rant · moment 14 of 15
Empty People Watching Girls Do Their Hair on Instagram
from You Can't Have Everything · #50
Audio-only archive episode — no video to seek.
4 minTim discusses the strange parasocial appeal of watching ordinary influencers (a girl doing her hair, guys jumping on beds on Vine) outdraw legends like Elton John, framing it as people craving envy and connection rather than talent.
- 51:55People are empty and watch girls doing their hair on Instagram instead of real entertainment like Elton John concerts.
- 52:54Tim doesn't need to connect with funny people or be their friend—he can just find them entertaining and move on.
- 53:28On Instagram, 10,000 or 20,000 people watch some girl doing her hair, compared to far fewer watching an Elton John concert.
- 53:56People now prefer watching someone just be themselves rather than performed content like jokes or songs, and they want to envy that person.
- 54:32When a girl talks to you on social media without performing, your body biologically feels like she actually likes you and might want you to show up at her house.
- 55:02YouTube and Instagram Live let you see someone's location, which can make viewers think the person wants them to show up and let themselves in as a joke.