Halloween Is Boom Time for Paranormal Creators

Issue #286 | Oct. 31, 2024

As Halloween night approaches, tales of hauntings and ghostly apparitions are everywhere. But in today’s hyper-connected world, the supernatural isn’t just found in dark hallways and creaky old mansions. Some spirits seem to have taken up residence in more modern haunts: our phones, computers, and even our wifi connections.

From unexplained notifications that arrive in the dead of night to screens that flicker with cryptic messages, stories of haunted technology are becoming more common. Jack Wagner, a content creator and host of the Otherworld podcast, which tells stories from real people who have experienced something paranormal or unexplained, said that “the spirit world is learning to use new tools.”

Wagner said that if you find yourself in possession of an item like, say, a haunted laptop, or believe that a spirit is trying to communicate through a piece of technology in your home, before you dunk your phone in holy water, take the tech to an electronics shop. “It could just be [poorly made] Temu wiring,” Wagner said. Still, he believes technology is often just a conduit for whatever spirit or paranormal apparition is trying to reach you.

If you’re tempted to try to record strange happenings for content, Wagner said that you might be out of luck. “Most people [who encounter the paranormal] are paralyzed in fear,” he said. “No matter what you think of this stuff, it’s a fight or flight response at a level you couldn’t comprehend.” There is also some speculation from paranormal enthusiasts that our cameras aren’t able to capture images from the otherworldly plane they believe ghostly apparitions exist in.

Wagner said that Halloween is boom time for a podcast like his, and he’s been sifting through an onslaught of stories. “I’m not necessarily a believer,” he said. “But I’m also not a skeptic. I’m just a person who talks to a lot of people who have experienced this stuff.” Read our full interview with Wagner about his work here.

– Taylor Lorenz, Passionfruit Contributor

CULTURE

How Alternative Media Failed to Change Political Coverage

Americans changed their news sources, but not so much their appetites.

By Lon Harris, Passionfruit Contributor

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IN THE BIZ

Universal Music Group announced that it has partnered with the so-called “ethical AI music company” Klay Vision.
Per a new report by The Information, Meta is working on an AI-powered search engine.
According to court documents, Apple warned TikTok to raise its age requirement on the App Store to be over 17.
SAG-AFTRA and Ethovox announced an agreement to secure AI-related protections for actors.

PERSONALITIES

The Costco Guys on Fallon Were Peak Meme Bloat

Do you bring the boom? Do I bring the boom? Who brings the boom?

By Steven Asarch, Passionfruit Contributor

READ THE FULL STORY →

The Costco Guys did a BOOM or DOOM with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show

CULTURE

Comic Artist Ingrid Ochoa over their art from the comic The Kiss Bet

How Comic Artists Make a Living Online

At New York Comic Con, Passionfruit spoke with two comic artists on the medium, making money, and how they stay devoted.

By Steven Asarch, Passionfruit Contributor

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JOB BOARD

Amazon is looking for a Content Creator.
Brian Jung is looking for a Video Editor.
Chloe Shih is looking for a Video Editor.
Metropolis Technologies is looking for a Visual Content Creator.

WHAT WE’RE DISCUSSING

As a creator, how are you encouraging your audience to #vote? 🗳️ What ideas do you have for creators to do so? We’re curious about it all. 💬

Leave a comment on this post or discuss it with other creators in our discord here! 🗣️