ICYMI Halloween Used to Be Fun Online
Oct 29, 2025
Join Jonquilyn Hill, host of Vox's Explain It To Me and a savvy commentator on internet culture, as she takes a nostalgic stroll down memory lane with Kate Lindsay. They explore the quirky online Halloween traditions of the past, from spooky Twitter names to faded Snapchat filters. Delve into the eerie world of creepypasta, the viral ghost videos haunting TikTok, and the shift from earnest to ironic online culture. Plus, they tackle how memes are shaping Halloween costumes and the impact of social media on real-life celebrations.
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Howard Homecoming Memory
- Jonquilyn describes attending Howard Homecoming as a yearly, campus-centered tradition with tailgates and parades.
- She shared it was her most low-key and wholesome return, buying a Howard sweater and seeing friends with kids.
Nostalgia For Earnest Early Twitter
- Early Twitter felt earnest, communal, and event-driven, making trending topics and live-tweeting feel meaningful.
- Jonquilyn Hill and Kate Lindsay argue that current self-conscious irony and algorithmic changes hollowed out that shared, playful spirit.
Earnest Whimsy Became Socially Risky
- Whimsy and earnest seasonal rituals (like spooky display names) fell out of favor because earnestness now reads as cringe.
- The hosts link this cultural shift to a broader internet reluctance to show vulnerability.
