight loss injections being sold on TikTok — bananas that influencers have incremented "GLP-1" like a version number to make it sound newer www.theverge.com/column/84640...
In this week’s Optimizer, I buy an experimental “GLP-3” drug off the gray market after five minutes on TikTok.
The Wellness Wild West is unregulated and people are turning themselves into guinea pigs with unapproved weight loss drugs.
www.theverge.com/column/84640...
The Wellness Wild West is unregulated and people are turning themselves into guinea pigs with unapproved weight loss drugs.
www.theverge.com/column/84640...
The wellness wild west is back on its bullshit with unapproved weight loss drugs
I bought an unapproved, experimental drug in five minutes on TikTok.
www.theverge.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:05 PM
In this week’s Optimizer, I buy an experimental “GLP-3” drug off the gray market after five minutes on TikTok.
The Wellness Wild West is unregulated and people are turning themselves into guinea pigs with unapproved weight loss drugs.
www.theverge.com/column/84640...
The Wellness Wild West is unregulated and people are turning themselves into guinea pigs with unapproved weight loss drugs.
www.theverge.com/column/84640...
It's time for our annual year-end content and... 2025 was the year we pivoted hard to AI wearables.
www.theverge.com/gadgets/8388...
www.theverge.com/gadgets/8388...
In 2025, wearables made a hard pivot to AI
If you want to put AI on someone 24/7, wearables are the best bet.
www.theverge.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:26 PM
It's time for our annual year-end content and... 2025 was the year we pivoted hard to AI wearables.
www.theverge.com/gadgets/8388...
www.theverge.com/gadgets/8388...
A lil late with this Kindle Scribe Colorsoft review but i hope the lede photo makes up for it.
www.theverge.com/tech/844673/...
www.theverge.com/tech/844673/...
Amazon’s Kindle Scribe Colorsoft won’t replace your notebook — or your Kindle
It’s also $630.
www.theverge.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
A lil late with this Kindle Scribe Colorsoft review but i hope the lede photo makes up for it.
www.theverge.com/tech/844673/...
www.theverge.com/tech/844673/...
If I had unlimited funds I would fly to England tonight to watch this opera featuring a depressed egg having an eggsistential crisis.
youtu.be/RC7RH6jy_fM?...
youtu.be/RC7RH6jy_fM?...
"My yolk is congealed..." Mr Egg is depressed | Pass the Spoon 🥚
YouTube video by Opera North
youtu.be
December 16, 2025 at 2:33 PM
If I had unlimited funds I would fly to England tonight to watch this opera featuring a depressed egg having an eggsistential crisis.
youtu.be/RC7RH6jy_fM?...
youtu.be/RC7RH6jy_fM?...
Whatever you do, don't take your ADHD meds with a double espresso and wear a smartwatch with heart rate alerts.
I regret my choices.
I regret my choices.
December 15, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Whatever you do, don't take your ADHD meds with a double espresso and wear a smartwatch with heart rate alerts.
I regret my choices.
I regret my choices.
Training with AI: my slowest 5K times for three months
Quitting all AI fitness plans: immediately ran a race 5 min faster than training
www.theverge.com/column/84342...
Quitting all AI fitness plans: immediately ran a race 5 min faster than training
www.theverge.com/column/84342...
I quit all my AI fitness plans, and I feel free
AI fitness features add a lot of noise, but not always clarity.
www.theverge.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Training with AI: my slowest 5K times for three months
Quitting all AI fitness plans: immediately ran a race 5 min faster than training
www.theverge.com/column/84342...
Quitting all AI fitness plans: immediately ran a race 5 min faster than training
www.theverge.com/column/84342...
I just got a pitch calling them smart frames... plz end me.
So, asking for a friend — what are we calling the next-generation of face computers?
AI glasses? XR glasses? WIRED XR glasses? AR glasses? Smart glasses because that's the most obvious one and why are companies trying to differentiate?!
Nobody seems to agree!
www.theverge.com/gadgets/8415...
AI glasses? XR glasses? WIRED XR glasses? AR glasses? Smart glasses because that's the most obvious one and why are companies trying to differentiate?!
Nobody seems to agree!
www.theverge.com/gadgets/8415...
No one knows what to call these things
AI glasses? Wired XR glasses? AR glasses?
www.theverge.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:59 PM
I just got a pitch calling them smart frames... plz end me.
So, asking for a friend — what are we calling the next-generation of face computers?
AI glasses? XR glasses? WIRED XR glasses? AR glasses? Smart glasses because that's the most obvious one and why are companies trying to differentiate?!
Nobody seems to agree!
www.theverge.com/gadgets/8415...
AI glasses? XR glasses? WIRED XR glasses? AR glasses? Smart glasses because that's the most obvious one and why are companies trying to differentiate?!
Nobody seems to agree!
www.theverge.com/gadgets/8415...
No one knows what to call these things
AI glasses? Wired XR glasses? AR glasses?
www.theverge.com
December 10, 2025 at 4:13 PM
So, asking for a friend — what are we calling the next-generation of face computers?
AI glasses? XR glasses? WIRED XR glasses? AR glasses? Smart glasses because that's the most obvious one and why are companies trying to differentiate?!
Nobody seems to agree!
www.theverge.com/gadgets/8415...
AI glasses? XR glasses? WIRED XR glasses? AR glasses? Smart glasses because that's the most obvious one and why are companies trying to differentiate?!
Nobody seems to agree!
www.theverge.com/gadgets/8415...
Got some hands-on time with Project Aura and two other AI glasses. A big thing for me is that Google has some interesting ideas on how to address some of the biggest problems with smart glasses — the software.
www.theverge.com/tech/839392/...
www.theverge.com/tech/839392/...
A first look at Google’s Project Aura glasses built with Xreal
It’s kinda like a pair of chunky sunglasses that runs Android apps.
www.theverge.com
December 8, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Got some hands-on time with Project Aura and two other AI glasses. A big thing for me is that Google has some interesting ideas on how to address some of the biggest problems with smart glasses — the software.
www.theverge.com/tech/839392/...
www.theverge.com/tech/839392/...
This episode was really fun to record and look, you can see the legacy of Google Glass in these Jabroni Oakley Meta Vanguards I wore at a 5K race today:
December 7, 2025 at 3:21 PM
This episode was really fun to record and look, you can see the legacy of Google Glass in these Jabroni Oakley Meta Vanguards I wore at a 5K race today:
Starting three new medications plus getting a combo flu shot/covid booster on a workday certainly was a choice I made that had absolutely no repercussions whatsoever. No sir.
December 6, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Starting three new medications plus getting a combo flu shot/covid booster on a workday certainly was a choice I made that had absolutely no repercussions whatsoever. No sir.
Reposted by Victoria Song
And next week we do it all over again
This week on Optimizer, I talk about how health tech companies now want to measure your urine, blood, sweat, and even hormones. HIPAA is grossly underprepared.
Welcome to the wellness surveillance state.
We'll take your blood and urine, please :)
www.theverge.com/column/83887...
Welcome to the wellness surveillance state.
We'll take your blood and urine, please :)
www.theverge.com/column/83887...
Welcome to the wellness surveillance state
Is there even a point in tracking over 60 biomarkers?
www.theverge.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:10 PM
And next week we do it all over again
This week on Optimizer, I talk about how health tech companies now want to measure your urine, blood, sweat, and even hormones. HIPAA is grossly underprepared.
Welcome to the wellness surveillance state.
We'll take your blood and urine, please :)
www.theverge.com/column/83887...
Welcome to the wellness surveillance state.
We'll take your blood and urine, please :)
www.theverge.com/column/83887...
Welcome to the wellness surveillance state
Is there even a point in tracking over 60 biomarkers?
www.theverge.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:07 PM
This week on Optimizer, I talk about how health tech companies now want to measure your urine, blood, sweat, and even hormones. HIPAA is grossly underprepared.
Welcome to the wellness surveillance state.
We'll take your blood and urine, please :)
www.theverge.com/column/83887...
Welcome to the wellness surveillance state.
We'll take your blood and urine, please :)
www.theverge.com/column/83887...
Reposted by Victoria Song
I will be at CES... and I want to know what gadgets I absolutely must see *and touch* and quite possibly *film* for @theverge.com and my Today I'm Toying With video series!
Does your gadget seem like a fit? Don't pitch me text: DM me photos or a video clip!
www.theverge.com/gadgets/7128...
Does your gadget seem like a fit? Don't pitch me text: DM me photos or a video clip!
www.theverge.com/gadgets/7128...
Today I’m toying with
Where we play with gadgets and let you see what they’re like.
www.theverge.com
December 4, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I will be at CES... and I want to know what gadgets I absolutely must see *and touch* and quite possibly *film* for @theverge.com and my Today I'm Toying With video series!
Does your gadget seem like a fit? Don't pitch me text: DM me photos or a video clip!
www.theverge.com/gadgets/7128...
Does your gadget seem like a fit? Don't pitch me text: DM me photos or a video clip!
www.theverge.com/gadgets/7128...
It's true.
'Cause you know Vee'd test a million bots
If she could just show you
They suck
If she could just show you
They suck
One day, AI might be better than you at surfing the web. That day isn’t today.
For sale: walking shoes? Not with AI
www.theverge.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:58 PM
It's true.
Tfw your 11yo cousin who just got a phone has discovered fandom and shipping: 🥺
How it feels when she texts “choose one”: 😅🔫👶🏻
How it feels when she texts “choose one”: 😅🔫👶🏻
December 4, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Tfw your 11yo cousin who just got a phone has discovered fandom and shipping: 🥺
How it feels when she texts “choose one”: 😅🔫👶🏻
How it feels when she texts “choose one”: 😅🔫👶🏻
It’s in the report, which you should totally read, but this screen cap of Agent Mode in Atlas was my absolute favorite.
My testing notes say this took 3 attempts totaling one minute for AI to close the popup.
My testing notes say this took 3 attempts totaling one minute for AI to close the popup.
December 3, 2025 at 11:33 PM
It’s in the report, which you should totally read, but this screen cap of Agent Mode in Atlas was my absolute favorite.
My testing notes say this took 3 attempts totaling one minute for AI to close the popup.
My testing notes say this took 3 attempts totaling one minute for AI to close the popup.
Reposted by Victoria Song
Surprise! AI-powered web browsers aren't nearly as capable as the industry is promising they'll be, as @vicmsong.bsky.social discovered after putting five of them to the test www.theverge.com/tech/837287/...
One day, AI might be better than you at surfing the web. That day isn’t today
For sale: walking shoes? Not with AI
www.theverge.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Surprise! AI-powered web browsers aren't nearly as capable as the industry is promising they'll be, as @vicmsong.bsky.social discovered after putting five of them to the test www.theverge.com/tech/837287/...
Hi, I spent several weeks testing five AI browsers to see if they could help me buy a pair of New Balances, sort my emails, rip transcripts from YouTube videos, and a whole bunch of other scenarios.
They're not great, Bob.
www.theverge.com/tech/837287/...
They're not great, Bob.
www.theverge.com/tech/837287/...
One day, AI might be better than you at surfing the web. That day isn’t today.
For sale: walking shoes? Not with AI
www.theverge.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Hi, I spent several weeks testing five AI browsers to see if they could help me buy a pair of New Balances, sort my emails, rip transcripts from YouTube videos, and a whole bunch of other scenarios.
They're not great, Bob.
www.theverge.com/tech/837287/...
They're not great, Bob.
www.theverge.com/tech/837287/...
David’s crash out over the iPad was iconic, but it sits in the correct place.
New Vergecast! In which @allisonjo1.bsky.social, @vicmsong.bsky.social and I attempt to rank all of the Apple gadgets, and in which I fully crash out about the iPad
Apple gadgets, ranked
Which is better, AirPods or the iPad? Only one can win.
www.theverge.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:20 PM
David’s crash out over the iPad was iconic, but it sits in the correct place.
I spent my Black Friday/Cyber Monday shift shitposting some deals but I am most proud of this one of the black Apple Watch Ultra 2:
www.theverge.com/gadgets/8334...
www.theverge.com/gadgets/8334...
November 29, 2025 at 9:43 PM
I spent my Black Friday/Cyber Monday shift shitposting some deals but I am most proud of this one of the black Apple Watch Ultra 2:
www.theverge.com/gadgets/8334...
www.theverge.com/gadgets/8334...