Etsy witches say a "literal witch hunt" is happening across the platform
Plus: Nike x Kirkland collab is for the sneakerheads.
Greetings!
Here are the latest trending internet culture stories today:
Etsy witches are reportedly being kicked out of the online marketplace, eleven years after Etsy first banned their services.
The Nike x Kirkland collab sent sneakerheads into an all-out war after this past weekend’s surprise drop.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt spoke to the Utah state congress about protecting children from the harms of artificial intelligence.
See you in the next edition,
— W.J.
⚡️ Today in Internet Culture
“It’s a literal witch hunt”: Are Etsy witches being removed from the platform? Some say an old ban is being enforced without warning
Of all the craziness that came out of 2025, one of the biggest events was the rise of Etsy witches. For the uninitiated, “Etsy witches” are exactly what they sound like: witches who promise their ‘services’ on platforms like Etsy.
More specifically, these sellers offer things like protection spells, love spells, manifesting services (such as manifesting good weather for a wedding), soulmate drawings, and even curses, which is something that caused ripples when Charlie Kirk died days after said witches cursed him. However, this might have come to a sudden end.
“Somebody’s asking $5,000”: Costco shock-drops Kirkland Nike dunks and sneakerheads lose their minds
Costco sent sneaker culture into a spiral after quietly releasing a surprise collaboration with Nike: the Kirkland Signature x Nike SB Dunk Low Pro QS. Dropped without warning at select warehouse locations on Friday, the gray, logo-heavy shoes are already being resold at a hefty markup. The sneakers themselves scream “Kirkland Signature,” however, and not everyone gets it.
“This is what we want”: Fans laud Joseph Gordon-Levitt for urging Utah lawmakers to protect kids from AI
Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt spoke at the Utah State Capitol last week on the dangers that large language models (LLMs) or “AI” pose to kids. He evoked his own children as he urged state lawmakers to pass a bill that would require tech companies to create safety plans around the issue.
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🔥 Hot on the Dot
This was the most-read story on the Daily Dot yesterday:
➤ “A terrible name”: Sydney Sweeney’s bra line debut overshadowed by its confusing pronunciation
Super solid coverage of how platform moderation is basically inconsistent chaos. The Etsy witch thing shows enforcement can just sit dormant for years then suddeny get weaponized. Had something similar happen on a old freelance platform where they dusted off a TOS clause from like 2019 to purge accounts. Platforms really out here playing selective amnesia with thier own rules lol.