Hello fellow citizens of the internet! Andrew here. Welcome to today's edition of web_crawlr. 

Our top stories today are about: How President Biden's birthday cake has become the new "this is fine" meme, a look at some of the best travel hacks we've found online, how YouTube admitted to purposefully delaying site loading times for specific users, and an explainer on the popular "here we go again" meme I'm sure you've seen on your timeline. 

After that, our Senior Reporter Audra has a "That One Sound" column for you. 

See you tomorrow! 

— A.W. 

⚡ Today's top stories

🎂 POLITICS
Biden’s flaming birthday cake is the new ‘This Is Fine’ meme

A photograph of President Joe Biden celebrating his 81st birthday is being hailed by some as the new “This Is Fine” meme.

➤  READ MORE 

🌴 HACKS
What are the best travel hacks on TikTok?

Given that 'travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer,' here are some suggestions to make that investment better.

➤  READ MORE 

⏳ TECH
YouTube admits it implemented delays on loading site for specific users

YouTube admitted that it was purposely delaying loading times on its videos for a specific group of users.

➤  READ MORE 

🔁 MEMES
The ‘here we go again’ meme, explained

The beauty of the meme is that the character’s frustration can be applied to a number of situations.

➤  READ MORE 

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🎵 That One Sound

By Audra Schroeder
Senior Culture Reporter

A ‘Hamilton’ song is revived to document weird pet behavior 

In each edition of web_crawlr we have exclusive original content every day. “That One Sound” is a weekly column from senior internet culture writer Audra Schroeder that explores the origin of popular sounds heard on TikTok. It runs on Wednesdays. 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.

🍰 A video of a couple having dinner at The Cheesecake Factory went viral after the girlfriend shared that her boyfriend doesn’t know the “Cheesecake Factory rule.” Viewers were puzzled. So what is the rule? 

🍲 Our friends over at Cool Beans got a crew of foodies together and put together the ultimate Friendsgiving potluck recipes all in one place. Check out the full menu here, and subscribe to Cool Beans here.

🗣️ A user on TikTok is calling out Panera Bread after alleging that the company fired a woman 2 days after she gave birth.

🖼️ This CVS was captured putting pictures of products on the shelves instead of the actual items—like toilet paper—to deter shoplifters. 

🎄 In another case of “What I bought vs. What I got,” a mother shares her disappointment after unboxing a Christmas tree from Family Dollar.

🐟 This TikToker issued a call to “whoever is in charge of cutting the salmon at Trader Joe’s” after discovering something was left behind.

💼 How would you react if your supervisor never sent you a work schedule, and then wrote you up for not showing up to your job anyway? 

🔍 From the Daily Dot archive: Telegram is supercharging conspiracy theories across the planet.

*The Daily Dot may receive a commission in connection with purchases of products or services featured here.

📝 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. 

ARE YOU SHOPPING AT COSTCO AHEAD OF THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY?

To answer questions like this in the future, sign up for web_crawlr here.

👋 Before you go

A Jack in the Box customer says they visited three separate locations in an attempt to purchase food, but all of them were either closed or apparently abandoned. On their final stop, they found a total disaster.

TikToker Andro-Meda says they were greeted with an empty kitchen that was in the process of “flooding” thanks to a sink being left on, which was pouring water all over the place. 

In their video, Andro records the interior of the Jack in the Box’s kitchen from outside of the drive-thru window. A running faucet can be seen continuously pouring water into a flooding sink bowl that then falls into a red bucket. The water then spills over onto the orange-tiled floor.

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The post Newsletter: Biden’s birthday cake gets memed appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Hello fellow citizens of the internet! Andrew here. Welcome to today's edition of web_crawlr. 

Our top stories today are about: How people are reacting to a viral video showing a nun leaving a vape store, an Olive Garden customer saying they were yelled at by a manager for sharing unlimited pasta, how a ransomware gang filed a complaint with the SEC because its alleged victim didn't disclose their breach, and a look at some of the most popular generational memes. 

After that, our Senior Reporter Tricia has a "Problematic on TikTok" column for you. 

See you tomorrow! 

— A.W. 

⚡ Today's top stories

💨 VIRAL 
‘Holy smokes’: Nun seen leaving a vape store

A clip has gone viral showing a nun dressed in full gear—a long black tunic and a blue habit—leaving the vape store. 

➤  READ MORE 

🍝 WTF
‘But like it’s your food??’: Olive Garden customers say both server and manager yelled at them for sharing unlimited pasta

In a video that has been viewed more than 1 million times, an Olive Garden customer says she was yelled at twice by a server and a manager over sharing unlimited pasta. Viewers were divided on how they felt about it.  

➤  READ MORE 

💻 HACKING
Ransomware gang files complaint with SEC complaining victim didn’t promptly announce breach

A notorious ransomware group filed a complaint with the SEC after one of its alleged victims reportedly failed to disclose their breach.

