Tuning in to Y Station: Wordle Edition
Why is Wordle captivating audiences with such intensity? That's a question we've been asking ourselves over at Y Station. Call it fascination or obsession but either way, that's how we wound up with this unintentionally themed edition of Tuning in to Y Station.
Don't worry, we've sprinkled in a few other topics for those of you who haven't been hypnotized by those little green boxes.
Chosen by Emily Mack, Senior Associate
Article: “Wordle explained: What you need to know about the viral word game” by Mark Serrels & Daniel Van Boom
Created by a former Reddit developer for their partner as a form of staying entertained during the pandemic (and recently acquired by the New York Times for a seven figure sum), this word puzzle has created a large online social community where it’s easy to share your daily victory (or loss) with other players in real-time. This article breaks down everything you need to know to about this cultural phenomenon.
Chosen by Chris Henderson, Chief Strategist
Documentary: The Beatles: Get Back
You probably watched at least part of this 6-hour documentary over the Christmas break. Or maybe you didn’t because it’s so damn long. But it’s worth watching, for one particular reason: You get to see four people who are widely considered to be the very best go through the process of their songs being bad. Listening to a song like ‘Get Back’, we often don’t realize that at one point it sounded awkward, weird and kind of terrible – you can see that on full display in this documentary. But after some work, some failure and some practice, they produced a stone-cold a classic that anyone who listens to popular music recognizes and enjoys. So if your first draft or your initial ideas are a bit crappy, that’s okay – keep going. Trust your skills and you might end up with a classic that everyone loves.
Chosen by Dayna Tumbach, Project Manager
Podcast: Pop Culture Happy Hour by NPR Episode: Wordle is a daily dose of delight, despair, and sometimes smugness
January has been tough. The days are still dark, dreary, and as cold as ever. The Omicron variant has made life even more unpredictable in these still ‘unprecedented times.’ Out of nowhere, Wordle has emerged as the hero we need.
For five minutes every morning as I wait for the kettle to boil, my partner and I do the daily Wordle. The sense of accomplishment when you see all 5 boxes light up in green is the perfect way to start the day. The camaraderie that we share as we’re all guessing the same five letter word has been a great unifier in these trying times. Will this be another passing fad like Pokémon go in July 2016, or our sourdough starters in 2020? Probably. But for now, it’s enough.
Chosen by Jenny Black, Brand and Content Strategist
Article: “The Creepy TikTok Algorithm Doesn’t Know You” by Eleanor Cummins
Whether I’m sharing a tip for creamier scrambled eggs or a book recommendation, nine times out of ten I’ve learned about it on TikTok but will tell you that I “read it somewhere”. TikTok and its uncanny algorithm has brought me endless hours of entertainment as it seemingly knows exactly what I like, sometimes even before I do… Apparently I’m fascinated by people peeling off old wallpaper, who knew?! TikTok, that’s who.
This article unpacks the idea of TikTok “holding up a hotel vanity mirror” to reveal your true self and the big business behind building digital identities that can more easily be advertised to.
Chosen by Anthony Fisher, Junior Associate
Podcast: The Culture Episode: Why everyone is addicted to Wordle
Like with most socio-cultural pop phenomenon, it seems like I am always behind the eight ball and Wordle was no exception. If your dad tells you he heard about this new game on the news and asks if you ever heard of it and you haven’t… something has gone wrong. Dutifully, I began my journey into the surprisingly simple, yet difficult, challenge of being a Wordle master. Check out this podcast to understand some of the ways in which Wordle represents a unique community experience, some of the stratagems involved, and what drove it to such popularity.
Chosen by Alana Williams, CEO
Book: Remember by Lisa Genova
I have become captivated with the fallibility of memory, probably because I'm so disappointed in mine. I get unsettled when I can't find the right word to suit the situation or fail to recognize someone. I worry not only that I can't retrieve information I should know, but whether I'm failing to retain new moments and information. Lisa Genova is a neuroscientist and award winning author of Still Alice, a beautiful fictional novel about early onset Alzheimer's. Her new book is a non fiction account on how memory works, why we forget and how to nurture and protect new information and moments we cherish. Though only halfway in, it's both fascinating and easing my concern. I'm very much looking forward to finishing it, if I can remember where I put it down….
Chosen by Cameron Dykstra, Senior Research Associate
Article: “The loudmouths are losing. When this is all over, remember the helpers” by John Michael McGrath
Like a lot of people, I am frustrated with ongoing convoy protests that have captured national attention over the past week. This piece from John Michael McGrath is a good reminder that most people in Canada are doing their part by getting vaccinated; and that everyday small acts of kindness and solidarity are what are digging us out from this pandemic – not loudmouths peddling the latest paranoia and misinformation.
Chosen by Ann Gordon-Tighe, Strategist
Article: “The Undoing of Joss Whedon” by Lila Shapiro
As someone who helps to shape public personas and deal with communicating in a crisis, as well as a child of 90’s feminism, this story dealing with Joss Whedon’s rise and fall was fascinating to me. There were some good moments in there for Whedon; some mea culpas, some introspection, all of which was undone in the last quote. It’s a good reminder that media doesn’t care what story you are trying to tell, and letting yourself slip into old patterns in an interview can come at a cost.