Hello fellow citizens of the internet! Andrew here. Welcome to today’s edition of web_crawlr.
Our top stories today are about: An Amazon delivery driver leaving a customer’s package in a tree, how a warning about a “very sophisticated” scam went viral, the Daily Dot’s “Meme History” video series deep-diving on the iconic “Distracted Boyfriend” meme, and how conspiracy theorists can’t decide whether to support comedian Jim Gaffigan made a joke about pedophiles during the Golden Globe Awards.
After that, our Senior Reporter Tricia has a “Problematic on TikTok” column for you.
See you tomorrow!
— A.W.
⚡ Today’s top stories
🌲 VIRAL
‘No more porch pirate worries’: Amazon driver places customer’s package in a tree
An Amazon delivery driver left a customer’s package in a tree after throwing it—and missing the intended delivery spot.
💸 SCAMS
‘It’s a very sophisticated scam’: Bank of America, Chase customer warns of new Zelle scam after almost falling for it himself
Scammers are becoming more clever, finding new and elaborate ways to steal your money. A man issued a public service announcement about a new Zelle scam after he almost fell victim to it.
👫 MEMES
Meme History: How a ‘distracted boyfriend’ went from a simple stock photo to an iconic meme
While many memes evolve slowly, the ‘Distracted Boyfriend’ meme seemed destined for instant fame. You can watch the latest in the Daily Dot’s “Meme History” video series here.
🔍 CONSPIRACY
Jim Gaffigan’s Golden Globes ‘Epstein’ joke divides conspiracy community
Conspiracy theorists can’t decide whether to support Jim Gaffigan after the comedian joked about pedophiles in Hollywood during the 2024 Golden Globe Awards on Sunday.
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😬 Problematic on TikTok
By Tricia Crimmins
Senior Reporter
Why a TikTok filter telling people what mental health diagnosis they look like bolsters stigmas
In each edition of web_crawlr we have exclusive original content every day. On Tuesdays our IRL Reporter Tricia Crimmins breaks down the trends on the popular app that will make you cringe in her “Problematic on TikTok” column. If you want to read columns like this before everyone else, subscribe to web_crawlr to get your daily scoop of internet culture delivered straight to your inbox.
🕸️ Crawling the web
Here is what else is happening across the ‘net.
🌮 For those wondering if there’s a Taco Bell floating restaurant, the answer is yes—though the word “floating” is doing a lot of work here.
🍳 A server revealed her brunch horror story through a skit after some customers tried to order scrambled eggs at a restaurant.
🥪 A TikToker went viral with her latest video showing the remains of a sandwich made in an unusual place… the aisles of Target.
🚗 “Somebody tell me, how is this legal?” one car owner asks in a viral video. “How can Geico raise my insurance from $289 to $436 without me getting into an accident or speeding tickets, anything?”
💵 A server’s video about three common misconceptions customers have about tipping culture has gone viral, causing many to debate who bears responsibility for such a culture in the U.S.
💍 One bride-to-be was shocked by the shoddy workmanship of a mall goldsmith and took to social media with her story, including that the jeweler aged her engagement ring “100 years” in just 30 minutes.
📱 A woman has gone viral for posting a video blasting her Uber driver for demanding a $150 fee to return her phone.
🛍️ From the Daily Dot archive: #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt: Why TikTok shopping is now the ordinary.
📝 Question of the Day
Everyone’s got opinions, and we want to know yours. Just click a button below to answer the question, and tomorrow we will let you know how fellow web crawlers like you answered.
HAVE YOU EVER APPLIED FOR A JOB ON LINKEDIN?
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👋 Before you go
Ham radio enthusiast and serial radio scanner Mister Twister (@mister_twister_55) has been enthralling TikTok with a series of eavesdropping videos where he camps out in business parking lots and finds the walkie-channel employees are using.
This allows him to listen in on conversations—in one viral clip, he documents some correspondence between Chick-fil-A employees, providing a glimpse into the hectic, and often wholesome employee exchanges while performing their job duties.
The radio expert is at it again, and this time he’s managed to tune his frequencies to a line used by employees at a Kohl’s retail location who had an eventful day: everything from folks going into labor, crestfallen customers misplacing a bunch of holiday cash, and a shopper who really just wants to find a Foot Locker.
“Kohl’s did not disappoint, oh my God,” a robotic voice narration says at the start of the video.
🎶 Now Playing: “Try Me” by Jorja Smith 🎶