➤  READ MORE

👴 MEMES
Generational memes highlight humor, identity, and conflict

The generational wars took on a new face when memes were born.

➤  READ MORE

We crawl the web so you don’t have to. Sign up to receive web_crawlr, a daily newsletter from the Daily Dot, in your inbox each day.

😬 Problematic on TikTok

By Tricia Crimmins
Staff Reporter

Those impressive TikTok singing videos might not be for real

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.

👀 A woman recorder her reaction to a man's "cringey" video on Hinge where he discusses the traits he's looking for in a partner. 

👑 Here are some of the best Queen Elizabeth memes.

🍺 Children can do the darndest things, from saying what they’re seeing to blurting out random pieces of information. One woman shared a video of her daughter doing this after she asked if the cases of Michelob Ultra at Walmart were “daddy.”

🍲 Our friends over at Cool Beans got a crew of foodies together and put together the ultimate Friendsgiving potluck recipes all in one place. Check out the full menu here, and subscribe to Cool Beans here.

🍴 A server went viral for reenacting a time when a wedding party of 50 came in 10 minutes before closing, and then refused to tip.

☕ Enjoy delicious, coffeehouse-quality coffee without ever having to leave the house with these home espresso machines.* 

👀 People are relating to this video that shows a shopper start scanning items herself when the cashier was taking too long. 

🍫 The hot chocolate at In-N-Out is getting praised by customers. So what's in it? 

⚰️ From the Daily Dot archive: Here are the real-life stakes of faking your death online.

*The Daily Dot may receive a commission in connection with purchases of products or services featured here.

📝 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 SHARED A MEME ABOUT ANOTHER GENERATION WITH YOU FAMILY MEMBERS?

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👋 Before you go

Inflation has impacted nearly every aspect of consumer life in the U.S. over the past two years, from increasing credit card debt to expensive housing and even higher grocery bills.

One customer on TikTok, Semajah Parker (@semajahparker), says that she did not bat an eye when the Wendy’s Four for $4 became a $5 Biggie Bag—but charging more than $0.99 for an Arizona tea? Not on her watch.

“When inflation hit Wendy’s, I ain’t say nothing,” she says. “Four for $4 is now a $5 Biggie Bag? OK, whatever. But when it hit Arizona teas, I was livid. The best thing Arizona ever did was give people permission to snitch because I was six-nine on them lines telling on the people anytime I saw a can of Arizona tea that was more than $0.99.”

She says she went into a business and found them charging double for the branded teas, which include a $0.99 price label on the packaging design.

🎶 Now Playing: "Still Got It" by Troye Sivan 🎶 

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The post Newsletter: ‘Holy smokes’: Nun spotted leaving vape store appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Hello fellow citizens of the internet! Andrew here. Welcome to today's edition of web_crawlr. 

Our top stories today are about: A woman's viral video recounting how she flirted with an NFL player on Instagram and got ghosted, how Elon Musk's "CyberBeer" is being slammed as "hot garbage," a right-wing outlet pushing an absurd claim that Hamas will launch fentanyl-filled rockets, and how presidential hopeful Nikki Haley argued against the existence of anonymous social media accounts. 

After that, our Assistant Newsletter Editor Kira has her weekly "Decoding Fandom" column that looks at whether fans are getting tired of the MCU. 

Also: Keep an eye on your inboxes later today for the third round of voting for the Daily Dot Hall of Fame! 

See you next week! 

— A.W. 

👀 VIRAL
‘This happens to so many of us’: Woman flirts with NFL player about Wii Michael Jackson game. Then he buys eBay Wii, posts to Stories

A flirty interaction with a "wicked hot NFL player on Instagram" ended with ghosting and left one woman absolutely flabbergasted.

➤  READ MORE 

🍺 FAIL
‘Hot garbage’: Elon Musk’s fanboys despise his ‘rusty, natsy’ $150 Tesla CyberBeer

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is facing backlash following the release of a $150 “CyberBeer” that at least one of his supporters has described as “hot garbage.”

➤  READ MORE 

🚀 DEBUNK
Right-wing outlet pushes absurd claim Hamas will launch ‘fentanyl-filled rockets’

The right-wing media outlet Breitbart claimed that the militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah may be preparing to use fentanyl-filled rockets against Israel. 

➤  READ MORE 

🗳️ POLITICS
Nikki Haley demands ban on anonymous social media accounts while on influential anonymous conservative poster’s podcast

Republican 2024 presidential candidate and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley argued against the existence of anonymous social media accounts, saying the issue amounts to a “national security threat.”

➤  READ MORE 

We crawl the web so you don’t have to. Sign up to receive web_crawlr, a daily newsletter from the Daily Dot, in your inbox each day.

⭐ Decoding Fandom

By Kira Deshler
Assistant Newsletter Editor

Are fans getting tired of the MCU?

In each edition of web_crawlr we have exclusive original content every day. On Saturdays our Assistant Newsletter Editor Kira Deshler dives deep into the world of fan culture in her “Decoding Fandom” 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.

🍔 If you’ve ever been in the drive-thru and were asked to pull up and wait for your food, only to sit there for what felt like an eternity, then you’re not alone.

🍴 Recently, a restaurant server and bartender shared that his manager “rage quit” without notice, leaving the establishment without a leader. Eight weeks later, the situation still hasn’t improved.

🔗 A screenshot of a post purportedly made by Hollywood actor Mel Gibson claims that “the end” of Israel is coming. But the post, which has gone viral across social media, isn’t real.

🏳️‍🌈  Whether you want to laugh, cry, or celebrate your Pride, these LGBTQ+ movies on Netflix are just what you need on your TV right now.* 

🗣️ A woman on TikTok accused Trader Joe’s of selling fake meat after getting chicken sausage and thighs with a butter-like texture.

☕ This coffee expert went viral after claiming that Starbucks regularly burns their coffee. 

🧶 A customer said in a viral video that a Joann Fabrics worker refused to let her leave the store with fabric. 

💸 From the Daily Dot archive: Is social media spending on drunk driving campaigns making a difference?

*The Daily Dot may receive a commission in connection with purchases of products or services featured here.

👋 Before you go

A Texas Roadhouse customer snuck into the restaurant’s kitchen during a visit to capture video and is now sharing that video with the rest of the world.

As Daily Dot readers know, Texas Roadhouse makes for some popular TikTok content, and this particular TikTok video from creator Nick Brown (@nickbrown.7) was engaging enough to draw more than 324,000 views.

The on-screen caption declares, “Exploring the Texas Roadhouse Kitchen!” followed by the all-important parenthetical, “I don’t work here.”

🎶 Now Playing: "Only Happy When It Rains" by Garbage 🎶 

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The post Newsletter: Ghosted by an NFL player on Instagram appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Hello fellow citizens of the internet! Andrew here. Welcome to today's edition of web_crawlr. 

Happy Friday! Our top stories today are about: Why people online think former Fox News pundit Tucker Carlson is the favorite to be Trump's 2024 running mate, how viewers of a viral video are divided about a Hinge match who crocheted with their headphones on during the date, a package of stories about how every facet of the internet has come under government control in India, and why people think a pedestrian who was hit by a Chick-fil-A truck should get free meals for life. 

After that, our Managing Editor Ramon shares with you the trending team's pick for the Main Character of the Week. 

One last thing: It's Friday, which means it is time for our weekly news quiz. Just scroll down below to answer the question. If you guess correctly, you might win a "Crawl Into Fall" shirt. 

See you tomorrow! 

— A.W. 

⚡ Today's top stories

🗳️ POLITICS
Why Tucker Carlson is the new online favorite to be Trump’s 2024 running mate

Trump has said he'd consider the idea.

➤  READ MORE 

🧶 VIRAL
‘WITH THE HEADPHONES ON?!’: Woman says Hinge date started silently crocheting

This person went on a date, and instead of chatting, the person across from her crocheted with their headphones on. Viewers are divided about whether this is strange or ideal date behavior.

➤  READ MORE 

💻 TECH
Modi's Internet

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party, every facet of the internet has come under their control, every public space dominated by high-tech surveillance, every message potentially read by its prying eyes.

➤  READ MORE 

🚚 WTF
‘The lack of emergency is sending me’: Chick-fil-A delivery van hits pedestrian in parking lot

Viewers are calling on Chick-fil-A to give this woman free meals for life after she was hit by one of the fast-food chain’s delivery trucks.

➤  READ MORE 

We crawl the web so you don’t have to. Sign up to receive web_crawlr, a daily newsletter from the Daily Dot, in your inbox each day.

💾 Are you extremely online?

Are you the most online reader of web_crawlr? 

Prove it by answering our question of the week! The answer can be found somewhere in one of our newsletters from this week. 

If you answer correctly, you'll be entered to win our brand new "Crawl Into Fall" shirt, and we'll shout out five people who won the shirt! 

A recent viral video detailed how a woman found out that a live animal was inside her ear. What kind of animal was it?

Think you know the answer? Sign up for web_crawlr so you can answer next week’s question!

👑 Main Character of the Week

By Ramon Ramirez
Managing Editor

Main Character of the Week: Self-service kiosk asking for a tip

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.

🐔 A video captured a team of workers at Costco in a sort of industrial ballet packaging rotisserie chickens—and a lot of people found it to be beautiful.

☕ The internet is divided on whether you should drink coffee on an empty stomach. What do you think? 

✈️ A flight attendant revealed in a viral video the lengths passengers go to sneak into first class and how she deals with them.

💰 If you’re looking for a way to make some extra cash by getting rid of unused items, you might want to check out this viral TikTok video that reveals some hacks for how to succeed on Facebook Marketplace.

🗣️ This Panera customer went viral after calling out the chain's chicken bowl for being a "scam" that contained what he considered barely any food. 

