Millennials fact check Gen Z's whimsical look at the early 2000s
Plus: Joe Rogan's thoughts on an AI jesus...?
Greetings!
Here are the latest trending internet culture stories today:
Grumpy millennials are hitting back at Gen Z’s idealistic version of what the early 2010’s were actually like.
A fan of The Simpsons who adopted a joke from the show as their license plate is paying for it—quite literally.
Joe Rogan pondered if the next Jesus will be AI on a recent podcast episode.
Til next time!
— W.J.
⚡️ Today in Internet Culture
Millennials debate whether Gen Z’s idea of “millennial optimism” ever really existed after internet trend depicts whimsical, hopeful times
TikTok is romanticizing the early 2000s, but some millennials reacting to the “millennial optimism” trend can’t remember ever having hope for the future amid political and economic instability that marked the generation’s coming of age.
Now, millennials who remember the Iraq war, the 2008 financial crash, the opioid crisis, and devastating student debt are reacting to the trend.
“I don’t know when the bills will stop”: Simpsons fan with “BORT” vanity plate overwhelmed with toll notices
A Simpsons megafan is begging other fans to “please stop” after her real “BORT” license plate keeps getting confused with novelty versions—leaving her stuck paying other people’s E-ZPass tolls.
Joe Rogan suggests Jesus could return as AI: “What’s more virgin than a computer?”
Joe Rogan stirred fresh debate this week after wondering aloud if Jesus could reappear as artificial intelligence. While speaking on a podcast, Rogan proposed the idea, referencing the biblical virgin birth. He compared it to machines that generate information without physical reproduction.
Many listeners paused at the comparison, since Rogan framed AI as a possible vessel for a future messiah. The clip spread quickly across social media and sparked a mix of amusement, disbelief, and pushback.
🕸️ Crawling the Web
🥦 What is a load limit? Shoppers cry foul after learning which foods on grocery store shelves are technically unsafe to eat
🥤 The “Sprite Zero sleep experiment” has folks trying soda before bed to see if they sleep longer
👰♀️ Viewers stunned after friends play surprise montage of bride’s exes at her bachelorette
🤢 Albertsons customers horrified by video exposing mold directly next to fresh produce
✈️ Man films crying infant mid-flight, and the internet drags him
🧨 Fox News hosts say joining the GOP makes women “hotter”
🔥 Hot on the Dot
This was the most-read story on the Daily Dot yesterday:
➤ MAGA is boycotting Costco after retail giant sues Trump admin over “unlawfully collected tariffs”