Internet Culture
Kristine has reported features on online phenomena occuring in the intersections of culture and social media, such as fan spaces and viral discourse. She has also worked on online news stories on topics such as fast-growing social media trends, viral posts and various celebrity news.
Features
Is This AI? Taylor Swift, Drake, and a Music Industry in Trouble (June 2024) – Teen Vogue
The Cost to Influence: Live streamers are taking over the gift economy with NPC role-plays (Aug. 2023) – Daily Dot
Why the Beyhive is telling crowds to shut up during the Renaissance Tour (Aug. 2023) – Daily Dot
Japanese users fed up with ‘Barbenheimer’ hype are making 9/11 memes (Aug. 2023) – Daily Dot
Influencers express confusion—and consider content pivots—amid SAG-AFTRA strike (July 2023) – Daily Dot
Viral trend of Gen Z fans throwing things at artists onstage sparks calls for concert etiquette (July 2023) – Daily Dot
Why fans think ‘The Idol’ is about Selena Gomez (June 2023) – Daily Dot
News
AI Is Rewriting Meme History (July 2024) – WIRED
Troll makes up story about child to get trans creator kicked out of restaurant during live stream (July 2023) – Daily Dot
Suicide survivor says comedian Ashley Gavin repeatedly told her to kill herself after she cheered at live show (June 2023) – Daily Dot
Essays
An Ode to Stans (Aug. 2022) – Sunstroke Magazine
Kristine Villarroel 