Internet reacts with laughter to AI prompt theft complaints
Plus: USPS changes definition of "postmarked."
Happy New Year! đ
Here are the latest trending internet culture stories today:
The discourse about AI âprompt thievesâ is reaching ridiculous levels.
USPS quietly changed its definition of being âpostmarked,â which has many voting advocates sounding the alarm.
A look back at the year that wasâin memes.
To a great 2026,
â W.J.
âĄď¸ Today in Internet Culture
âMost ironic outrageâ: Ha, ha, AI bros are complaining about âprompt thievesâ
AI art communities are arguing over âprompt stealing,â with some users accusing others of copying and reposting the exact instructions used to generate images. Outside these spaces, critics say the outrage is steeped in irony, pointing out that generative AI itself is trained on massive amounts of artistsâ work, often without consent or compensation.
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âOf all the dirty tricksâ: USPS quietly changed what a postmark means. Voting advocates are alarmed
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) quietly changed what it means for mail to be âpostmarked,â a move that could make letters, ballots, and time-sensitive paperwork appear late, even if they were dropped off on time.
Under the new policy, the official postmark date may be applied days after mail enters the system, rather than the day itâs placed in a mailbox. Voting and healthcare advocates are sounding alarms, since the USPS itself is not.
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The 30 best memes of 2025
As 2025 comes to a close, people turn to the highlights of what made the year specialâŚor at least bearable. There were plenty of viral trends and memes that took over the internet this year, though some of them are more memorable than others.
From penguins paying tariffs to Le Poisson Steve and holy airball, here are the top memes that show what it was like to live through 2025.
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đ¸ď¸ Crawling the Web
𧨠Momâs âspicy saltine crackersâ for a teacher gift sparks debate over what educators actually want: âFeels ruder than no giftâ
đźď¸ âIf he were alive today, heâd be devastatedâ: Norman Rockwellâs granddaughter blasts White House for âhijackingâ his artwork
đ âLiterally leave me aloneâ: Alabama Barker hits back at the response to her dad buying her lingerie for Christmas
đ The painter who accidentally created âMonkey Jesusâ has died at 94, and the internet is paying tribute
đ âI felt bad about itâ: The complicated origins of Rachel Reidâs Game Changers series
đŠââď¸ âWe are so in hellâ: Surgeon roasted for asking ChatGPT medical questions
đŽ Everything we know about The Boys video game so far
đĽ Hot on the Dot
This was the most-read story on the Daily Dot yesterday:
⤠Erika Kirk memes are taking over social media following her theatrical Turning Point appearances