infinite scroll

Welcome to Touch Grass, a mini series where we explore the implications of being chronically online with the creatives who can’t escape it.In this episode, host Lauren Meisner interviews Eugene Healey, a global brand strategist, key-note speaker, and online creator who grew his following from 0 to 400K in under a year. Eugene and Lauren chat about his career journey from academia to marketing, the power of creating opinion-based content online, dealing with criticism, and (of course) Lauren's favourite topic, Vanderpump Rules.Touch Grass is brought to you by BRITA: www.brita.com.au⁠/Find our podcast YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC18HclY7Tt5-1e3Z-MEP7Jg Subscribe to our weekly Substack: https://centennialworld.substack.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infinitescrollpodcast/ Follow Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmeisner_/ 

The biggest tech news & social media trends on the internet from February 18th, 2026.Join our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cw/CentennialWorld  Timestamps:00:00 Intro1:11 TikTok usership remains stable despite new ownership2:24 Meta patents technology for AI to impersonate deceased users 9:18 Wall Street Journal profiles philosopher who teaches Anthropic’s Claude morals 14:31 SeeDance 2.0 breakdown & Disney cease-and-desist Subscribe to Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/18cqrQI7gMiVfxIMRAeULF   Subscribe to Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/infinite-scroll/id1499785732   Subscribe to our weekly Substack: https://centennialworld.substack.com/   Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infinitescrollpodcast/   Follow our publication: https://www.tiktok.com/@centennialworld   Follow Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmeisner_/   Follow Lauren on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenmeisner_Please consider buying us a coffee to help keep Centennial World's weekly podcasts going! Every single dollar goes back into this business💖 https://buymeacoffee.com/centennialworld  Sources:https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-granted-patent-for-ai-llm-bot-dead-paused-accounts-2026-2 https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/WO2025117006 https://patents.google.com/patent/US12513102B2/ https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1r6n7es/comment/o5rnts5/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1r6n7es/comment/o5ryxro/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/anthropic-amanda-askell-philosopher-ai-3c031883 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9aGC6Ui3eE https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/16/tiktok-us-joint-venture-user-data-no-mass-exodus-oracle-mgx-silver-lake-larry-ellison-trump.html https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/877931/bytedance-seedance-2-video-generator-ai-launch https://www.axios.com/2026/02/13/disney-bytedance-seedance https://openai.com/index/disney-sora-agreement/ https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/16/bytedance-safegaurds-seedance-ai-copyright-disney-mpa-netflix-paramount-sony-universal.html https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/879644/bytedance-seedance-safeguards-ai-video-copyright-infringement https://variety.com/2026/film/news/paramount-disney-bytedance-cease-and-desist-seedance-ai-infringement-ip-1236663663/ 

Thank you to The Commons for supporting this episode: https://www.thecommons.com.au/ The biggest stories on the internet from February 17th, 2026.Join our Patreon here!!! https://www.patreon.com/c/CentennialWorld/Please consider buying us a coffee or subscribing to a membership to help keep Centennial World's weekly podcasts going! Every single dollar goes back into this business🩷 https://buymeacoffee.com/centennialworld/ Timestamps:00:00 Intro1:33 Gabbie Hanna claims "psychological abuse" at the hands of Trisha Paytas, drama channels, and other creators in new podcast10:52 Creator goes viral for driving ticket13:32 Pheonix & Blaec's post-prison relationship concernFind our podcast YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC18HclY7Tt5-1e3Z-MEP7Jg Subscribe to our weekly Substack: https://centennialworld.substack.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infinitescrollpodcast/ Follow Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmeisner_/ 

A Sydney launch event draws ire for a visibly nondiverse influencer list and sparks a broader look at PR, algorithms, and industry gatekeeping. A viral TikTok reframing of Shrek prompts a debate about character identity and media messaging. A six-year hair collection project comes to an end, highlighting long-term niche creative work and parasocial bonds.

A quick rundown of a high-profile breakup announcement and how sudden fame strains relationships. A creative exec move as an influencer steps into a C-suite role and what that means for brand partnerships. A viral PR moment where an uninvited creator’s organic coverage outshone planned influencer posts.

A viral Staples employee turns in-store demos into TikTok fame and sparks a brand response. A socialite faces backlash over a high-profile halftime appearance and the political reading of her actions. Controversial tweets about a superstar lead to hacking claims. Allegations arise that a major manager tried to shape fan accounts around a pop icon.

Lena Tuck, a social media producer and TikTok commentary creator behind 10 Hour Screen Time and Sydney’s Heated Rivalry lookalike contest. She talks about breaking into TikTok work, balancing chronic online life in her 30s, managing timeliness versus personal boundaries, ethics around drama coverage, and practical ways she 'touches grass' away from the screen.

A rundown of a hockey brand apology over a misleading DM and embargoed catalog. A viral Drag Bingo moment featuring a Chipotle gift card and creators extending the gag. A major creator buying a Gen Alpha banking app and what that move signals. A TikTok plagiarism clash sparking debate about copying in creator culture.

A controversy over a hockey gear catalog post sparks a deep dive into brand vs creator conflict. The timeline of DMs, takedown claims, and a public apology is unpacked. Conversations cover fandom loyalty, copyright theories, and how misreading internet culture can alienate fans. Competing brands and missed PR opportunities are also explored.

A heated backlash over a wellness creator's response to a Minneapolis killing sparks debate about accountability in the wellness world. A disputed canned matcha collab idea prompts claims of idea theft and cultural appropriation. A viral Dubai chewy cookie craze leads to K-pop attention and the South Korean Red Cross using the treat to drive a surge in blood donations.