Move over, Karen; Gen Z has officially picked a successor. After years of debate, it seems that a consensus is forming around the new name to represent a specific form of middle aged entitlement. Actual Jessicas are attempting to defend their honor, but are having all the success of defensive Karens. ## From "Karen" to "Jessica" Everybody who's ever been online is familiar with the name that became a pejorative—Karen. In the 2010s, the moniker became synonymous with white women calling the cops on people of color for standing up to them or just being in public. She's the entitled Baby Boomer who wants to speak to the manager. After the term went viral, discourse soon circulated around whether it was starting to become just another way to be sexist against any women who dares speak up. Some surely over-used it, and women actually named Karen faced shame and distress. The debate was never really settled, and now we've reached a point where Baby Boomers and even Gen X are aging out and a new name needs to take its place. Many millennials are now in their 40s—prime Karen time. People suggested several common names for this generation, but one stands out as the most popular, at least in the U.S. According to the Social Security Administration, Jessica was the most common choice for girl babies from 1985 to 1989, and again from 1993 to 1995. Very millennial. > View this post on Instagram > > A post shared by Lo wouldyakindly (@wouldyoukindly) Popular content creator @wouldyoukindly predicted the rise of Jessica in 2024. "Jessica will mess you up. Jess is going to fight somebody if she gets angry," she said. "So I think it’s going to be Jessica. I just feel it." In 2025, some tried to stop Jessica from becoming the new Karen, arguing that every Jessica they know is perfectly nice. "Let's take Jessica out of this," said @erindieheart in July. "There's no bad Jessicas, okay? And as a millennial, I feel like we would know who are the a-holes of our generation. We could determine our Karen, right?" > @erindieheart #millennialsoftiktok #karen #fyp #foryou ♬ original sound - Erin Dieheart "It feels more like a Brittany to me." ## "Who was in charge of this voting system?" As Jessica emerged as the undisputed millennial Karen, TikTok Jessicas entered the first stages of grief. @junkmotherjess/TikTok "Somebody said 'what's the millennial name equivalent for a Karen?'" said @junkmotherjess, a nurse. "And all of them said 'Jessica.' One of them said 'Jessica, and I just know she's a nurse,' and I want you guys to know, you can go f-" "I am genuinely upset because my husband told me that the new Karen that all the kids are referring to now is no longer 'Karen,'" @rnjessicaa confessed. "It's Jessica. B*tches." @jessduitt/TikTok "Me finding out Jessica is the new Karen," wrote @jessduitt over herself as she blinked and glanced up at her username. Meanwhile, some Jessicas are feeling more conflicted about the news. "I don't know whether to feel flattered about this or offended," said @jessblanc87. "Who was in charge of this voting system?" Everyone except Jessica, we assume. * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletterhere._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “I am genuinely upset”: Gen Z has officially named the millennial Karen. Sorry, Jessicas appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Like the rest of us, it seems that Kai Cenat has a few New Year's resolutions. While he's known for his high-octane streams with dozens of famous faces, the 24-year-old seems to be hankering for a slightly slower pace of life in 2026. ## Kai Cenat inspires others to read more In a now-viral video, Cenat went into detail about how he's trying to read more. "Honestly... The reason why I started reading was because I didn't like the way I spoke," he revealed. https://twitter.com/SlatDontMiss/status/2011204379320467517 He shared, "To be honest, I wanted to articulate myself better, and I noticed when I got into arguments, and I had to get a point across, people were not taking me seriously at all, at serious moments, and I would have anxiety build up, and then I would stutter my words, and I'd not know what happened." "So hopefully, me reading—and I also have been writing as well—helps improve the way I articulate myself," he added. https://twitter.com/yoxics/status/2011259902938005602 "Also another reason why I want to read more, because I feel like as I am making my venture into clothing, I feel like when people have to ask me questions about the garments that I end up releasing, I should be able to articulate myself perfectly and explain what is going on and my thought process behind each garment and the inspiration. So, yeah, that's really why. I don't know if it's gonna work. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, it doesn't." ## Has Kai Cenat quit livestreaming? Meanwhile, Cenat has been tracking his reading process on a secret YouTube channel called Kai's Mind. He would upload videos with titles like the following: _"Reading for 10 mins to help me speak better part 16 *1/7/26*."_ kai's Mind/YouTube Other videos on the account feature him working out and learning to sew. In a Jan 13 video entitled "I Quit," Cenat revealed the channel and expanded on why he was so keen to change. “I quit thinking in my head of the goals I want to achieve and not pursuing them because I’m primarily known for one thing," he explained. “I’ve [come] to realise that I’m a true creator, and I’m very passionate about creating," he said. “I have other goals and things that I just want to achieve, and do more of." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PUXVGWsYs4&t=162s * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletter  here._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “I wanted to articulate myself better”: Kai Cenat explained why he started reading books every day appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Police arrested and removed two sloshed OnlyFans models from an American Airlines flight after they refused to get out of first class. Videos that the content creators are proudly boosting on Instagram show cops escorting them out of the gate and repeatedly lifting them up after they did the splits for some reason. The pair are already selling merchandise featuring their mugshots. ## Kicked off the plane for being naughty OnlyFans stars Sania Blanchard and Jordan Danne Lantry got a little too wasted at the Miami International Airport on Friday and ended up in jail. After a same-day release, the women got to work posting sizzle reels of their crime and arrest. One Instagram Reel shows them clearly drunk, twerking, and attempting headstands in the airport. Next, they filmed themselves in first class seats, where they apparently did not belong. Despite having the wrong tickets, or maybe no tickets, they refused to relocate. > @laceyjaynexo Full story on my IG link in Bio @Sania #fyp ♬ original sound - Lacey Jayne "Do you have your boarding passes?" a flight attendant asked them. "No, we don't!" said Lantry. "Obviously we're drunk and you guys don't want to deal with us." The models repeatedly remixed footage of Miami police escorting them through the airport in handcuffs as both keep randomly doing the splits while bystanders film the spectacle. "We're guilty for being ICONIC," one video declares. > @laceyjaynexo We're guilty for being ICONIC #fyp @Sania ♬ original sound - Lacey Jayne Police informed the _Daily Mail_ that they charged Blanchard and Lantry with trespassing. The ladies reportedly caught another American Airlines flight the next day. "@AmericanAir forgave us because we're hot and know how to do the splits," Lantry wrote. ## "1st day out" The unapologetic content creators were quick to turn the incident into a money-making opportunity. In another video, they announced under a banner reading "1st day out" that they're selling mugshot merchandise. @daddysjuiced_/Instagram Indeed, the _Daily Mail_ found a website called Daddy's Juiced with shirts, hats, shot glasses, mugs (ha ha), and teddy bears featuring these photos. They crossed out the "porn" in #pornstars and wrote in "pen" for each item. We verified this during work hours so you don't have to. The models' fans appear to absolutely love the crime angle, but some commenters did express disapproval of their actions. @reynabluee/Instagram "This the most privileged sh*t I’ve seen, lets act stupid, get arrested and waste everyone time at damn near 45 yrs old," wrote @reynabluee. "Setting a great example," said @dcnc61, sarcastically. "Your kids will be soooo embarrassed when they read about you!!!" @lisa.wanderlust.buchhol/Instagram "And why are you all proud of yourselves?" asked @lisa.wanderlust.buchholz. * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletterhere._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “We’re guilty for being ICONIC”: Two drunk OnlyFans models got arrested and pulled off a plane while doing splits appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Former New York City mayor Eric Adams was caught on camera snapping at a heckler while exiting a flight in Dallas on Tuesday. The short, mid-argument video shows Adams trading insults with a masked passenger on the jet bridge, culminating in him telling the woman to “go f*ck yourself” before doubling down online. ## Adams tells a heckler: "go f**k yourself" The video, first shared on Reddit, showed the passenger taunting Adams as they walked off the plane. She said, "Eric Adams, please punch me in the face. I would like if you punched me in the face." Adams responded immediately. "Go f*ck yourself, I’m not the mayor anymore," he said. The woman shot back, "F*ck you." Then Adams leaned toward her and added, "You’re gonna see the Brooklyn in me." Shortly afterward, the woman pushed past him and walked away. https://twitter.com/J__Velasquez/status/2011176750785704365 What led to the confrontation remained unclear, as the footage was recorded mid-argument. The Redditor who posted it didn't provide context beyond saying that she recognized and "booed" Adams. Still, the clip circulated widely, as viewers debated whether Adams had been provoked or crossed a line. Meanwhile, Adams’ spokesperson, Todd Shapiro, defended him in a statement to the _New York Post_. Shapiro said Adams was "a private citizen and was harassed." He added, "The clip is selectively edited, lacks critical context, and misrepresents what actually occurred." ## Social media reacted to the video and Adams’ response On X and Reddit, people shared blunt reactions to the encounter and Adams’ behavior. Some focused on the tone he used toward a woman. "He’s always a tough guy with women," @JohnDMacari wrote. Others urged caution. "1) We don’t know how the conversation went to begin with," @sluggahjells posted. "2) Eric Adams is now just like anybody else, and will respond the way he wants." Several folks mocked Adams’ comment about Brooklyn. "'You’re gonna see the Brooklyn in me' is a wild thing for a New Jersey resident to say," @RGA joked. @degens/X Reddit reactions to the video were harsher. "He’s a criminal who is free because rich or powerful people do not face consequences," u/bobdownie wrote. u/GoldSpirit6409 added, "Normalize this behavior towards politicians who are shameless grifters." Later, Adams quote-retweeted the _New York Post_ story about the jet bridge incident and wrote simply, "Exactly." https://twitter.com/ericadamsfornyc/status/2011228105420292500 The timing also mattered. The trolling followed Adams’ announcement of a cryptocurrency project he claimed would fight antisemitism. The coin briefly spiked, then crashed hard, leading to significant losses for those who invested in it. @KobeissiLetter/X That post drew another wave of criticism. "How’s that $3.5M you just stole?" @WUTangKids asked. "Your memecoin scam victims would like you to 'go f*ck yourself,'" @GenXGirl1994 added. Others were even more direct. "Bro you just stole 3.5M," @Degen_CPA said. "They should have jumped your a**." This isn't even the first story of a politician, retired or otherwise, getting into a cursing match with someone this week. President Donald Trump flipped off a Ford worker and told him, "F*ck you" after being called a "Pedophile protector" on Tuesday. * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletter_**** _here_**** _._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “Go f**k yourself!”: Former NYC Mayor Eric Adams snaps at woman after flight—then doubles down online appeared first on The Daily Dot.

A generation has been collectively traumatized by commercials for snacks. The “I think I’m gonna die in this house” meme layers unsettling audio and creepy visual effects over old commercials. The videos have TikTok users realizing just how demented commercials can be. Products advertised in the commercials are innocuous enough—cookies, cereal, spring water—but once the ominous line from Charli XCX’s “House” is added, the advertisements are revealed to be surreal and, frankly, messed up. @dymeracks/TikTok, @itsayyylexis/TikTok ## Why is Pillsbury Doughboy burning to death inside an oven? A commercial with the Pillsbury Doughboy trapped inside an oven to the tune of “House” racked up 4.8 million views and was dubbed by some “the first meme of 2026.” As the cute character panics inside the locked oven, his hat catches on fire. TikTok creator @blu_emy emphasized the terror with a cut to black and white footage as the Doughboy screamed while apparently burning alive. > @blu_emy #ithinkimgonnadieinthishousememe #pillsburydoughboy #edit ♬ original sound - Mya ## Haunted by “these weird commercials” User @oversoulzz’ “I think I’m gonna die in this house” video from Jan. 6, 2026 features an old Cinnamon Toast Crunch commercial that shows pieces of cereal personified with eyes and ever-widening mouths consuming one another in single bites. The Tiktok creator added the meme’s creepy track and flashes to black and white to accentuate the violent moments in the ad. > @oversoulzz this is so unserious but i keep thinking of these weird commercials😭 #cinnamontoastcrunch #commercial #trending #fyp #edit ♬ original sound - 🛸 @oversoulzz wrote in the post’s caption, “this is so unserious, but I keep thinking of these weird commercials😭.” ## “We’re not having cake.” TikTok user @snackstalker’s #ithinkimgonnadieinthishouse Chips Ahoy commercial went viral with 1.5 million views. The creator wrote, “sorry i had to.” The cookie attending a little girl’s birthday party asked, “So where’s the cake?” The birthday girl lets him know that “We’re not having cake.” > @snackstalker sorry i had to#virał #xyzbca #trending ♬ original sound - . ## The internet can relate to the commercials being scary One creator who shared her reaction to the meme said, “That trend, I think I'm gonna die in this house, is really bringing to my attention to just how violent all of those commercials were as a kid. Like, why is everything about cannibalism—and things being eaten?” Others reacting to the meme find it both funny and terrifying. The trend is laying bare just how horrifying and carnage-laden the commercials of social media users’ youth actually were. Here's a look at some of the trend's top comments... “This is actually so scary get him OUT💔” @sorrycannibal/TikTok “looking back, some of the 2000s animations were so disgusting to look at😭😭” @tt1497/TikTok “Why were all the commercials murderish” @kimluvssluts/TikTok “Stop cause this commercial traumatized me as a kid” @mags_324/TikTok “Why does it look so angry 😭” @kamboochie/TikTok “The Cinnamon Toast Crunch commercial, even as a kid, I’m like… ‘why is he eating him’ 😭” @zoedecemberstar/TikTok * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletter_**** _here_**** _._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “Traumatized me as a kid”: A new meme points out how messed up food commercials can be appeared first on The Daily Dot.

President Donald Trump traded insults with an auto worker during a visit to a Detroit Ford plant on Tuesday. The exchange quickly spread online because it ended with Trump raising his middle finger and shouting profanities right back. The worker, 40-year-old TJ Sabula, shouted, "Pedophile protector!" as Trump walked through the facility. In response, Trump flipped the man off and appeared to shout "f*ck you." Shortly afterward, Ford suspended Sabula pending an investigation. ## Ford worker says he stands by the outburst After the incident, Sabula spoke publicly and made his position clear. "As far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever," he told the _Washington Post_. However, he admitted he worried about what might happen next. @Gen_Buhar/X Sabula said Ford targeted him for "political retribution" after he embarrassed Trump "in front of his friends." Still, he framed the moment as one he could not pass up. "I don’t feel as though fate looks upon you often," he said. "And when it does, you better be ready to seize the opportunity." He explained that he identified as politically independent. While he never voted for Trump, he said he previously supported other Republicans. Additionally, he said his comment referenced Trump’s handling of the Epstein Files. https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2011188331103781035 Sabula estimated he stood about 60 feet from Trump at the time, and the president heard him "very, very, very clearly." Meanwhile, the White House defended the president’s reaction. In a statement, Communications Director Steven Cheung dismissed Sabula’s behavior. "A lunatic was wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage," Cheung said, "and the President gave an appropriate and unambiguous response." ## Fundraiser surged as Trump discussed robots at the plant As the backlash grew, supporters moved quickly to back Sabula financially. On Tuesday evening, an online GoFundMe fundraiser appeared to help cover his bills during the suspension, and it collected more than $252K in less than 24 hours. The fundraiser was later transferred directly into Sabula’s control, according to an update on the page. Donors flooded the page with messages. One wrote, "The courage & bad a**ery you showed […] was absolutely heroic!" Another donor added, "You should have a right to free speech under the Constitution, and I'm sorry that Ford doesn't recognize that. You are what patriotism is all about." A third commenter argued that Ford "should not bow to pressure from government." While that support poured in, Trump made other headlines at the same plant. During an interview with _CBS Evening News_ anchor Tony Dokoupil, he claimed it was "a good thing" that Ford struggled to find workers. Then he predicted robots would soon replace them. "You’re gonna have a thing called robots," Trump said. "And robots are gonna be a big factor in the future, and it's gonna help out." * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletter_**** _here_**** _._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post Trump flipped off a Ford worker who shouted his frustrations over the Epstein files. Now, the suspended employee says he has no regrets appeared first on The Daily Dot.

The U.S. military is moving ahead with plans to integrate Grok, the controversial chatbot created by Elon Musk’s xAI, into Pentagon networks. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday that Grok will be included on the Department of Defense’s new internal AI platform, GenAI.mil, alongside tools like Google’s Gemini, despite the chatbot facing international bans, regulatory scrutiny, and repeated controversies over racism, antisemitism, and nonconsensual image generation. Associated Press/YouTube ## Grok joined the Pentagon’s expanding AI push During the event, Hegseth framed the move as inevitable. "Very soon we will have the world’s leading AI models on every unclassified and classified network throughout our department," he said. "AI is only as good as the data that it receives, and we’re going to make sure that it’s there." This also means that the AI chatbot could potentially have access to vast amounts of military data. Elon Musk introduced Hegseth and opened with lofty remarks about SpaceX. "We want to make _Star Trek_ real," Musk said. "We want to make Starfleet Academy real. So that it’s not always science fiction, but one day, the science fiction turns to science fact." Then, after Hegseth joined him onstage, the secretary flashed a Vulcan salute and said, "How about this? Star Trek real." Meanwhile, details about GenAI.mil remained thin. The Pentagon first announced the platform in December, after the White House approved contracts of up to $200 million for several AI companies, including xAI. At the time, Sen. Elizabeth Warren criticized Grok’s inclusion and called it “uniquely troubling.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_AKIUYqJpE ## Other countries pulled back as the Pentagon leaned in While the Pentagon embraced Grok, other governments moved in the opposite direction. In recent weeks, Grok has been under fire for enabling users to request nude photos of others without consent. Elon Musk's response to the scandal was to restrict access to paid users only, rather than disabling it. In July 2025, the chatbot also went on antisemitic and racist tirades and declared itself "MechaHitler" after an update that Musk claimed had "improved Grok significantly." Due to the chatbot's recent sexualizing behavior, both Malaysia and Indonesia blocked access to Grok over the weekend. In the U.K., media regulator Ofcom opened an investigation into X over Grok’s image manipulation of women and children, which could lead to fines of "10% of a company’s worldwide qualifying revenue," according to _The Guardian_. The U.K.'s Online Safety Act enables Ofcom to block access to websites that refuse to comply with U.K. law. U.K. government officials said they could back the regulator if it decided to go that route. Hegseth dismissed cultural concerns and said the "Department of War AI will not be woke. It will work for us." * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletter_**** _here_**** _._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “Department of War AI will not be woke”: Pentagon moves forward with Grok military integration despite global backlash appeared first on The Daily Dot.

From "The Neverending Story" to "Running Up That Hill,' music is an integral part of _Stranger Things._ Each season, classic '80s tunes that are featured on the show end up shooting up the music charts, experiencing something of a mini-revival. However, this time around, fans paid a different kind of musical tribute to _Stranger Things._ GivenLoveMusic/YouTube Rather than a song featured directly in the show, Djo's 'End of Beginning hit No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart for the first time following _Stranger Things_ ' December 31 finale, making it the number one song in the world. The reason this song is significant is that the artist behind it is our very own Steve Harrington: Joe Keery. ## The song's previous viral moment Keery, who adopts Djo as a stage name, first released "End of Beginning" back in 2022 as part of his album Decide. The song first garnered attention in early 2024 after going viral on TikTok. Some users were touched by the nostalgic tribute to Chicago, while others simply couldn't believe that the Stranger Things star dropped such a banger without anybody realising it was him. As buzz around the song accelerated, it ended up shooting to No. 3 on the Billboard Global 200. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy3AcmW0lrQ “I have literally no idea what’s going on,” Keery told _Rolling Stone_ at the time. “I’m probably more confused than ever, but it’s really, really cool to see something that you’ve written affect people and have them take it in as their own and into their own lives.” ## Fans react to Djo's reign The song is also making a splash on Spotify. It recently dethroned Taylor Swift from her top spot by climbing to No.1 on the Global Spotify chart with 8.39 million streams. In response to this news, fans were thrilled. "It is genuinely impressive how much staying power this track has, especially for a song that was originally released back in 2022," one wrote. "Man, this is wild," a second said. "Djo really holding it down with streams like that, gotta love it." While a third simply said: "Well deserved." And a fourth declared: "Joe’s got the whole world singing along." "End of Beginning" also reached 2 billion streams on Spotify, which is Djo's first song to reach that milestone. * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletterhere._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “Got the whole world singing along”: Joe Keery’s song “End of Beginning” spikes on charts after end of “Stranger Things” appeared first on The Daily Dot.

President Donald Trump appeared to walk back a familiar promise after reporters pressed him about $2K checks tied to tariff revenue. The moment came during a wide-ranging interview with White House correspondents Katie Rogers and Tyler Pager. When Rogers brought up the topic, Trump seemed unsure if he had ever made such a pledge. ## Trump pointed to tariffs while dodging specifics Audio from the interview showed Rogers beginning a question about the checks. However, Trump quickly interrupted. "I did do that? When did I do that?" he asked. Although Trump then shifted topics, he did not fully dismiss the idea. Instead, he referenced a separate payment to the military, which came from Congressionally-allocated housing subsidies and not the Trump administration itself. The reporters followed up to clarify whether Americans would still see the promised tariff checks. https://twitter.com/Mollyploofkins/status/2010714704843280747 Trump appeared to conflate multiple proposals. "Yeah, I’m thinking — well, I did $1,776 for the military," he said. Then, Tyler Pager asked simply, "When will those Americans get those checks?" Trump responded that tariff revenue was "so substantial" he could send $2,000 "toward the end of the year." Still, he did not explain why he first denied making the promise. Meanwhile, Americans continue to wait for other promised payouts. Earlier, Trump had floated $5K dividend checks tied to alleged savings from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. However, those payments also failed to materialize. ## Social media reactions mocked the confusion On social media, critics responded to Trump's confusion. @DarrigoMelanie tweeted, "You were never getting $2000 tariff rebate checks, the same way you were never getting $5000 DOGE refund checks. But Trump doubled his family’s net worth. Congratulations, you got conned." @FellForItAgainA/X Meanwhile, @1goodtern wrote, "I just eyerolled so hard my eyeballs turned into Wonder Woman." Others pointed to Trump’s past broken promises. @somervilleny noted, "He promised middle-class Americans a 20% tax cut right before the 2018 midterms. Anyone who still believes this lying schmoo about anything needs serious help." "He did not give the military money. He reallocated funds already provided for military housing assistance," @Shiptech90 pointed out. "Huge lie. There is NO money rolling in from foreign countries. He taxed the sh*t out of Americans. He can't give out a f*cking dime with Congress. F*cking con man." @justoneblackman/X Some users focused on the motive of offering these checks to voters. "The checks are promised to get votes," said @Rajatsoni. "Once you vote, the checks disappear." Still others mocked Trump’s business ventures, particularly the Trump Mobile phones that have yet to materialize. @DayleBrand added, "Trump hadn't even delivered his $100 Trump phones." * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletter_**** _here_**** _._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “When did I do that?”: Trump denies promising $2K tariff revenue checks to Americans appeared first on The Daily Dot.

OpenAI's launch of ChatGPT Health last week led to a flood of concerns around data privacy and the bot's history of giving bad advice. People have already died after long, spiraling relationships with these chatbots. Treating them like medical experts seems like it would only make that problem worse. https://twitter.com/RayAmplifies/status/2009515616420708545 Critics of large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT think this is the worst thing you could do with your medical data. ## Dr. ChatGPT wants your data The "AI" company announced ChatGPT Health on Jan. 8, pitching it as a "dedicated experience that securely brings your health information and ChatGPT’s intelligence together." The press release argued that people are already asking the bot health questions. Instead of advising people not to do that, this is happening. https://twitter.com/jib_loger_alt/status/2009639714857603459 "You can securely connect medical records and wellness apps to ground conversations in your own health information, so responses are more relevant and useful to you," OpenAI claimed. The company used the word "secure," and variants, an awful lot, and the reasons are clear. The harvesting and sale of data is a huge driver of the tech industry these days, and few LLM critics are buying OpenAI's promises. @DocWhatever/X "Sooooo share your private medical records to an AI company who can then sell your information to whoever wants to buy it?" @DocWhatever wrote on X. "So they can use your health information to develop health technology and train their AI for free so they can get even more rich?" Others worried about OpenAI's ability to keep records from hackers. "ALL CHAT BOTS HAVE BAD SECURITY," @TehWonderkitty shouted. "ALL CHAT BOTS CAN BE VERY EASILY HACKED. CHAT BOTS CAN'T BE SUED FOR SHARING YOUR PRIVATE HEALTH INFORMATION." @TehWonderkitty/X "DO NOT DO THIS." Those who have tried talking to ChatGPT about health are already seeing issues. "We don't trust you enough to treat you as an adult, but please trust us with your PERSONAL HEALTH DETAILS?" asked @Zyeine_Art. "I've been rerouted and told 'I can't continue this conversation' for having the audacity to talk about how my chronic health conditions make me feel." Despite the backlash, Anthropic announced its own version of this horror—Claude for Healthcare. ## Could ChatGPT Health be a health hazard? Those barriers to discussions about feelings likely have to do with the multiple lawsuits alleging that ChatGPT talked people into death by suicide. Another grieving mother says the bot gave her 18-year-old son advice on taking drugs until he overdosed. These tragedies, combined with LLMs' tendency to hallucinate statistics and studies, have critics issuing dire warnings. "As a future therapist, I must say DO NOT DO THIS. EVER," wrote @kkiwibin. "We have countless studies on how ineffective AI is regarding human health, and it's mostly because of the fact that IT'S NOT A HUMAN TO HUMAN CONVERSATION." @melissamedinavo/X "The lack of data security of medical records & PHI (personal health info) was the reason I left tech," claimed @melissamedinavo. "It is NOT safe, secure, or protected. Do NOT trust it with your physical health; you've seen what it does to mental health, right? Doctors are obligated to help. AI is not." Ghost CEO John O'Nolan joked that the "biggest innovation here was convincing the lawyers to let this out the door." * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletterhere._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “Please trust us with your PERSONAL HEALTH DETAILS?”: Experts warn against giving bots your medical records after OpenAI revealed “ChatGPT Health” appeared first on The Daily Dot.

The White House account on X just announced that they're ending a "war on protein" that nobody knew existed. As another "Make America Healthy Again" initiative, the account linked to the new upside-down food pyramid that seems to prioritize beef and cheese over whole grains. The jokes are as delicious and satisfying as a juicy steak, without the cholesterol. ## The war on what now? On Sunday, the White House put out an unexpected statement on X. Over Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s shadowy face, the image declared that the war is over. Bet you didn't even know about this one. "We are ending the war on protein," it declares. https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2010522716747739149 Between that and the MAHA, the post linked to realfood.gov, where you can scroll down to view the Trump administration's new inverted food pyramid. "Every meal must prioritize high-quality, nutrient-dense protein from both animal and plant sources, paired with healthy fats from whole foods such as eggs, seafood, meats, full-fat dairy, nuts, seeds, olives, and avocados," the website reads. It goes on to recommend 1.2–1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. This is a departure from long-standing dietary guidelines that recommend people eat more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables than meat and dairy. Flipping the pyramid is bizarre enough that South Park did it in 2014. The food pyramid reveal happened first and already did the mockery rounds on X. Now it's time to tackle the declaration of the end of a war nobody ever started. ## "WTF are you talking about" The "war on protein" took most by surprise, seeing as nobody can remember a single time anyone badmouthed the nutrient. Doctors have long warned against eating too much red meat due to health risks, but it was never the protein that was the problem. @staysaasy/X "Literally all anyone has talked to me about for the last decade is protein," @staysaasy commented. "If there’s been a war on protein it’s been fought by ghosts." Popular TikToker @AshleyDCan asked, "Who started a war on protein lol," adding, "Why are y'all so obsessed with starting conflict over nothing?" The even more well-known journalist David Leavitt simply queried, "wtf are you talking about?" @DavidLeavitt/X Some were so flabbergasted by the White House post that they might even touch grass. "I gotta log off," said @mewnii. It's not just the strange declaration that got to folks. The decision to photograph RFK Jr. in the dark also prompted questions. "Why are these f*ckers obsessed with making themselves look as evil as possible in every photo," wrote @saltydkdan. Meanwhile, Cyanide & Happiness co-creator Rob DenBleyker didn't miss the opportunity to crack the joke—"we already knew Trump was pro-teen." @RobDenBleyker/X * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletterhere._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “I gotta log off”: The White House declares “war on protein” on its social media accounts as international tensions rise appeared first on The Daily Dot.

_American Sniper_ star Bradley Cooper appeared on _The Joe Rogan Experience_ last week and admitted he only recently got into podcasts. In fact, he thanked Rogan for leading him to TRIGGERnometry, which claims to be a "free speech" podcast that frequently features far-right personalities like Ben Shapiro. While some of Cooper's fans are disappointed in him, others saw this coming a mile away. PowerfulJRE/YouTube ## Bradley Cooper thanks Joe Rogan for podcasts On last Friday's episode of the highly popular Joe Rogan Experience, the actor credited his host for getting him into podcasts in the year 2025. "I know I'm late to the game," said Cooper. He specifically named Rogan's podcast as the spark that inflamed his love of the medium and led him to even more conservative options like TRIGGERnometry. The messages from these podcasts are now reaching his daughter. https://twitter.com/Awk20000/status/2010816559866876067 "Often, I'll go to bed, and my daughter's listening to your voice," he laughed. "But I do put on headphones sometimes." This Rogan appearance and admission to enjoying _TRIGGERnometry_ may come as a surprise to fans. After starring in _American Sniper_ in 2014, considered by many on the left to be a right-wing film, he went out of his way to praise President Barack Obama and attended the Democratic National Convention. He has also signed letters in favor of left-wing causes like fighting climate change and encouraging President Joe Biden to push for a ceasefire in Gaza. ## "You don't need to go for a right-wing grift yet" However, some leftists never forgave Bradley Cooper for his role in _American Sniper_ and carried the assumption that he holds right-wing values into 2026. This podcast appearance, therefore, came as no surprise to them. "Wait, you're telling me the guy who played the US-sponsored psychopathic serial killer Chris Kyle in the most blatant US propaganda film, that paints said serial killer as a hero, is a complete moron?" asked @TheSchwacked. "No way!" @TheSchwacked/X "This guy has just always radiated that he was this guy," wrote @GarakRobinson. "It freaks me out that people don’t see it." Others think he's hopping on the conservative train to try and get himself some of that sweet right-wing podcast cash because his popularity is falling off from its 2010s peak. "Bradley Cooper failed to grift Hollywood with his dumba** Oscar bait movies so now he gotta do side quests," @winstonsmgx declared. "Next he’s going carnivor [sic] and eat butter for snack." @ItsIainPrice/X "Bradley, don't give up," said @ItsIainPrice. "You can still win an Oscsar, Maestro just sucked a**, you could get one if you were in a better film. You don't need to go for a right wing grift yet." Those who didn't get political got stuck on the part where Cooper just found podcasts. @TrainHamburger/X "Next week he will discover YouTube and rave about EpicMealTime," joked @TrainHamburger. * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletterhere._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “I know I’m late to the game”: Bradley Cooper tells Joe Rogan he just got into podcasts “eight months ago” appeared first on The Daily Dot.

_Animal Crossing: New Horizons_ reshaped cozy gaming in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. Now, as Nintendo's latest update and expanded Switch 2 edition are coming out on January 15, people want to know how to _switch_ over their islands and gaming data to the Switch 2. It's a bit of a process to get everything transferred over smoothly, but we've got you covered! ## How to transfer your _Animal Crossing: New Horizons_ island to Switch 2 While many games can easily be transferred over from Switch to Switch 2, _Animal Crossing: New Horizons_ is one of those games that comes with special steps to avoid losing data. To make the transfer, you'll need three things: the Switch and Switch 2 you want to transfer data between and the Island Transfer Tool, which is a free download available in the Nintendo eShop. You'll need this transfer tool on both gaming consoles for it to work. It's important to note that the save file itself will be moved over to the new console and will no longer be available on the old one. Nintendo Before starting the transfer, be sure that airplane mode is turned off and both consoles have the latest software update installed. With the Island Transfer Tool loaded on both devices, follow the step-by-step instructions on the screen: 1. Select Continue and Let's Begin on both consoles. 2. On the original Switch your island is hosted on, select Source. 3. Select Yes when the name of your island pops up. 4. On the Switch 2, select Target (this is the target console the data is being transferred to). 5. On the original Switch, click Continue. 6. On the Switch 2, select Proceed. 7. On the original Switch, select Transfer Data. 8. Finally, select Proceed on the Switch 2 console, and your transfer will begin! Nintendo ## What happens after the transfer is finished These same instructions can be used to transfer islands to a new system and aren't a one-time transfer. Once the last step is completed, the island will no longer be available on the original Switch console and will immediately be available to play on the Switch 2. Villagers, progress, and layouts all will carry over intact. The update for _Animal Crossing: New Horizons_ comes on Jan 15, 2026, and the Switch 2 update includes features such as enhanced resolution, batch crafting, a megaphone to call animal residents to you, and even 12-player sessions in-game. @kate_overend/X @EvetheDragon84 tweeted, "I hope you can call anyone with the megaphone and not just villagers, but either way super excited!!! 😁🙌" Meanwhile, @Jadenfire shared their excitement for the update, saying, "Batch crafting! Batch crafting from storage! SQUEE!" @depresweirdo/X * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletter_**** _here_**** _._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post How to transfer your “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” island from Switch 1 to Switch 2 appeared first on The Daily Dot.

U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher once again trounced a troll who said she looked "pregnant" in a dress because her stomach isn't perfectly flat. Maher had the perfect comeback for the sad soul who quickly deleted his comment, but she recounted the story with a screenshot on TikTok. Maher is notorious for her clapbacks at body-shaming comments. These dudes should really stop setting themselves up. ## Ilona Maher shames a body shamer On Sunday, the two-time Olympic Games athlete continued her body-positive activism with a video exposing a commenter who said she appeared pregnant in a form-fitting dress. Judging by the cry-laughing emoji, this was meant to be an insult. Maher put on the same dress for the viral video and included a screenshot of the comment, which the man deleted after she hit back at him. @ilonamaher/TikTok "I wanted to do it again for you all," she said. "So to him, I say, that's just a normal woman's body. You probably haven't seen a woman naked in a long time, if ever, and I hope you never get the privilege to again, because that's just how we are, okay? That's just what we're working with." "Me, professional athlete," she said as she turned to give a side view to the camera. "I always have this. It's just part of me." > @ilonamaher > > It’s too important a message not to share again. > > ♬ original sound - Ilona Maher As registered nurse Ashley Wood explained in 2019, Maher is correct. The strong majority of women can't achieve a perfectly flat stomach without expensive surgical interventions or the kind of nutritionists and trainers only the wealthy can buy. Anyone with a uterus tends to have an extra layer of fat around the abdomen to protect these reproductive organs. "In addition to having room for digestive organs, like your stomach, liver, and intestines, it has to have space for your reproductive organs and needs extra padding to protect all of these vital organs," Wood told USA Today. Registered dietician Ariel Johnston agreed, noting that her eating disorder patients see a healthy layer of fat restored to their stomachs first. "This is amazing because it is the body’s way of telling us that it needs the extra fat layer there to protect itself," Johnston explained. ## "These men are not lonely enough" Ilona Maher, while not currently playing rugby, has continued to promote body positivity online. She's spoken out about myths around the Body Mass Index (BMI), including to a similar troll in 2024. "I do have a BMI of 30," she said. "I am considered ‘overweight.’ But alas, I’m going to the Olympics, and you’re not.” Women loved her for it then, and they still do this week. @ilonamaher/TikTok "Never change, Ilona," wrote @aisleassistant in the comments. "You are such a queen." "No notes," said @chantelle_lunt. "The fact that you're a professional athlete schooling him, too." Others had their own jabs to throw at the latest troll. @ilonamaher/TikTok "Where do they think we keep our vital organs, in our purse?" asked @lis_scaife. "These men are not lonely enough!!" noted @genpat10lars. * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletterhere._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “Never change”: Olympian Ilona Maher bodies another body-shaming troll shocked that she has a stomach appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Digital press-on nails that changed color in seconds debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show 2026 in Las Vegas to a mix of awe and skepticism from people online. The nails came from beauty tech start-up iPolish and promised fast changes with a single button tap. New York Post/YouTube Instead of polish or gel, iPolish used digital acrylics that shifted shades electronically. The nails can be applied like standard press-ons, but the tech inside sets them apart from anything on a salon shelf. ## How iPolish’s digital nails work iPolish’s press-on nails rely on something called electrophoretic nanopolymers, something similar to e-ink displays like Kindles use. Each nail connects to a tiny internal display, and together they form a digital manicure with the wearer's choice of color. The system includes what the company calls a "Magic Wand" that pairs with the iPolish app via Bluetooth. From the app, wearers can choose from more than 300 colors. Then, a wave of the wand over each nail updates the shade almost instantly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DfUtkxPXZQ In a CES demo video, an iPolish presenter explained, "You can manipulate the color of the coating with a micro voltage […] So depending on the color you want, we have the ability to map it, control it, and send it to the nails to get the color that you're looking for." He described the technology as "digital beauty at your fingertips." He also described outfit-based changes, saying users could match beige nails to work clothes, then switch to red for a night out the same day. One of the demonstrators showed off the nails as they shuffled between colors. An event attendee shared her opinions about the technology, saying, "It’s incredible. It’s one of the first ever digital manicures." She continued, "The thing I hate about getting my nails done is that by the time they’re done, I don’t like the color." TODAY/NBC iPolish opened pre-orders with delivery planned for June 2026. A $95 starter kit includes 24 nails in 12 sizes, the wand, and a USB-C cable. It also comes with prep tools, glue, and top coat. While the company touted them as eventually having nearly unlimited uses, the initial versions of the nails will not be reusable. Refills cost $6.50 for two nails, and a full set costs $32.50. ## Social media reactions ranged from awe to doubt Online reactions quickly split. While some viewers praised the concept, others criticized the look. On X, @RobbiJadeLew wrote, "I appreciate the tech, but they look awful. Most women are picky about how their nails look. Would have been better to put the innovation towards changing the color of something else." Similarly, @hopefullistic posted, "Those are the weirdest, most awkward-looking fake nails I’ve ever seen in my life." @JJmoida/X Still, pop culture fans spotted familiar ideas. Several users referenced _Total Recall_ , where a character changed nail color instantly. @ndaxio/X In contrast, @planetclarke celebrated the debut and wrote, "The game has been changed forever." * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletter_**** _here_**** _._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post Color-changing digital press-on nails to hit shelves by the end of 2026: “The game has been changed forever” appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Teyana Taylor just won a Golden Globe, which is bringing the Internet back to her episode of _My Super Sweet Sixteen_. This week, Taylor won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her role in _One Battle After Another_. While Taylor's acting career is only getting started, she's been working ever since she was a teenager. In 2006, at age 15, Taylor made waves for choreographing the music video for Beyoncé's "Ring the Alarm." MTV/YouTube Back in 2007, Taylor was in the spotlight for appearing in an episode of MTV's _My Super Sweet Sixteen_. The show was known for showcasing the lavish parties thrown for rich (and often spoiled) teenagers. However, despite her incredibly over-the-top party, which featured an appearance by Pharrell Williams, Taylor came off incredibly likable. Unlike many of the teens who appeared on the show, Taylor seemed genuinely grateful for her extravagant gifts, which included a Range Rover. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWmnX0_Y3bA Since that iconic appearance on MTV, Taylor has had an incredible music career. This year, she received her first Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album for _Escape Room_. Recently, Taylor spoke about the MTV experience while taking one of _Vanity Fair_ 's lie detector tests. You can watch a clip here. ## Reddit loves Teyana Taylor's _My Super Sweet Sixteen_ episode Now that people are learning more about Teyana Taylor, they're loving the energy she has always brought to the table. The old clip resurfaced on the r/Fauxmoi subreddit after Taylor's Globes win, and folks have a lot of positive things to say about her. She's always been cool. https://www.reddit.com/r/Fauxmoi/comments/1qb5tld/comment/nz8ecs5/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button Meanwhile, a lot of people are celebrating Taylor's Golden Globe win. https://www.reddit.com/r/Oscars/comments/1qah89k/comment/nz3awni/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button Stole the show with minimal screentime. https://www.reddit.com/r/Oscars/comments/1qah89k/comment/nz30uay/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button A bright future. https://www.reddit.com/r/Oscars/comments/1qah89k/comment/nz3o91j/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletter_**** _here_**** _._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post Teyana Taylor’s “My Super Sweet 16” episode resurges after her Golden Globe win appeared first on The Daily Dot.

_Stranger Things_ Season 5 backlash has been going strong since the finale came out at the end of December. Astute fans of the show thought they had now spotted the reason hiding in plain sight. A new Netflix documentary titled _One Last Adventure_ , released Jan 12, 2026, featured a behind-the-scenes look at the show's final season. Netflix ## Fans zoomed in and jumped to conclusions Folks honed in on one particular clip online, which appeared to show Reddit and ChatGPT tabs open on the Duffer Brothers’ computers while they worked on the script. However, the images are quite blurry and hard to really tell what's being shown. @SThingsMeme/X One tab of about a dozen appeared to show the Reddit logo, and fans quickly ran with it. "Duffer Brothers had a Reddit tab open while writing the _Stranger Things_ 5 ending," a popular _Stranger Things_ meme account on X wrote. Soon after, others claimed they saw ChatGPT icons on other open tabs. The running (unfounded) theory claimed that the showrunners were pulling fan theories from Reddit to write their scripts. Netflix At the time of publishing, the Daily Dot could not confirm any ChatGPT tabs open in the documentary, though Reddit, Zillow, eBay, YouTube, and many other common websites are clearly seen. Naturally, reactions to the Reddit and AI accusations poured in. X user @byler1989 wrote, "the duffers caught with NOT ONE! NOT TWO! BUT THREE! chatgpt tabs open, as well as a reddit tab open while writing s5," while sharing screenshots from the documentary. https://twitter.com/byler1989/status/2010803549295559085 Meanwhile, @byersanswer asked, "is that a f*ckin chatgpt tab i see." https://twitter.com/byersanswer/status/2010638421883285867 Some users reacted with sarcasm instead of outrage. "I’m not sure I’d say Reddit is the thing to worry about here," @MiwiTheClerWise wrote alongside a zoomed-in image. @MiwiTheClerWise/X Still, others sounded convinced. @ashotmagazine said, "The Duffer Brothers had three ChatGPT tabs and one Reddit tab open while writing the ending of 'STRANGER THINGS.'" @PanIndiaReview/X "The Duffer Brothers were literally using ChatGPT and Reddit while writing this season & particularly the finale of _Stranger Things_ ," @alfredjviii noted. "No wonder it's complete 🐶💩!" > @thatboyonfire4 It think some producer at Netflix might hate the duffer brothers #strangerthings #dufferbrothers #strangerthings5 #comformitygate #netflix ♬ Gymnopédie No.1 / Erik Satie(884659) - BPProject ## Not everyone bought the ChatGPT theory However, the evidence of the pair using ChatGPT in their scriptwriting was shaky at best, with blurry footage of their computer screens. While the Reddit tab looked fairly clear, the other icons weren't distinct enough to be noticeably one website or another. Because of that, some fans pushed back against the AI panic. Netflix Several viewers suggested alternative explanations. Instead of ChatGPT, they suggested, the tabs could have shown WriterSolo or a standard Google Chrome page. Others noticed a Zillow tab and cracked jokes. One person quipped, "They’re moving the [expletive] away from that set." X user @wuhuislander added, "As much as this would have been really funny, it’s not a ChatGPT tab." Meanwhile, defenders pointed out that chatbots weren’t exactly advanced when the finale was written. * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletter_**** _here_**** _._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “One Reddit tab open”: Fans scrutinize browser screenshots from the “Stranger Things” Netflix documentary appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Jennifer Lawrence drew the ire of many dog lovers when she joked that she wanted to "obliterate every dog" after an incident regarding her son. Last week, during a Q&A, she revealed that having kids made her distrust the entire species and led to her decision to rehome Princess Pippi Longstocking. ## Jennifer Lawrence kind of hates dogs now The star of the 2025 psychodrama _Die My Love_ was on stage on Jan. 7, 2025, to answer questions after a screening when the topic of her former pet came up. Lawrence explained that she decided to give Ms. Longstocking to her parents after she had children. "After I had a kid, dogs became so scary," she said. "It's almost like I don't recognize dogs right now. I just see them as a threat." This fear made a lot more sense when she explained that a dog did once bite her three-year-old son. "One of them bit my son and that just made me want to obliterate every dog ever," she hesitantly confessed. "I was just like, 'I'm gonna take out you and your f*cking family, and your f*cking friends." This kind of mama bear reaction isn't uncommon after a biting incident. A 2019 study found an average of 337,103 emergency department visits for dog bites each year, with a significant portion of resulting hospital admissions representing kids under the age of five. With 70 percent of those bites happening within the home, Lawrence's decision to relinquish her dog is understandable. Her intense emotional reaction extending to all dogs, however, didn't elicit understanding among her online audience. > View this post on Instagram > > A post shared by E! News (@enews) ## "Jen did not pass the vibe test" The actress may have screwed the pooch with this one. Few admissions attract more online hate than those involving a fear or dislike for dogs. The exaggerated jokes Lawrence made about her reaction, while pretty standard for the actress, only made things worse in the Instagram comments. "Ufff Jen did not pass the vibe test," said @thekarlamontalvan. "Poor dog." @thekarlamontalvan/Instagram "Wow. This is beyond disturbing," @rebeccacorry remarked. "She should never own any dogs or pets if she thinks like that," @katwhyart declared. While some understood her parental instincts, they also wished she hadn't said what she did to such a massive audience, worrying that her new attitudes toward dogs will spread. @theasherhouse/Instagram "This is very unfortunate and very disappointing," wrote @theasherhouse. "I wish she would have thought how much this will hurt the crisis that dogs and animal rescuers are facing all over the world." "What’s especially concerning is using a massive platform not only to normalize giving up a dog after a preventable incident, but to publicly speak so flippantly about obliterating dogs," said @n0em1x. @n0em1x/Instagram "No I don’t think she meant she would actually ever hurt a dog, but that language minimizes their lives, fuels fear and has real world consequences for animals who already pay the price for human failure." Adoption rates may already be suffering as skyrocketing vet bills turn pet ownership into a luxury. * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletterhere._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “Did not pass the vibe test”: Jennifer Lawrence under fire for rehoming her dog, saying she wants to “obliterate” them all after one bit her son appeared first on The Daily Dot.

A new monetization feature in _Fortnite_ led some gamers to accuse Epic Games of allowing a “slot machine” in a game for children. One of the community-made maps now includes a kind of roulette wheel that awards in-game items or cash—after paying a certain amount of V-Bucks for a spin. This new development amplified concerns around the increase in gambling-like features targeting young and otherwise vulnerable gamers. ## A dollar for a spin of the Fortnite wheel Last Friday, _Fortnite_ publisher Epic Games quietly updated its policies to allow certain third-party titles to include in-game monetization options. These often include microtransactions—small purchases gamers can make for items or bonuses within the game. Epic takes a hefty cut of the profits. Most days, it's nearly two thirds of the total. This proved a huge opportunity for developers of massively popular fan games like Steal the Brainrot. Modeled after a Roblox game, _Fortnite _fans made a similar map that once attracted a record 1.09 million concurrent players. A considerable chunk of _Fortnite_ fans are under the age of 18, as anyone who's played it will tell you. While some critics have already compared certain microtransactions to gambling, Epic's monetization changes have them accusing the publisher of allowing fan devs to create slot machines for kids. https://twitter.com/thecooldoggo/status/2010179198338416965 Within hours of the policy change, a "wheel spin" option for 100 V-Bucks appeared in _Fortnite_ 's Steal the Brainrot. Players can purchase that much in-game currency for about one U.S. dollar. It might not sound like much, but in a game that targets children with bright colors and SpongeBob crossovers, it's a recipe for disaster. Neurodivergent gamers have widely criticized AAA companies for cramming microtransactions into every game possible because their impulse control issues make those titles inaccessible to them. If there's another population that has trouble with impulse control, it's kids. ## "Timmy addicted to gambling on Fortnite" Many gamers and anyone concerned about the increase in gambling behavior in the U.S. overall came down hard on Epic Games over this development. They're calling the wheel a "slot machine" and accusing the publisher of teaching the babies to gamble for profit. @thomasthewest/X "100% working as intended, on Epic Games' part," wrote @thomasthewest. "How could you look at Fortnite's existing community games/monetisation models and not immediately see how this was innately predatory." "14yr old Timmy addicted to gambling on Fortnite," @lunarweb333 predicted. "It’s not looking good brev." @shzhv13/X "Disgraceful," said @shzhv13. "Gambling mechanics in a kids' game crosses every line." "It really does seem as if all media is trying to plant gambler genes in these little kids," wrote @mrKonsole. "Sad." This is an especially bad look alongside recent comments by Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney about Grok's new CSAM generating feature calling those who want it stopped "gatekeepers." https://twitter.com/ConRayArt/status/2010595538652262635 "All major AIs have documented instances of going off the rails," he wrote. "All major AI companies make their best efforts to combat this; none are perfect." * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletterhere._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “Innately predatory”: Critics slam Epic Games for approving a gambling-style “slot machine” for kids in Fortnite appeared first on The Daily Dot.

