PJ Vogt

Jack explains how he strategically ginned up hype for the party through his private Instagram account. You could only see it if you'd been accepted.

You see in the footage from the phones all the requests from teenagers trying to follow the account for Jack's party. Lauren shows us on the phones the infinite queue of requests to get in to follow Jack's account. And then we see as they start to get accepted.

You see in the footage from the phones all the requests from teenagers trying to follow the account for Jack's party. Lauren shows us on the phones the infinite queue of requests to get in to follow Jack's account. And then we see as they start to get accepted.

You see in the footage from the phones all the requests from teenagers trying to follow the account for Jack's party. Lauren shows us on the phones the infinite queue of requests to get in to follow Jack's account. And then we see as they start to get accepted.

Jack is the GOAT. Jack is the GOAT. And now, we're at the party itself. Lauren's documentary crew is there. For a second, I wondered, why are these kids so comfortable being filmed? And then remembered, kids are always being filmed.

Jack is the GOAT. Jack is the GOAT. And now, we're at the party itself. Lauren's documentary crew is there. For a second, I wondered, why are these kids so comfortable being filmed? And then remembered, kids are always being filmed.

Jack is the GOAT. Jack is the GOAT. And now, we're at the party itself. Lauren's documentary crew is there. For a second, I wondered, why are these kids so comfortable being filmed? And then remembered, kids are always being filmed.

A lot of what's happening here always has. The underage drinking, the hookups, the drug use. But weirdly, none of that's really the point. This party, which 20 years ago would have been a private place for these teenagers to do things that worry adults, now the party's doing something new.

A lot of what's happening here always has. The underage drinking, the hookups, the drug use. But weirdly, none of that's really the point. This party, which 20 years ago would have been a private place for these teenagers to do things that worry adults, now the party's doing something new.

A lot of what's happening here always has. The underage drinking, the hookups, the drug use. But weirdly, none of that's really the point. This party, which 20 years ago would have been a private place for these teenagers to do things that worry adults, now the party's doing something new.

It's a place for them to continue this conversation they're having with the audiences they imagine await them online. Did they get into the party? Did they look hot at the party? Were they hanging out with the right people at the party?

It's a place for them to continue this conversation they're having with the audiences they imagine await them online. Did they get into the party? Did they look hot at the party? Were they hanging out with the right people at the party?

It's a place for them to continue this conversation they're having with the audiences they imagine await them online. Did they get into the party? