Chosen by Dillon Baker, editorial collaborator
Outdoor brands have been sponsoring landmark expeditions for years. Thanks to social media, veteran adventurers are now being replaced by more socially savvy – but sometimes less experienced – alternatives. Trips' scope and ambitions are also being scaled back in favor of safer, faster rides that are more focused on content creation than they were originally intended: discovery and adventure. .
It's another demonstration of the power of social media platforms and their insurmountable hunger for more content. Publishers, brands, discoverers — everyone feels the pressure to shape themselves to better fit the machine's feed.
Chosen by Carly Miller, editorial intern
I was 10 years old when I got my first pair of glasses, and I will always remember my first day with them. I could see every branch on every tree top and every drop of rain on the car window. Secular becomes electricity; It's thrilling just to see how objects move through space. Reading Michael W. Clune's virtual reality article brought me right back to that moment.
Clune takes readers through the infancy of VR. He challenges claims that VR enhances empathic responses and explores the danger of bridging the gap between seeing and experiencing. While the wave of VR excitement focuses on the potential to (almost) transport oneself to another place, Clune concludes that the real magic of VR is not escaping into another world with another body, but is to rediscover your own inner magic.
Chosen by Jordan Teicher, senior editor
I don't care much for football, but I do own an LA Galaxy Herbalife jersey. It was given to me as a gift, and I love it, mainly because it looks so eye-catching. For years, I wore it without knowing anything about Herbalife. Looking back, I'm pretty sure I thought it was a weed startup.
I promise that personal anecdote is on purpose. The aesthetic appeal of the shirt not only appealed to me, but helped attract millions of people. And it may even have helped Herbalife thrive while running a pyramid scheme. This was all news to me as I read this short but very interesting piece by Bloomberg writer Matthew Townsend. It's the perfect example of how influencer marketing and savvy branding can tame a corporate shady operation.
Chosen by Joe Lazauskas, Editor-General Manager
I try to avoid promoting TCS stories here, but this feature by our own Dillon Baker is too good not to share. It reveals an under-reported story that will soon become the big deal: the utter wretchedness of influencer marketing. Please read it!
Chosen by Brian Maehl, Talent Development Manager
Scrolling through my iPhone while stepping over one of our office dogs in an attempt to reach our wall of free snacks at Contently HQ, I was outraged when I saw this piece of Bloomberg did criticized boot privileges. We have it pretty good here: management is open to working from home, our product team recently built a video game machine, and we get free lunches on Fridays (note, Greta: No more salads, please).
The story specifically talks about “surface perks” that mostly look appealing during the job search but ultimately don't make much sense. Ping-pong table. Red Bull in the fridge. Well, maybe the aforementioned game machine will be under this umbrella. But the article makes the point that people are more concerned with real benefits like paid time off, leave policies, flexibility of family care, etc. That's not exactly an argument. overate.
However, I would argue that while those surface-level perks may be just a way to attract young, impressive talent, free lunches and video games are still the way to go. Indicators that a company has your support. Playing a quick game of ping pong during the workday may not be infrequent, but it's at least a sign that your employer values (some) your personal time and sanity.
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