A disabled woman recently had to wait 20 minutes for Victoria's Secret workers to clear out the junk stored in the handicapped dressing room. A TikTok video shows the wheelchair user watching as employees rush to clear the fitting room, which the shop was apparently using for storage. Clothing stores with fitting rooms must provide accessible options for disabled customers to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ## That's not a storage closet On Sunday, TikToker Erin Taylor (@unsteadyandready) posted a video about her ill-fated Victoria's Secret visit. According to Taylor, workers apologized and told her it would be around 20 minutes before she could use the accessible dressing room because they had to clean it out. First, however, they told her that the regular rooms were "big enough" for her and made her try to fit her wheelchair inside. > @unsteadyandready My mom asked me how I felt after this happened. No question. I felt like a spectacle and an annoyance Lesson learned #victoriassecret #adaviolation #disabled #als #treatusright ♬ original sound - erin taylor "Turns out they aren't," she wrote in the video caption. In the end, they either put her in a storage closet to try on her items or didn't entirely clean out the handicapped fitting room. Either way, Taylor ended up rolling her eyes in a space crowded with boxes, fake plants, mannequins, and a Christmas tree. "My mom asked me how I felt after this happened," she said. "No question. I felt like a spectacle and an annoyance." Taylor has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the degenerative muscle disease that got so much attention in the 2010s. At age 23, she already needs to rely on a wheelchair to get around. ## "Shame on that store" Victoria's Secret may need to get on this quick, as Taylor's video is already nearly at a million views. Accessible fitting rooms are explicitly required by the ADA and should be designed to accommodate wheelchairs specifically. Violators can expect hefty fines and bad PR. Outraged commenters advised Taylor to call the corporate office and report Victoria's Secret for the alleged ADA violation. "I worked in corporate for store relations for almost a decade," claimed #mollymaurice. "Call them, DO NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING FROM THEM, even the apology for how you 'were made to feel,' speak with an attorney and report the to the ADA!" @unsteadyandready/TikTok "Get a lawyer and sue them for being not ADA compliant," @kayleighinoakdale recommended. "These big stores have the money to pay out. You have the proof." Some of the loudest commenter complaints came from current or former Victoria's Secret workers. "I work at VS/PINK and I am always advocating for ADA rules and regulations!!" said @jessicaxoxobb. "Shame on that store location, your experience should’ve been welcoming and inviting." @unsteadyandready/TikTok "As a prior Victoria secret/pink employee they should NEVER have been putting stuff in that fitting room," wrote @emsmaasher. "They have designated storage rooms and storage units for that stuff not to mention they need to be ADA compliant." The Daily Dot has reached out to @unsteadyandready via TikTok and Victoria's Secret via email. * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletterhere._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “Get a lawyer”: Victoria’s Secret makes disabled customer wait 20 minutes to try on clothes—because the room was full of junk appeared first on The Daily Dot.

The 83rd Annual Golden Globes took place in Hollywood last night, and, lucky for us, the event birthed a new Leonardo DiCaprio meme. DiCaprio attended the event as a nominee for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for his role in Paul Thomas Anderson's _One Battle After Another_. It marked the actor's 15th nomination of his career. Previously, he won Golden Globes for his roles in _The Aviator_ , _The Wolf of Wall Street_ , and _The Revenant_. This week, he lost to Timothée Chalamet's performance in _Marty Supreme_. Warner Bros. via YouTube ## Leonardo DiCaprio's latest meme Despite getting made fun of in Nikki Glaser's opening monologue and losing his award, DiCaprio seemed to have a fun time at the event. Glaser joked about him dating younger women, adding that she tried to find something else to make fun of, but it's really the only thing people know about the actor. She then referenced an interview he gave with _Teen Beat_ magazine in 1991, citing his favorite food as "pasta, patsa, and more pasta." However, DiCaprio's most-talked-about moment happened during a commercial break. The actor was spotted having some fun while talking to an unknown peer. https://twitter.com/simplemellie/status/2010570506999939182/ It seems as though he was speaking to and/or imitating someone, but it's hard to know for sure. Either way, the moment has people talking. ## The Internet reacts to Leo at the Golden Globes All in all, the biggest winner of the night was the Internet for getting a fresh DiCaprio meme. There are a lot of posts about the actor's commercial break moment. You can check some out below: @kirawontmiss/X Wait. @yosoymichael/X Some love to see it... @RealKhalilU/X ...while others were not amused. @sbodrojan/X A lot of folks are finding the moment relatable. @yosoymichael/X And some are just impressed. https://twitter.com/kylebuchanan/status/2010543294447812968 Who was he talking to?! https://twitter.com/etnow/status/2010577881240588675 We must know. https://twitter.com/rilaws/status/2010544390918295803 ...Maybe he was thinking about them! https://twitter.com/djohawke/status/2010727584901087249 It's certainly a moment we won't forget. @internetarchiva/X The man was made to meme. * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletter_**** _here_**** _._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “Some things never change”: Leonardo DiCaprio making faces at Golden Globes turns into a meme—or two appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Mattel’s launch of its first autistic Barbie this week has been met with both celebration and criticism from the autism community. Created in partnership with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), the doll features accessories and design choices meant to reflect common autistic experiences, from stimming to alternative communication tools. Not everyone feels that it's the best representation, though many are happy to see any kind of autistic doll. ## Mattel introduces autism Barbie Mattel announced the new doll on Sunday, releasing images of the autistic Barbie and her accessories. This is the company's first doll ever made to represent the autism community. She arrived with the help of ASAN, a "non-profit disability rights organization run by and for autistic people." https://bsky.app/profile/popbase.tv/post/3mcai4s2ekc2k "As proud members of the autistic community, our ASAN team was thrilled to help create the first-ever autistic Barbie doll," said ASAN Executive Director Colin Killick for Mattel's press release. "It is so important for young autistic people to see authentic, joyful representations of themselves, and that’s exactly what this doll is." "Partnering with Barbie allowed us to share insights and guidance throughout the design process to ensure the doll fully represents and celebrates the autistic community, including the tools that help us be independent." The Barbie's key features and accessories include: * Bendable wrists and elbows for hand flapping and other common stimming behaviors. * Eyes shifted right to avoid direct eye contact. * A loose dress with flowing skirt to limit fabric-to-skin contact. * Flat shoes for easy movement. * A pink fidget spinner. * Pink noise-canceling headphones. * A tablet featuring symbol-based Augmentative and Alternative Communication apps (AAC). She is also notably not white, countering the false assumption that people of color are rarely autistic. ## "I fear it's going to reinforce stereotypes" Toys meant to represent marginalized communities rarely please everyone, and autistic folks are definitely airing their concerns about this one. Some feel that it leans too hard into stereotypes by representing the most common signs of autism, or even that the inclusion of a tablet for communication help is infantilizing. @kitauthor.com‬/Bluesky "Those stripes don't line up. Like talk about sensory overload. (I'm serious here ppl.)," wrote @kitauthor.com on Bluesky. "On one hand I'm so happy this is being released. On the other, I fear it's going to reinforce stereotypes of what we look like and how we act, as well as reinforce beauty stereotypes vs. who gets support." @stevebower.bsky.social‬/Bluesky "As someone with autism I find it offensive that a complex and challenging condition is reduced to a handful of plastic accessories and some flexi joints," said Steve Bower ‪@stevebower.bsky.social‬. "What next? Autistic Ken with nerdy glasses and a trainspotter log book?" Others appear to adore the new doll, with some coming to her defense even if they had mixed feelings. @breedy95.bsky.social‬/Bluesky "I love this so much!" gushed @breedy95.bsky.social‬. "They made some great choices that visualise the autistic experience, even if you can’t ‘see’ it in many people. I am always supportive of positive role models for autistic young girls, few as they are." @citrusyx.bsky.social‬/Bluesky "I don’t think much of the doll overall but ppl in the quotes saying the aac device is 'infantilizing' as if there aren’t adult autists who need them," @citrusyx.bsky.social‬ pointed out. "You can acknowledge that she has a lot of common visual tropes regarding autism without putting down people who DO need the technology represented." * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletterhere._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “Talk about sensory overload”: Mattel’s autistic Barbie is here and the community has complicated feelings appeared first on The Daily Dot.

