The Internet Loves a Mirror — Even a Distorted One

Cleo dives into the explosion of Wrapped-style recaps across platforms after Spotify proved the model works. She examines how Reddit, YouTube, TikTok, Duolingo, Strava, DoorDash, and even banks rushed to create their own year-end summaries. The episode explores algorithmic storytelling and selective transparency, revealing how platforms curate data to tell flattering stories while hiding less appealing metrics. Cleo unpacks manufactured personality types, the aesthetics of self-curation, and why users accept flawed or incomplete data if the emotional narrative feels right. She investigates the tension between accuracy and feeling, showing how these recaps turn consumption into identity and habits into personality through careful framing that makes every user feel seen, even when the mirror is deliberately distorted.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI