WSJ: “Recently published research shows that people find conversations about boring topics more enjoyable and interesting than they expected. Studies have also found that chitchatting with strangers or casual acquaintances—psychologists call these “weak ties”—is good for us. A pleasant chat with someone we don’t know can soothe or support us when no one else is around and boost our mood. It can also help broaden our perspective.”
Mint: “The first decade of India’s internet economy answered one question: Can these businesses scale? The next decade will answer a far more important one: Can they earn? That distinction may ultimately determine India’s next generation of platform champions.”
The 50 Best Thrillers of the 21st Century. From NYTimes. “Gone Girl” is at #1.
WSJ: “Seven-year-old Whatnot is one of the fastest-growing shopping platforms in America. It allows people to bid, around the clock, on trading cards, squishy toys, designer fashion and instant ramen, auctioned live in high-energy shows within the app. It has tapped into the addictive qualities of social media, with opportunities fed to you in an algorithm-controlled scroll. Often, users don’t search for a particular item, but instead hope to hit on something by being on the app at the right time…Whatnot doesn’t disclose total users but said it added 20 million new accounts in 2025. The company is on track to surpass $1 billion in revenue this year and estimates it holds nearly 60% of the live commerce market in North America and Europe.”
