This week on The Deep Dive: How UwU transcended itself, now that indie sleaze might be making a comeback it’s time to talk about Cory Kennedy, Gen Z’s never really worked in an office but now they’re dressing like they have, the worst-kept secret behind Boeing’s flop era, and let’s just go ahead and add horses to the list of things women and girls can’t enjoy without being ridiculed.

Coming tomorrow on The Rabbit Hole, binge-watching Vanderpump Rules is like digging up a time capsule. Last week, I wrote about my thoughts as someone who was way too late to the Big Brother hype.

INTERNET

The Etymology of UwU by STRANGE ÆONS (16:35)

Whether you were an early adopter of the internet or only became aware of anime culture when it went mainstream in the 2010s, any chronically online person knows about the cutesy emoticon-turned-sound: UwU. But where did it come from and how did it come to represent an entire online subculture? In this video, STRANGE ÆONS gets to the bottom of UwU, dating all the way back to the year 2000. From bare-bones forums to a copypasta to a rap adaptation of the copypasta to the rap adaptation finally making its way to TikTok, the story of UwU spanned internet generations, eventually becoming a meme of itself.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Cory Kennedy: The Internet’s First It-Girl and Muse of Indie Sleaze by Final Girl Studios (25:50)

It was 2006 and 16-year-old Cory Kennedy, the internet’s first “it girl” who arguably paved the way for influencers in the decade to come, was living every mid-2000s teen girl’s dream – with questionable approval from her parents. In this video, Final Girl Studios details the explosive rise and sudden online disappearance of “the princess of indie sleaze.” Even if you don’t recognize Cory Kennedy by name or face, anyone in the 25-35 crowd could spot her personal style and aesthetic from a mile away. If you ever stole your mom’s digital camera for a photo shoot with your friends that consisted of smudged eye makeup, squatting on the side of the street, a solid-colored background, and the kind of super-bright flash that could only be produced by a point-and-shoot, you have Cory Kennedy to thank for that.

This issue of The Deep Dive is sponsored by Strong Towns

Less than a month left until the Strong Towns National Gathering…

And I want to see you there! If you don’t already know, Strong Towns is a YouTube channel dedicated to a better future for America's towns and neighborhoods. This year, Strong Towns is holding its National Gathering on May 14-15 in Cincinnati. The event will feature sessions about building safer streets, how to talk to your community about the need for public investment, and more.

Register for the event here and use code HAYAK2024 to get 10% off General Admission tickets. If you do buy tickets, hit reply and let me know so I can connect you with other rabbits who will be attending!