📞 Call center jobs are “not for the weak,” says a work-from-home employee. In a video with over 534,000 views posted to TikTok, the worker explains why.

💼 One worker says she transitioned from working in a retail environment to heading on over to embracing the corporate office life instead; she couldn’t be happier with the change.

📽️ From theater-quality movie screenings to breathtaking gaming sessions, this mini projector turns your streaming sesh into the ultimate cinematic experience.* 

📺 From the Daily Dot archive: What do users actually want from streaming services? 

*The Daily Dot may receive a commission in connection with purchases of products or services featured here.

👋 Before you go

Someone complained that McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish is shrinking in size and is virtually down to the size of a slider. A former McDonald’s corporate chef stepped in to investigate the claim. What he found is surprising.

In a recent TikTok, Mike Haracz (@chefmikeharacz), who is the former McDonald’s corporate chef and has many videos about the burger chain, shared that he was tagged multiple times in a video of a person showing a significantly smaller Filet-O-Fish.

He wasn’t sure what was going on with the sandwich size and decided to pull up to a nearby McDonald’s to investigate.

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The post Newsletter: People are divided over crocheting Hinge date appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Hello fellow citizens of the internet! Andrew here. Welcome to today's edition of web_crawlr. 

Our top stories today are about: A shocking video where a woman finds out that she had a live spider in her ear, a company that laid off people on a Zoom call but didn't mute the workers' mics, how Elon Musk railed against shadow bans but is using them on his critics, and a look at the many memes of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.

After that, our Politics and Tech Editor David has a "Deplatformed" column for you. 

See you tomorrow! 

— A.W. 

🕷️ WTF
‘This is my worst fear’: Woman finds out she had a live spider in her ear

Everyone’s worst nightmare came true for one woman, when doctors discovered that she had a live spider inside of her ear.

➤  READ MORE

💼 VIRAL
‘This is absolutely disgusting’: Employer lets go of entire team in mass layoff via Zoom. They didn’t mute workers’ mics

The company Solera is under fire after performing a mass layoff via a Zoom call. The problem? They didn’t mute employee microphones.

➤  READ MORE 

💻 TECH
Elon Musk railed against shadow bans—now he’s using them on his critics

Musk is a self-appointed free speech crusader. Sometimes.

➤  READ MORE 

🎬 MEMES
The many memes of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

Between his larger-than-life personality and even larger physique, the Rock keeps breaking the internet with a series of surefire memes.

➤  READ MORE 

We crawl the web so you don’t have to. Sign up to receive web_crawlr, a daily newsletter from the Daily Dot, in your inbox each day.

🚉 Deplatformed

By David Covucci
Senior Politics and Technology Editor

Deplatformed: The Church of Gab

Deplatformed is a weekly column that looks into the nether reaches of the internet—outside the big few that everyone already covers—to tell you the political discourse online. It runs on Thursdays 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.

🏡 An Airbnb host said he was getting “f*cked” by the company and called them out for ghosting him and making him lose out on the income of a nearly two-week stay. 

🧊 This... is a pretty bizarre request to get from your landlord. 

🍞 A user on TikTok has sparked discussion after sharing images of moldy bread. She claims that she purchased the bread from Costco—and the fact that it went moldy after just a few days is actually a good thing.

🚗 This woman's "horror" experience with Alamo Rent a Car is getting a ton of attention online. 

🧺 Recently, many stores have decided to lock certain items behind glass or plastic in order to prevent people from shoplifting the item. But people are shocked to see laundry items behind locked shelves. 

☕ A woman went viral for urging her followers to use their unused Starbucks gift cards soon to prevent the company from reaching record profits.

🍴 Master the art of cooking for one with these kitchen hacks for single living.* 

🛍️ This retail worker went viral for calling out customers who ask her for help right when she's about to go on break. 

👶 From the Daily Dot archive: The many lives of the Dancing Baby,cyberspace’s first cringe meme.

*The Daily Dot may receive a commission in connection with purchases of products or services featured here.

📝 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 HAD BREAKFAST AT MCDONALDS?

To answer questions like this in the future, sign up for web_crawlr here.

👋 Before you go

A user on TikTok has sparked discussion after claiming that a CVS pharmacist contacted her using the store’s information after she did not offer him her phone number.

In a video with over 94,000 views, TikTok user Brooke (@capricornb1mbo) writes, “Thinking about that time the CVS PHARMACIST asked for my number and because i didnt give it to him he got it from their SYSTEM and texted me.”

She then shows the text message exchange in question, where the man claims he “met [her] at CVS.”

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The post Newsletter: Spider discovered in woman’s ear appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Hello fellow citizens of the internet! Andrew here. Welcome to today's edition of web_crawlr. 

Our top stories today are about: A Republican senator and a witness challenging each other to a fight in the middle of a hearing, a renter claiming his landlord "bribed" him to move out of his new apartment, how the QAnon Shaman from the Capitol Riot is now running for Congress, and everything you need to plan a perfect Friendsgiving. 

