Are internet firms the problem, or are you the problem?
A veteran critic of technology offers his take on a familiar target
IN EARLY 2019 an unusual abundance of orange poppies appeared on the slopes of Walker Canyon, in the Temescal Mountains south-east of Los Angeles. Social-media influencers flocked to the scene to take pictures of themselves among the blossoms, prompting their followers to do the same. The “superbloom” of flowers produced a superbloom of people, trampling the poppies, causing gridlock and creating a public-safety hazard.
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This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “The bloom is off the rose”
Culture February 1st 2025
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