Culture

Music’s Next ‘Disco Sucks’ Moment Is Near

Do you really like that new song—or is someone manipulating you?

First published in The Atlantic on May 7, 2026.

by Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic

May 13, 2026 | reading time: 9 Min.

You’re scrolling TikTok, Instagram, or one of the many other apps where short-form video devours your time (maybe the app you use to order sushi). You come across a stranger doing something amusing while a song plays in the background. A few swipes later, you hear the song again. Now it’s in your head. Now it seems like an interesting part of the zeitgeist. You save the song to your phone.