Topic: Influencer culture

Oprah Winfrey gestures during a taping of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" at the Sydney Opera House in Australia on Dec. 14, 2010. The episodes aired in January 2011 as part of the show's 25th and final season. (Brendon Thorne / Getty Images)

Oprah is our cultural Oppenheimer

Melanie McFarland
Grace Ann Nader, left, and Brooks Nader attend the U.S. premiere of "Practical Magic 2" on Aug. 31, 2026, in Los Angeles. The sisters partnered with Astral Tequila to promote the film as part of a broader trend of studios enlisting influencers for movie marketing. (Chloe Kern / FilmMagic)

Influencers are squeezing out critics

Kristen Lopez
An influencer doing her thing (Francesco Carta fotografo/Getty Images)

The trademark wars of influencer culture

Andi Zeisler
Where's the party? (Hill Street Studios/Getty Images)

Have we forgotten how to party?

Andi Zeisler
Sunday reset cleaning (SeventyFour/Getty Images)

Why we’re watching strangers tidy up

Andi Zeisler
Labubu at Copenhagen Fashion Week, on August 04, 2025 in Copenhagen, Denmark (Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

2025, the year of overconsumption

Andi Zeisler
Showcase of Brandy & Melville store in Fuencarral street in Madrid, on 5 April 2017, Spain. (Cristina Arias/Cover/Getty Images)

"Brandy Hellville" exposes fast fashion

Nardos Haile
Woman making video about newborn baby handling (Getty Images/vladans)

"Momfluencers" profit off isolation

Nicole Karlis
Ja Rule and Billy McFarland in "Fyre" (Netflix)

The everyday horror of working for Fyre

Keith A. Spencer