Several regional entertainment portals launched around 2013 have since gone offline or been parked by domain resellers.
Entertainment formats also began reflecting how we consume media together. The British reality show Gogglebox debuted in 2013, ingeniously turning the act of watching television and reacting to videos into a globally syndicated entertainment staple. 🔗 The Power of the Link: Curation and Community photo xxnx 2013 link
We must be honest: the "photo video link" also ushered in the era of clickbait and disappointment. In 2013, "You won't believe what happens next" became a global plague. A tantalizing photo (a woman standing on a cliff) linked to a 12-minute slideshow video (entertainment? no) that had one second of the cliff shot at the 11-minute mark. And between you and that video were five "link shorteners" (bit.ly, TinyURL) that paid the creator per click. 🔗 The Power of the Link: Curation and
This between lifestyle and tech showed that people wanted authenticity over perfection. It paved the way for the raw, unfiltered vlogs and ephemeral stories that dominate TikTok and Instagram today. no) that had one second of the cliff
Smartphone photography continued to evolve in 2013, with the introduction of new camera technologies and editing software. Apps like VSCO and Snapseed offered users a range of creative tools and filters, allowing them to enhance and stylize their photos. As a result, smartphone photography became increasingly popular, with users sharing their mobile snaps on social media and blogs.
The year 2013 marked a massive turning point in how we consume digital media. It was the exact window when high-speed mobile internet, smartphone cameras, and social platforms aligned. This shift fundamentally changed the lifestyle and entertainment industries, creating a permanent link between photo and video content and our daily lives.
In 2013, Instagram was still primarily a filter-driven photo square. But users realized that the bio section—the only clickable link on the platform—was prime real estate. Suddenly, every influencer (then called "bloggers" or "Instagrammers") used the "link in bio" to drive traffic to YouTube videos. The phrase "Photo (link) Video" became a daily command.