About Jess & Modern Bullshit

Who Am I? What’s Happening Here?

Hi! I’m Jessica Elefante. Modern Bullshit is my little safe haven on the dumpster fire of the internet where I (sometimes) share my writing on the potential loss of things like manners, intellect, free thought, curiosity, connection, nature, morals, ethics, childhood, IRL, & humans due to the ruthless onslaught of influence, capitalism, and the new modern world.

My formal bio is at the end but for the TL;DR of how you might’ve arrived here or recognize my name or face:

I am the author of Raising Hell, Living Well (Penguin Random House, Oct ‘23), founder of Folk Rebellion, a reformed brand strategist, filmmaker, writer, bullshit artist and mother.

Mostly, I’ve been sounding the alarms on BigTech for over a decade now.

Some have called me the canary in the coal mine. Others have called me a modern day citizen jane. My kids call me “the mom everyone will know is ours and it’s super embarrassing that she’s the one who broke the Internet”.

My response to all the titles:

Yes, unfortunately. I’m flattered. Not yet, but I’m trying and it’s all for you two, so really, it’s your fault if I get it done. ;)

My logline: Jessica Elefante is an interdisciplinary writer, artist & tech critic at the heart of modernity & humanity. 

What others have said about me/my work:

This substack/newsletter will hopefully bring all of my work together under one umbrella where I can control the algorithm, trolls, etc. while offering a regular (but not necessarily weekly) update on everything I am up to. This enterprise is my way of moving away from other troll-plagued social media and not participating in the addictive and unhealthy business of the attention economy.

It is as much for your benefit as it is mine. I hope you see that.

Subscribe now to support writing that isn’t exploiting your data or to support an independent writer committed to protecting your brain (and hers!) from brands, advertisers, and the attention economy.

What Do I Get If I Subscribe?

Free Subscribers get:

• Access to Modern Bullshit newsletters

• Stay up to date on my work/events

Paid Subscribers get:

• The ability to comment. (All newsletter/writing feedback will be in the substack portal only, no email)

• Access to all Modern Bullshit newsletters

• Access to full archive (all posts will be gated after 2 weeks)

• Gift subscriptions to give

• Be a part of a community who share your interests.

Founding Members get everything above plus:

• A signed copy of my book!

• Surprises from time to time via snail mail.

• My eternal gratitude.

If you’re wondering who’s behind this newsletter:

Jessica Elefante is a writer and bullshit artist who has spent the last few decades examining what it means to be human in our modern world.

She is the author of Raising Hell, Living Well: Freedom from Influence in a World Where Everyone Wants Something from You (Ballantine, 2023) which she coined a How-Come (not a How-To). Jessica’s writing works to open people’s eyes on the topics of technology, capitalism, influence, and motherhood and has appeared in The Guardian, Literary Hub, Huffington Post, Bustle, Simplify Magazine, the Dispatch, Whalebone Magazine and more. As the founder of acclaimed Folk Rebellion and a critic of today's culture, Elefante’s award-winning works shine a light on the untenability of our times and have been featured by Vogue, The Atlantic, Inc., Los Angeles Times, The Observer, Writer’s Digest, Vice, Paper Mag, Wired, and elsewhere. Her short documentary “What Day Is It?” was awarded semi-finalist of Flickers RIIFF and an Official Selection of Beverly Hills Film Festival and New York Shorts Film Festival, for its portrayal of a mother's perspective on the ever-shifting emotional and mental states of lockdown. In her previous life as a brand strategist, she was recognized on Brand Innovators “40 under 40” list for winning her clients industry recognition including Webby, Edison, and AdAge awards. Jess has proudly been a guest lecturer at Columbia Business School and New York University sharing her expertise in entrepreneurship and branding. Currently she’s using her experience in tech and media as a co-chair for Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA). For her work as an artist and writer she’s honored to be a judge for the 2024 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. She's influenced by the social, cultural, and technological circumstances of her life, but mostly, of her desire to lead a colorful one. Raised in upstate New York, she now lives in Brooklyn with her family. She is no longer bullshitting.

Stay in touch: Rarely on Instagram and TikTok. Contact me via my website jessicaelefante.com or send an analog text message to Jessica Elefante, 249 Smith St #130, Brooklyn, NY, 11231.

Pledge: I won't sell your email address to any third parties. This is a reader supported newsletter so I am free to write what I want, when I want, free from the influence of advertising, algorithms, and others.

Why Substack: Simple access equals less time online. You won’t have to come back to your phone each night looking for posts. My work arrives straight to your inbox and you can choose when to read it.

Internet Boundaries:

No trolls. You need to be a paid member to leave a comment. Should you choose not to be a subscriber I will still be open to receiving your concerns, questions, or praise but it will be more difficult than type-type-clackity-clack-post!

If someone (who is not a paying subscriber without a verifiable name and face to back up their feedback) feels strongly enough about something to go through the effort of…

• writing it by hand

• putting a stamp on it

• walking it to a mailbox

…rather than a quick-and-dirty tweet/email/comment than it must be important.

I look forward to receiving your love letters, hate mail, non-perishable food items and postcards to the address above.

FWIW I am a great pen-pal.