After that, our Senior Reporter Audra has a "That One Sound" column for you. 

See you tomorrow! 

— A.W. 

⚡ Today's top stories

👊 POLITICS
Republican senator, Teamsters boss challenge each other to fist fight at hearing

As Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) began to remove his wedding ring, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who was in charge of the hearing, demanded that the pair stop. 

➤  READ MORE

🏠 VIRAL
‘Sounds like your landlord is Frankensteining a rent-stabilized apartment’: Renter says landlord ‘bribed’ him to move out of his new apartment

A tenant has sparked discussion after revealing that his landlord pressured him to move out of his new apartment so he could convert it to a four-bedroom rental.

➤  READ MORE 

🔍 CONSPIRACY
The QAnon Shaman is running for Congress

He wants to go back to the Capitol.

➤  READ MORE 

🦃 ADVICE
Everything you need to plan a perfect Friendsgiving

Overwhelmed by planning? Start here.

➤  READ MORE 

We crawl the web so you don’t have to. Sign up to receive web_crawlr, a daily newsletter from the Daily Dot, in your inbox each day.

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🎵 That One Sound

By Audra Schroeder
Senior Culture Reporter

The origin of the ‘clinical depression’ sound on TikTok

In each edition of web_crawlr we have exclusive original content every day. “That One Sound” is a weekly column from senior internet culture writer Audra Schroeder that explores the origin of popular sounds heard on TikTok. It runs on Wednesdays. 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.

🐠 In a curious turn of events, a video from TikToker Aquarium World has 680,000 viewers buzzing with interest over a tale of an unusual customer who bought $1,000 worth of fish with cash. 

🩺 People online are concerned that Amazon is now offering healthcare to Prime subscribers. 

🍞 A Texas Roadhouse manager told a customer about the apparently secret signup sheet for frozen rolls during the holidays. He posted a viral TikTok video exposing the restaurant’s secret.

☕ This TikToker is calling out Starbucks over what they say is the company's attempt to reel in customers who are boycotting them. 

🍲 The Melting Pot is known for being very expensive. A Melting Pot customer filmed her and her group’s reaction to receiving their bill—they all laughed in disbelief.

💵 This man has got a lot of attention online after declaring that he was no longer tipping because it should only be for "exceptional service." 

🎯 A Target worker went on a rant against the “corporate mumbo jumbo” employed by the chain when it comes to the titles of its workers in a trending video.

🦠 From the Daily Dot archive: Here are the viral marketing campaigns that helped shape the internet as we know it.

*The Daily Dot may receive a commission in connection with purchases of products or services featured here.

📝 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 BEEN TO A FRIENDSGIVING? 

To answer questions like this in the future, sign up for web_crawlr here.

👋 Before you go

Many users across the internet have complained about the rising cost of living in the United States. Given these heightened costs, it’s no surprise that some workers are taking on second or third jobs to cover day-to-day expenses. 

Now, a TikTok user has sparked discussion after sharing her experience working two jobs.

In a video with over 2.6 million views, TikTok user Victoria lays out her intense work schedule.

“Subway 2pm to 9:30pm, Dennys 10pm to 5:30am,” she writes in the text overlaying the video.

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Newsletter: Republican tries to start a fist fight during a hearing appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Hello fellow citizens of the internet! Andrew here. Welcome to today's edition of web_crawlr. 

Our top stories today are about: How Panera has made a decision to "delete" its highly-caffeinated and very viral Charged Lemonades, how everyone wants to know what happens to Sen. Tim Scott's (R-S.C.) girlfriend after suspending his presidential campaign, a look at the Daily Dot's new YouTube series "Meme History," and a customer sparking a discussion after being asked to tip after shopping at a self-service kiosk.

After that, our Senior Reporter Tricia has a "Problematic on TikTok" column for you. 

See you tomorrow! 

 — A.W. 

⚡ Today's top stories

🍋 VIRAL
‘We were forced to move them because people can’t read the warning labels’: Customer says Panera ‘deleted’ the Charged Lemonades

A Panera customer’s video about the chain’s decision to “delete” free refills of its Charged Lemonades sparked a viral discussion about the offering’s caffeine content.

➤  READ MORE 

🗳️ POLITICS
‘Thanking God her contract ended’: Everyone wants to know what happens to Tim Scott’s ‘girlfriend’ after he suspends presidential campaign

She had a very brief moment in the sun.

➤  READ MORE 

🌐 MEMES 
Introducing ‘Meme History,’ a new series celebrating the best memes online

The Daily Dot is launching a new YouTube series ‘Meme History,’ celebrating the most iconic memes that have graced the internet since its inception.

➤  READ MORE

💸 WTF
‘The tipping culture has gotten way out of control’: Customer uses self-service kiosk to buy $1.99 bottled water. She’s then asked to tip

When a cashier asks you to tip, at least you can see the face of the person you would be tipping. But who receives a tip in a self-serve kiosk?

