Introducing PHONE TIME

A new publication on internet culture.

Hi! My name is Kristin Merrilees, and I’m a writer, journalist, and creator covering the internet — think TikTok trends, niche communities, memes, platform features, and more.

Today, I’m launching PHONE TIME, a new publication and newsletter on Substack. It’s free (for now)!

A lot has changed since I first started writing about the internet a few years ago — from the Twitter-to-X transformation to TikTok’s rise as an impossible-to-ignore cultural and economic engine. At the same time, while trust in legacy outlets has declined, a new media ecosystem has flourished. Creators, Instagrammers, podcasters, Substackers, TikTokers, and others have built brands delivering incisive commentary and original insights across fashion, food, technology, and beyond.

The internet is facing real threats — from disinformation to increased corporate control — but it also remains a space of constant creativity and cultural shifts. With PHONE TIME, I aim to deliver critical writing and original reporting about the internet, not just looking at trends in isolation but digging deep into the cultural transformations happening before our eyes.

Here’s a little bit more about what to expect:

• Reviews of new social apps, online tools, and internet/tech-related media (everything from books to movies to YouTube videos to Instagram accounts)

• Interviews with online creators, technologists, and makers shaping digital culture

• Service journalism on how to live with technology amidst fragmentation, information overload, and algorithmic feeds

• Original reporting on online trends, platforms, and communities

If you have tips, comments, ideas, or just want to chat about the internet, you can reach me at merrileeskristin@gmail.com. You can also find me on Twitter/X, Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok.

Thanks for being here — more soon!

Kristin