The New Digital Class War: Rich People Use The Internet Differently w/ Adam Aleksic

April 29, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Taylor Lorenz interviews Adam Aleksic, an etymologist and cultural commentator, about class distinctions in online behavior, particularly "low-class Instagram." They unpack how socioeconomic differences shape posting styles, platform choices, and consumption habits, drawing from memes, historical platform shifts, and current trends like AI-influenced communication.

Markers of Class on Instagram

Aleksic defines low-class Instagram through overt efforts to impress: heavy filters (like the Rio de Janeiro filter on unrelated photos), puppy filters signaling outdated platform use, and bios overloaded with emojis, job titles ("nurse, mama"), high school/college listings even years later, or Linktree links that feel like shilling. These suggest trying too hard, oversharing, and technical illiteracy—behaviors seen as boomer-coded or desperate for likes.

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What you'll learn

1 (01:30) **Low-Class Instagram Defined** - Origins in memes comparing high vs low-income posting behaviors tied to class
2 (04:20) **Filters as Low-Class Hallmark** - Heavy filters signal trying too hard, boomer-coded, low platform literacy
3 (06:13) **New vs Old Money Aesthetics** - Conspicuous flexing (Ferraris, bands) low-class vs implied wealth high-class
4 (07:43) **Offline as Ultimate Luxury** - Billionaires shun attention economy with private 200-follower accounts
5 (09:15) **In-Person Shift from Online Communities** - Online seen low-class due to lack of agency, algorithm dependency
6 (11:25) **Curated vs Chaotic Aesthetics** - High-class consistent self-presentation vs filter experimentation
7 (14:15) **Bios and Oversharing Warnings** - Emojis, Linktree, school/job lists signal low-class exploitation vibe

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

There’s a hidden social hierarchy on the internet

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Is your Instagram "low class"? While we like to think of the internet as a universal playground, a new digital class war is emerging. From the way you use filters to the number of emojis in your bio, your digital habits are increasingly signaling your socioeconomic status to the world.

In this episode of Power User, I sit down with etymologist and cultural commentator Adam Aleksic to decode the hidden semiotics of "Low Class Instagram."

We explore why billionaires keep their accounts private with 200 followers, why the "photo dump" has become a sophisticated narrative tool for elites, and how algorithms are siloing us into class-based bubbles.

We break down:

The "Puppy Filter" Trap: Why technical illiteracy is the new class signifier.
Billionaire Behavior: Why the ultimate luxury is being completely offline.
Digital White Flight: Why elite users are fleeing Facebook and Instagram for "curated" spaces like Bluesky vs Substack.
AI & Class: How your choice of LLM (Claude vs. ChatGPT) and even your font choice (Serif vs. Sans Serif) reveals your status.
The Death of Anonymity: Why the "surveillance state" makes it harder for lower-class users to experiment with their identities.