Today I have for you some news about social media censorship, the best Amazon deals roundup on the internet, hot links and some cute new art I bought. 🖼️

—Nick Wolny

X suspends 200+ accounts with no notice

For the six years I was self-employed, there was I phrase I liked to say over and over again: Don't build on rented land.

When you only ever build your audience on social media or on a third-party platform, and then the platform changes its algorithm, you run the risk of losing your whole audience. I saw this happen again and again: To talented writers on Medium, to full-time video creators on YouTube, and to endless consultants and small businesses on Facebook and Instagram. I've always preferred email because it guarantees that people at least receive your content, and I'm more of a blogger than a social media creator because I prefer LSD (long slow deep!) content that has durability.

For queer and marginalized creators, another social media obstacle has reared its head: censorship. Pink Media, a parent company that operates over 200 LGBTQ-friendly accounts, saw its entire X presence abruptly suspended with no notice last week. Combined, the accounts had over 1 million followers.

It's a pretty overt censorship play. And it's also my plea to all of you entrepreneurs as a consultant who's on a break from full-time entrepreneurship, day-jobbing it, and mostly observing from the sidelines: Don't build on rented land, particularly if a substantial amount of your revenue or earnings comes from these platforms. We never know how algorithms will change next, but we DO know they change often, and not always for the better.

If you're building something on social media, do whatever you can to invite people over to your email list, too. Create content that will be relevant and valuable to people for years to come. Quality, entertaining content still wins the internet, even in the age of AI.

The Advocate has the scoop on the Pink Media mayhem.

🔗 Read at The Advocate

Amazon Prime Day shopping tips

I appeared on Yahoo! Finance over the weekend to share some shopping tips ahead of Amazon Prime Day, which is Tuesday and Wednesday. CNET has an entire team combing through deals; you can find that beefy roundup by clicking here. (Seeing the behind-the-scenes prep that goes into a post like this is wild.)

As a personal finance writer, Prime Day is a sticky one. Yes, it's a manufactured sales event, and yes we want to shop local whenever we can. But we're also in high-inertia times right now with regard to food and housing prices. Discount shopping is attractive when a bag of groceries costs 75 bucks.

Over the last year, many of you who are online entrepreneurs have also told me that revenue is down. Online service providership has always required us to stay on our toes, but the last three years have felt particularly brutal, forcing one pivot after another. Consultants are selling $25 courses, course creators are selling five-figure packages to corporations, and everyone and their mom has less reach on Instagram than they used to. It seems like everyone is pivoting lately.

All of that means being more choosy with shopping and spending. Prime Day is good to shop if you're jonesing for some new electronics or smart home items, or you just want to stock up on everyday essentials. But don't spend money you don't have :)

A whole team of my CNET colleagues found actual deals so you don't have to; check out the ongoing roundup.

🔗 Read at CNET

Reading is fundamental

Money and Work

Distinguishing constructive criticism from bad business advice. (A Smart Bear)

The Fed is eyeing rate cuts in the face of a slowing job market, Jerome Powell told Congress earlier this week. (AP News)

Amazon is offering a $20 credit to some customers before Prime Day. Here's how to get it. (CBS News)

The CFPB took action against Fifth Third Bank, which purposely overcharged clients on their auto loans, then illegally seized people's cars. Separately, auto debt delinquency is generally up as vehicles become more expensive and auto loan rates more aggressive. (CBS News)

The median retirement savings for a 55-year-old is $50,000, according to a new report. Financial professionals advise having eight times your annual salary by this age. (CBS News)

Like Wordle? 10 Other Puzzle Games to Try. (CNET)

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AI and Future Tech

Scammers Are Creating Tons of Fake Job Listings, Thanks to AI. (CNET)

Nintendo Has No Plans to Use Generative AI in Its Games, Company President Says. Oh go on, give me another reason to love my Nintendo Switch. (CNET)

Uber for Teens has renewed the debate over drivers should be required to complete a fingerprint scan and background check. (TechCrunch)

A new law in Illinois will require child influencers to be paid if they appear in at least 30% of a platform's content.This has been a push for a while, with most states looking to how the entertainment industry regulates child actor work as a starter template. (Mashable)

Google and Microsoft report growing emissions as they double-down on AI. AI requires tremendous computing power, hence the gold rush in tech happening right now. Google's emissions are up 48% and Microsoft's are up 29%. (NPR)

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LGBTQIA2S+

Amnesty international released a report on gender and human rights in the digital age. (Amnesty International)

The Trevor Project announced a new CEO. The previous CEO, Amit Paley, was removed by the board of directors in 2022 due to staff concerns about leadership direction. (The Advocate)

A Guide to Project 2025, the Right’s Terrifying Plan to Remake America. (Rolling Stone)

LGBTQ+ Rights at Stake in Project 2025. (GLAAD)

Digestif

Look at this cute-ass art I bought!

Love me some Instagram for finding artists and creatives, and I stumbled across Toronto illustrator Jake Tobin's account recently. He did a beautiful series for Pride month, and my bedside nook needed a refresh, so I splurged on the whole set and framed the prints this past weekend.

Cheering you on,

—Nick

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