are no longer a niche curiosity for anthropologists. They are a dominant force driven by a young, hyper-connected population that loves to laugh, cry, and get scared in equal measure.

It was a sponsored event. Ayu was selling instant coffee. The script told her to talk about how this coffee reminded her of her grandmother in the village, brewing coffee over a wood fire. She sat in her fake kitchen set. The chat was moving so fast it was a blur of emojis.