➤  READ MORE 

We crawl the web so you don’t have to. Sign up to receive web_crawlr, a daily newsletter from the Daily Dot, in your inbox each day.

😬 Problematic on TikTok

By Tricia Crimmins
Senior Reporter

TikTok’s AI studio photo filter is lightening skin and making people look thinner

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.

🥚 A McDonald’s worker showed a behind-the-scenes look at a contraption used in cooking scrambled eggs that has to be seen to be believed.

🌿 How would you react if someone mowed your lawn without your permission and then demanded $150 for the work? 

🍗 This worker went viral after sharing that after he asked for a raise, his company instead catered Chick-fil-A for the staff. 

🥗 Have you ever experienced sticker shock while ordering lunch? Then you’re not alone. Recently a TikToker went viral when she posted about paying $31 dollars for a salad.

🎁 With the holiday's approaching, a beauty expert is going viral for sharing which Sephora holiday sets are a ripoff. 

🧸 Gather the family for some G-rated fun. These are the best kids' TV shows that are actually good.* 

💰 Ever since TikTok debuted its shopping experience, users have become concerned about the over-commercialization of the platform, like this one user who called out the "dystopian" merchandising landscape. 

🍹 Two customers went to Applebee's with just $3 and ordered two Dollaritas. They were shocked when the bill arrived. 

*The Daily Dot may receive a commission in connection with purchases of products or services featured here.

📝 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 TRIED THE VIRAL CHARGED LEMONADE AT PANERA?

To answer questions like this in the future, sign up for web_crawlr here.

👋 Before you go

How often do you need to wash out your water bottle? Definitely more frequently than never.

In a TikTok from the account @kookynell, that has more than 1.7 million views, a woman’s first time washing out her water bottle is documented, as is the gunk that’s been chilling in it.

As if seeing the dark-colored gunk on a soapy pipe-cleaner brush isn’t enough, you also get a glimpse into the depths of the hydro flask, where there is more gunk—possibly mold.

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Newsletter: Asked to tip at a self-service kiosk appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Hello fellow citizens of the internet! Andrew here. Welcome to today's edition of web_crawlr. 

Our top stories today are about: A woman's wild first date horror story that has gone viral, a look at how Republicans are expressing frustration over voters rallying around abortion rights in elections earlier this week, whether or not there's predictive power in the Super Bowl logo, and how wolf memes have taken over the internet. 

After that, our Assistant Editor Kira has a "Decoding Fandom" column for you. 

A quick reminder: If you didn't take our weekly news quiz yet, there's still time! Just open yesterday's newsletter and answer the question. If you guess correctly, you might win a "Crawl Into Fall" shirt! 

Also: Keep an eye on your inboxes today for the next round of voting for the Daily Dot Hall of Fame! 

— A.W. 

⚡ Today's top stories

👀 WTF
‘Secretly checking my Bank of America app’: Woman goes on date with entrepreneur who forgets his wallet and needs dinner, gas, parking. But offers to Venmo

A woman shares that she went on a date with an entrepreneur who forgot his wallet, forcing her to pick up the tab for dinner, gas, and parking. The video garnered over 339,000 views and viewers didn’t hold back their opinions.

➤  READ MORE

🗳️ POLITICS
After massive election losses, Republicans can’t decide if abortion is hot or not

Republicans expressed frustration over voters rallying around abortion rights, costing the GOP a number of elections Tuesday night.

➤  READ MORE 

🏈 VIRAL
'I’m just saying’: NFL fan thinks the new Super Bowl logo is a hint at who’s going to be playing in it this year

A football fan declares that, while not a “conspiracy theorist,” she thinks there’s predictive power in the Super Bowl logo colors released before each season.

➤  READ MORE 

🐺 MEMES
Wolf memes have taken over the internet

The wolf meme—and its extensions—has become a multifaceted emblem for Gen Z and beyond.

➤  READ MORE 

 We crawl the web so you don’t have to. Sign up to receive web_crawlr, a daily newsletter from the Daily Dot, in your inbox each day.

⭐ Decoding Fandom

By Kira Deshler
Assistant Newsletter Editor

Martin Scorsese is the internet’s new It Girl

In each edition of web_crawlr we have exclusive original content every day. On Saturdays our Assistant Newsletter Editor Kira Deshler dives deep into the world of fan culture in her “Decoding Fandom” 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.

💸 A thrift store was caught selling destroyed Nike hoodie for $140 and referring to it as "vintage."

🥣 In a society where customers’ quests for value often clash with restaurants’ sometimes ambiguous protocols, a recent video by an Olive Garden customer has stirred up a digital cauldron of soup, salad, and controversy.

🍬 A Target worker went viral for claiming that the gift her job gave her for Christmas was Halloween candy. 

🍨 Sam’s Club recently released its latest frozen yogurt treat at their cafe: the Mint Chocolate Chip Brownie Sundae. Now it's all the rage this winter. 