An abrupt change of topic during an energy meeting hosted by Donald Trump has been turned into a green screen meme. During Friday’s White House talks on energy policy, President Donald Trump briefly derailed the agenda. Instead of focusing on the meeting at hand, he stood up, walked to the door, and admired the renovations to the donor-funded ballroom that are underway. His bizarre interlude from the meeting he was supposed to be participating in was turned into a meme. ## Trump paused an energy meeting to admire his "beautiful hall" The viral scene took place during talks with oil company executives on Friday, Jan 9. While the room sat in silence, Trump raised his hand and stopped the discussion. "Wait a moment, I need to see my beautiful hall," he said. Then he stood from his chair and walked toward the door. As he reached it, he stared into the space beyond. "Wow! What a view! This is the door to the hall," he declared. https://twitter.com/Microinteracti1/status/2010427842258206733 The ballroom renovations are continuing despite the administration not receiving legal approval from Congress for renovations on the historic building, nor submitting the plans to the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts for review. Secretary Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance could be seen laughing with one another in the video. @leahdionne__/X ## Green screen edits took over timelines within hours Soon after, the clip circulated online with a simple edit of a green screen where the windows should be, courtesy of meme creator @MurdoinkGS. Because the shot framed Trump looking out at the doorway, it invited easy edits. The template reached 3.1 million views, and it spread fast as the remixes poured in. https://twitter.com/MurdoinkGS/status/2010333715516596594 The most popular edit, created by @joesh*tposts, had a yellow blob smiley face figure with arms and legs and a large butt dancing outside the doorway as Trump watched and praised it. The video has over 5.6 million views and 5.3K retweets. @joesh*tposts/X Other creators put classic viral scenes out the windows, while others put anime waifus in scenic landscapes, supermarket aisles, and other over-the-top scenes in the green-screened video. https://twitter.com/Akatsuki_Lvmy/status/2010447484548714804 As edits multiplied, views climbed into the millions in under 24 hours. While many jokes stayed light, the volume showed how quickly the format clicked as the doorway became a portal to anything people wanted to add to it. https://twitter.com/hiltonvision/status/2010537611148833067 https://twitter.com/Murdoink/status/2010396413709197631 @KrisDesChacals tweeted, "At this point, all you can do is laugh…😒" However, not everyone reacted warmly to what happened at the meeting that originated the meme template. Historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat criticized the scene on X. "When will this tragic charade end?" she tweeted. "Hopefully, before he drags the country into the ground, which has happened many times with autocrats before…" * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletter_**** _here_**** _._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “Wow, what a view!”: Trump paused an energy meeting to admire his ballroom renovations, and the internet turned it into a meme appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Social media users weren't happy after Polymarket predictions unexpectedly appeared on the Golden Globes on TV. But why should they have been surprised? This year, the Golden Globes looked a little different as, for the first time in its 82-year history, it collaborated with prediction market Polymarket. @variety/X As part of this partnership, Polymarket displayed real-time probabilities about who would win various awards, both in-person at the awards and on-screen. Viewers and attendees alike were shocked at the addition. As for how the collaboration came to be, Shayne Coplan, Founder and CEO of Polymarket, said in a press release: "The Golden Globes have long been a place where audiences debate and predict what will happen next....By pairing cultural debate with market-based probabilities, we’re giving fans a new, more interactive way to follow the show as it unfolds." However, for many Golden Globes viewers, these "market-based probabilities" actually ruined the viewing experience — and they made their feelings clear on social media. https://twitter.com/jbillinson/status/2010526412302688704 ## Social media reacts to Polymarket collaboration "The stupidest timeline," one wrote. "Ruining every facet of society and entertainment to turn people into degenerates." @_Zeets/X/@milkkarten/X A second remarked how it's "funny Golden Globes are shilling the Polymarket in polls. Like it’s the new norm," while a third begged, "Just push me in front of a bus at this point." Quoting a Variety post promoting the partnership, a fourth simply said, "WTF is this man?" Over on Bluesky, viewers were equally dismayed, with a viewer opining that "Polymarket and online gamblification of every aspect of our lives is the worst new development of the world in 2025." @junlper.beer/Bluesky ## "I don't think the Globes should endorse it" The "gamblification" of the Golden Globes was also cited as an issue by commentary TikToker Kellie (@kellieintheknow). "I don't think everything should be gambling, but if you do want to basically gamble on the Golden Globes, I don't think the Globes should endorse it," she said in a TikTok. "The Foreign Press Association, which is the body that votes on the Golden Globes, is already very secretive. There's very valid concern in regards to Polymarket that it basically allows insider trading, it doesn't prevent that in any way, and has almost encouraged it. But it _is_ gambling, and a lot of countries, including France, have banned it for basically being unregulated gambling." https://www.tiktok.com/@kellieintheknow/video/7594336995795668254 As she pointed out, Polymarket had only recently gained approval to return to the US after it was banned in the country in 2022. The CFTC fined it $1.4 million for operating as an unregulated prediction platform, but the case was dropped thanks to intervention from Trump in late 2025, paving the way for the platform's return. "If you want to spend your money doing these types of things, I guess— why not?—as long as the platform is operating legally," Kellie concluded. "But I think having any type of award ceremony so clearly endorsing this behavior is only going to lead to more corruption, which we don't need more of in the United States, which I feel like the Foreign Press Association should be distancing itself from." * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletter  _****_here_**** _._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post “The stupidest timeline”: Polymarket predictions airing during the Golden Globes sparked plenty of backlash appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Nintendo announced a new toy line for children this week, and the reveal quickly drifted off course. Shortly after the images went live, people online zoomed in on one model’s hand, leading to accusations of AI-generated imagery in the ad. The controversy centered on a single thumb that appeared bent at an unusual angle, which is typical of AI-generated hands. ## Nintendo’s toy announcement sparks AI speculation The image in question came from a Nintendo Store X account posted on January 8th. One of four images showed a parent holding a Mario toy alongside a child, but viewers focused on the parent’s thumb, which seemed to twist sharply backward around the toy. https://twitter.com/NintendoStoreUS/status/2009280600608268620 Many commenters online argued the pose looked impossible, or at the very least extremely uncomfortable. @NintendoStoreUS/X ## YouTube debates the thumb's authenticity YouTuber GameXplain posted a lengthy breakdown examining the image in detail. In his video, he asked, "Did Nintendo get caught using Gen AI in these photos?" However, he quickly explained why he believed the answer was no. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWOrfwnq95U He argued the rest of the image lacked common AI errors. For example, he pointed to normal hands in other photos, realistic fabric folds, and imperfect details. He said, "I could find no clear indicators that AI was used anywhere else in this picture. Either here or in the other three as well. In fact, we zoom in on one of the other three, we can see a perfectly normal set of hands. Two of them, in fact, which of course AI is infamous for getting wrong." He also cited wear on furniture, messy leaves outside, and reflections in an iPad screen. To test the thumb theory, he recreated the pose himself. GameXplain/YouTube After some effort, he managed it. He said the position was "not super comfortable," but possible. As a result, he stated he was "certain that there was absolutely no AI used in these images." ## Social media debates Nintendo's AI thumb question People on social media were quick to judge the photo without a second glance. Other folks pointed out that while the thumb positioning wasn't possible for some people, it is technically possible. @NinjakickX joked, "After trying a few poses to hold an object like this... I can honestly say that I've been using my thumb wrong my entire life, and this grip provides superior crushing strength. I'm never gripping thumbsy-upsy again... Mario-grip for life." Meanwhile, some people pushed back against the AI narrative outright. @SlLENTPRINCESS tweeted, "to everyone concerned, this isn’t AI-generated, the thumbs can just do that sometimes lol." Similarly, @atwtmvtvftvraIp wrote, "Imagine getting told your fingers are weird because they think you are AI-generated omfg." Artists and casual users alike weighed in as the clip spread. @Err_Detected wrote, "Shoutout to all my realistic artist friends out there, you guys understand anatomy way better than I do, and I’m glad I don’t have to capture this." Others tested their own flexibility. @duskanddrawings shared photos attempting the pose and admitted, "yeah i guess so, theirs look very long tho." @duskanddrawings/X Meanwhile, @zachwoliner asked, "It does still seem odd to have that in the final image.  It looks strange, and surely the doll could have been held with a more typical thumb placement and avoided such accusations, right?" @brittonimacoroni/Instagram Finally, @JakeLandauTO said simply, "Hyper mobility go brrrrrr." * * * **_The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletter_**** _here_**** _._** Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. The post AI or hypermobile ability? Nintendo’s toy announcement turns into internet debate over model’s thumb placement appeared first on The Daily Dot.