Hello fellow web crawlers! Andrew here. Welcome to today’s edition of web_crawlr.
Our top stories today are about: An explainer of what exactly the TikTok Alien Cult is, everything you need to know about Moo Deng—the latest adorable animal the internet is obsessed with, the Uncommitted National Movement announcing that it will not give its endorsement to Kamala Harris, and why the internet is tracking down clues about whether Rainforest Cafe is coming back.
After that, we’ve got a “Main Character of the Week” column for you.
P.S. — It’s Friday, which means it’s time for our weekly news quiz! Just scroll down below to answer the question. If you guess correctly, you might win our brand new “Click or Treat” sweatshirt!
See you tomorrow!
— A.W.
⚡ Today in Internet Culture
👽 EXTRA-TOK-RESTRIAL
What’s up with the TikTok Alien Cult?
This new group emerges during a popular time for alien content, both on TikTok and across the internet.
🦛 MEMES
Everything you need to know about Moo Deng, the iconic screaming baby hippo
Moo Deng baby hippo memes and photos have become the latest adorable animal craze to barrel through social media feeds.
🗳️ VIRAL POLITICS
Uncommitted National Movement announces it will not endorse Harris
The Uncommitted National Movement said in a statement provided to multiple news outlets that it will not give its endorsement to Vice President Kamala Harris.
🌴 INTERNET SLEUTHS
Rumors that Rainforest Cafe will open in NYC has the internet tracking down clues: ‘please let it be true’
The popular animatronic animal eatery may be making its debut in the Big Apple…and the people are ready.
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TRUMP FANS WERE DUPED BY A FAKE REPORT THAT TAYLOR SWIFT LOST FOLLOWERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AFTER ENDORSING KAMALA HARRIS. WHICH PLATFORM DID THEY THINK SHE LOST FOLLOWERS ON?
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By Ramon Ramirez
Managing Editor
Main Character of the Week: Fear-mongering in Springfield, Ohio
Main Character of the Week is a weekly column that tells you the most prominent “main character” online (good or bad). It runs on Fridays in the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter. If you want to get this column a day before we publish it, subscribe to web_crawlr, where you’ll get the daily scoop of internet culture delivered straight to your inbox.
🕸️ Crawling the Web
Here is what else is happening across the ‘net.
🐕 Here’s why XiaoPang, an orange Chinese dog, is going massively viral in the West.
🧀 A customer at Whole Foods posted a viral video in shock after buying $20 worth of mac and cheese at the hot bar. Viewers left tips on how to not make the same mistake.
🍽️ This health professional shared the number one thing she would not touch in any bar or restaurant.
🍔 A customer is calling out Applebee’s for the huge price difference between their adult and kids’ cheeseburgersᅳdespite seemingly identical portion sizes.
🚬 Where did the 500 Cigarettes meme come from?
🍕 What do you call a quarter-sized serving of a “personal”-sized pizza? That’s what one Texan HEB customer is trying to figure out.
👮 From the Daily Dot archive: A background check company is secretly paying cops on TikTok to push its services.
🤳 Today’s Viral Video
Guy Fieri and Sylvester Stallone: An ambitious crossover.