🍼 What you need to know about the little conception device that’s making it easier to get pregnant.* 

💼 A labor lawyer shared the common mistake among workers who need help after losing or leaving their jobs. He says the mistake forced him to turn away a potential new client.

👁️ Numerous attendees of ApeFest, an event centered around the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT, have reported experiencing eye problems and sunburns.

🧥 The cost of a uniform jacket made one Chick-fil-A worker decide to withstand chilly weather rather than spend money on the outerwear.

🖥️ From the Daily Dot archive: Here’s why you can’t take a screenshot of a TV show or movie on your computer.

*The Daily Dot may receive a commission in connection with purchases of products or services featured here.

👋 Before you go

It seems like millennials and Gen Z just can’t win when it comes to the workplace. Pre-pandemic millennials were stereotyped as entitled and disloyal. Gen Y is still perceived by many higher-ups in the corporate world as flighty and overly image-conscious.

And management is now saying the so-called younger generations aren’t stepping up to take their place as supervisors in the post-pandemic world. They may be right about that, but there are some very good reasons for it.

TikToker @littlemisstrena attempted to address the question as to why generations Y through Z seem less than enthusiastic about taking up leadership in the workplace in a viral video with more than 300,000 views.

🎶 Now Playing: "Girls in the Hood" by Megan Thee Stallion 🎶 

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Newsletter: First date horror story appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Hello fellow citizens of the internet! Andrew here. Welcome to today's edition of web_crawlr. 

Happy Friday! Our top stories today are about: A worker getting revenge on a co-worker who kept drinking her non-dairy coffee creamer, how a Democrat House candidate in Virginia who was outed for performing sex acts online in exchange for tips lost her election, a restaurant worker claiming he was fired after hitting a customer in the head with a pumpkin, and a viral video of a homeowner finding a rat hiding behind their bathroom mirror. 

After that, our trending team shares with you their pick for the "Main Character of the Week" online. 

Also: It's Friday, which means it is time for our weekly news quiz! Just scroll down below to answer the question. If you guess correctly, you'll be entered to win a "Crawl Into Fall" shirt. 

See you tomorrow! 

— A.W. 

🐀 WTF
'Had to have a room with a view’: Rat discovered in open pipe behind mirror

Seeing a rat in your house can be stressful. But seeing a rat in your bathroom mirror might have you doing some reflecting.

➤  READ MORE 

🗳️ POLITICS
Democrat Susanna Gibson, outed for online videos, slated to lose Virginia race by just 1,000 votes

Democratic state House candidate Susanna Gibson is on track to narrowly lose her race against Republican David Owen following revelations that Gibson performed sex acts online with her husband in exchange for tips.

➤  READ MORE 

🎃 LABOR
‘But why wasn’t she ready’: Man says he was fired after hitting a customer in the head with a pumpkin

A man working in a restaurant claims that he was fired after accidentally hitting a customer in the head with a pumpkin. The incident, caught on the restaurant’s security cameras, has gone viral on TikTok.

➤  READ MORE 

☕ VIRAL
‘Make sure you put a note on it ‘don’t touch’ then you won’t be liable’: Worker gets revenge on co-worker who drinks all her non-dairy coffee creamer

A worker got revenge.

➤  READ MORE

We crawl the web so you don’t have to. Sign up to receive web_crawlr, a daily newsletter from the Daily Dot, in your inbox each day.

💾 Take our weekly news quiz! 

Are you the most online reader of web_crawlr? 

Prove it by answering our question of the week! The answer can be found somewhere in one of our newsletters from this week. 

If you answer correctly, you'll be entered to win our brand new "Crawl Into Fall" shirt, and we'll shout out five people who won the shirt! 

A video recently went viral where a barista told the story of when she threw food at a rude customer. Where did the barista work? 

Think you know the answer? Sign up for web_crawlr so you can answer next week’s question!

👑 Main Character of the Week

By Ramon Ramirez
Managing Editor

Main Character of the Week: Clothes

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.

💰 It's pretty well known that Target is more expensive than Walmart. But as one customer recently realized: That's changed. 

🍻 Many Airbnb hosts get bothered when their guests leave behind food or party decor. But this host seems to get a kick out of showing all the snacks and goods her guests left behind—including a Dos Equis keg.

🥤 This TikTok user wants to know why her Celsius drink is changing colors. Viewers say it’s happened to them too.

📅 As the holidays approach, workers are beginning to put in their time-off requests, and one person is sharing a "hack" to get four 4-day workweeks in a row. 

🍞 This Subway worker is getting a ton of attention for their video where they mock customers who ask for "fresh" bread. 

🌎 Living more sustainably is surprisingly easy with these eco-friendly alternatives for things you use every day.* 

🍔 Here's what happens when you place a McDonald's mobile order. 

🧥 In a TikTok video that grabbed the attention of over one million viewers, a customer calls out Abercrombie & Fitch for what she describes as deceptive product labeling.

