Eugene Wei

In a thought-provoking discussion with Eugene Wei, a writer and former product thinker at tech giants like Hulu and Amazon, we dive into the impact of social media on modern culture. Eugene explores how platforms like TikTok shape our 'digital nervous system', emphasizing the shift from meaningful connections to algorithm-driven engagement. He critiques the polarization of online discourse and the isolation bred by technology, reflecting on how these dynamics affect identity and community. Prepare for insights on creativity, AI, and the quest for genuine human relationships in a commodified world.

Eugene Wei, a former head of product at Hulu and Oculus, dives into TikTok's fascinating algorithm and its impact on the creator economy. He unpacks how this algorithm levels the playing field for new creators, allowing fresh voices to emerge based on engagement rather than follower counts. The discussion also highlights TikTok's remix culture, which encourages creativity through community collaboration. Additionally, Wei addresses the evolution of video as a leading medium, showcasing how algorithms shape user experiences and foster cultural exchange.

Eugene Wei, a former strategist at Amazon, Hulu, and Oculus, shares his deep insights into tech and social media design. He discusses the importance of decision-making processes, drawing lessons from industry giants like Jeff Bezos. Wei highlights the 'social graph problem' that plagues many apps today and critiques design choices made by social media incumbents. He also unpacks the concept of 'status as a service', exploring how it shapes user behavior and interactions in the evolving media landscape.

Li Jin, co-founder of Variant Fund and a key thinker on crypto, joins Eugene Wei, a visionary in Web2 product development. They delve into the future of social interactions, highlighting the potential of crypto to redefine online engagement. The discussion navigates from the constraints of algorithms in Web2 to the liberating opportunities in Web3, emphasizing psychological ownership and the balance between community and fame in the digital landscape. Their insights reveal how decentralized technologies could reshape social capital and enhance emotional connections.

Eugene Wei, a tech analyst with a rich background at Meta, Amazon, and Hulu, dives into the shifting landscape of social media. He discusses TikTok's innovative algorithm and the challenges of platforms like Threads amidst user fatigue. Wei explores the transient nature of social media and its dual role as a connector and a source of toxicity. He also touches on the absence of a 'super app' in the U.S. and reflects on leadership changes at major tech firms, shedding light on the future of AR and VR technologies.

Writer and technologist Eugene Wei joins Dan, Erik and Antonio to talk about Twitter, Threads, and his views on remote work. We reference Eugene's writing a lot on the podcast and mentioned his recent piece, How to Blow Up a Timeline in last week's MoZ episode with Mike Solana (see links below). Listeners, if you're looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: netsuite.com/zenMoment of Zen is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: turpentine.coWe're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.LINKS REFERENCED:Eugene Wei, How to Blow Up a Timeline https://www.eugenewei.com/blog/2023/7/6/how-to-blow-up-a-timelineAmerican Prometheus https://www.amazon.com/American-Prometheus-Triumph-Tragedy-Oppenheimer/dp/0375726268TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Episode preview(01:03) Algorithm switch at Twitter(07:10) What Eugene would do as Twitter’s CEO(11:30) Signal to noise ratio in social media(22:00) Threads(37:35) Sponsor: NetSuite(38:50) LinkedIn(47:00) Improving Twitter: Ranked follower feed, restoring aristocracy, reversing war on Substack(1:10:00) Incumbents vs upstarts in social media(01:14:40) Graph portability(01:20:00) Centralization vs Decentralization of the space(01:25:00) UI analysis of Twitter vs. Discord vs. Slack vs Threads(01:30:00) Impact of Slack and minimizing meetings on the workplace(01:35:00) The downstream costs of remote work(01:49:30) Why tech is the worst industry to model out the effects of remote work(01:51:00) Office layout and productivityTWITTER:@eugenewei (Eugene)@dwr (Dan)@eriktorenberg (Erik)@antoniogm (Antonio)@moz_podcastSPONSOR:Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "MOZ" for 20% off your first three months.SHOPIFY: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial periodShopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all e-commerce in the US. And Shopify’s the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy’s, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one e-commerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you’re selling, Shopify’s got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/momentofzenNETSUITE: NetSuite provides financial software for all your business needs. More than thirty-six thousand companies have already upgraded to NetSuite, gaining visibility and control over their financials, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you're looking for an ERP platform ✅ NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen and defer payments of a FULL NetSuite implementation for six months.

We’re one week into the Threads era. How long is that going to last? What does it mean for Twitter, really? And what do Threads and continued chaos at Twitter say about the future of social media?That’s maybe a lot to talk tackle, but we’re going to do it anyway. NYT tech reporter Mike Isaac (@mikeisaac) joins Vox’s Peter Kafka to get us up to speed on Mark Zuckerberg’s effort to depants Elon Musk — it seems to be going pretty well, for the moment. And we’ll try to answer one big question: Why exactly does Zuckerberg want a Twitter clone, anyway? Then veteran tech exec and big thinker Eugene Wei (@eugenewei) joins to talk about what Musk got wrong at Twitter, why Meta is building its own Twitter using cues from Instagram and TikTok, and life in the algorithm age.Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at RecodeMore to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Peter Kafka, one of the media industry's most acclaimed reporters, talks to business titans, journalists, comedians, and more to get their take on today's media landscape.About Recode by Vox: Recode by Vox helps you understand how tech is changing the world — and changing us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eugene Wei, an early employee at Hulu and Amazon’s first analyst in strategic planning, shares fascinating insights from his tech journey. He reveals Amazon's early growth tactics, including the role of data analytics and Jeff Bezos' strategies for diversification. Eugene discusses the impact of Amazon Prime on consumer behavior and how the company navigated challenges with innovative solutions. He also touches on Hulu's evolution and the future of virtual reality, offering a unique perspective on the industry's dynamic changes.

Eugene Wei, former product lead at Hulu and author known for his insights on TikTok's algorithm, joins Sonal Chokshi, a tech and business podcast host. They dive into TikTok's revolutionary algorithm, explaining how it sets the platform apart from traditional social media. The discussion highlights TikTok's For You page, user-friendly tools for video creation, and the culture of collaboration it fosters. Eugene emphasizes the platform's potential to reshape social interaction and content discovery through its innovative approach to video.

Eugene Wei, former head of product at Hulu and Flipboard, dives into the fascinating world of TikTok's algorithm and its impact on creativity. He discusses how the platform's unique algorithm fosters a culture of innovation and meme evolution, allowing new creators to shine alongside established ones. Wei also contrasts TikTok's meritocratic model with traditional social networks, highlighting its approach to personalized content delivery. Additionally, he explores the future of video and how it reshapes social networking and entertainment.