👪 From the Daily Dot archive: Why some mommy vloggers are taking their kids out of the spotlight.

*The Daily Dot may receive a commission in connection with purchases of products or services featured here.

👋 Before you go

A user on TikTok has sparked discussion after revealing what he claims is a recipe for making Auntie Anne’s pretzel bites at home.

Popular creator Jordan (@jordan_the_stallion8) has gone viral numerous times in the past for his fast-food-related hacks. Previously, Jordan revealed how to make Baja Blast at home, a recipe for Big Mac sauce, and what he alleges are the ingredients for Olive Garden’s Alfredo sauce.

Now, Jordan is back with a new fast-food hack. In a video with over 988,000 views, Jordan shares a recipe for Auntie Anne’s pretzel bites, saying he “didn’t realize how expensive [they] were.”

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Newsletter: Rat discovered behind bathroom mirror appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Hello fellow citizens of the internet! Andrew here. Welcome to today's edition of web_crawlr. 

Our top stories today are about: 

• Someone finding an unpleasant addition to her Endless Shrimp at Red Lobster. 
• Republican operatives unearthing Trump's fraud trial judge's gym thirst trap photos. 
• Fans of Taylor Swift not knowing how to get a CD out of the case. 
• An explainer of the viral "Does He Know?" meme. 

After that, our Senior Politics and Tech Editor David has a "Deplatformed" column for you. 

See you tomorrow!

— A.W. 

⚡ Today's top stories

🦐 WTF
‘Never eating out again’: Red Lobster customer says she found something unusual in her food when she went for Endless Shrimp deal

A Red Lobster customer claims there was an unpleasant addition to her dish as part of an Endless Shrimp adventure at the chain restaurant—and she has video to prove it.

➤  READ MORE

📷 POLITICS
Republican operatives unearth gym thirst trap Trump fraud trial judge appears have posted in high school alumni newsletter

A Republican opposition research firm unearthed Judge Arthur Engoron's fitness update photos. 

➤  READ MORE 

💿 VIRAL
‘I shouldn’t feel this old’: Tween Swifties learn how to open ‘1989’ CD

A Taylor Swift CD is apparently still a novelty for fans of a certain age.

➤  READ MORE 

🤔 MEMES
What is the ‘Does He Know?’ meme?

This meme weaves humor into the fabric of online communication, turning a simple question into a staple of social media banter.

➤  READ MORE

We crawl the web so you don’t have to. Sign up to receive web_crawlr, a daily newsletter from the Daily Dot, in your inbox each day.

🚉 Deplatformed

By David Covucci
Senior Politics and Technology Editor

Nashville mayor slander

Deplatformed is a weekly column that looks into the nether reaches of the internet—outside the big few that everyone already covers—to tell you the political discourse online. It runs on Thursdays 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.

🍔 This Five Guys customer joined in on the ongoing discussion over fast-food prices by saying that they paid over $22 for the "smallest" meal that "wasn’t even nice." 

💵 Pre-tipping on DoorDash is a hot topic of conversation, with both drivers and customers carrying some very strong opinions on the matter.

🧹 A café worker’s clip went viral after they started their pre-close duties soon after their shop opened. In the comments section, many workers said they could relate to the feeling of wanting to start clean-up duties early—presumably so they can go home, too. 

👗 There can be hiccups when orders are processed. Some are minor but others are major. In this case, a woman revealed her “horror story” after she received only two items from her $850 order from Abercrombie & Fitch.

📱 While Instagram has already gained notoriety for contributing to low self-esteem, it seems that another platform has joined the ranks of mood-dampeners: LinkedIn.

🎄 This Home Depot customer went viral after sharing how she paid $400 for a Christmas tree but when it arrived she noticed that something was wrong. 

🍿 Fuel your hate-watching with movies so bad, they're actually…kind of good. These are the best worst movies you need to watch right now.* 

🍹 A customer at an Atlanta restaurant had reasonable expectations for what everything would cost in a big-city dining establishment—until it came to two Long Island Iced Teas that were $30 each.

🤖 From the Daily Dot archive: Distorted TikTok sounds hurt marginalized creators—and AI is making it worse.

*The Daily Dot may receive a commission in connection with purchases of products or services featured here.

📝 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. 

ARE YOU A FAN OF TAYLOR SWIFT'S MUSIC?

To answer questions like this in the future, sign up for web_crawlr here.

👋 Before you go

An O’Reilly Auto Parts employee’s first day on the job reportedly took a catastrophic turn when a routine installation ended in a massive car fire.

The incident, captured on video and shared by TikToker Mike (@dr3amwurld), has already garnered over 1.5 million views, serving as a warning for car owners and novice mechanics alike.

The footage shows a car engulfed in flames, with a fire truck nearby, while the TikToker narrates: “It’s my first day working at O’Reilly’s. I installed this vato’s battery backwards.”

In the comment section, viewers cracked jokes about the situation.

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Newsletter: Trump judge gym thirst trap appeared first on The Daily Dot.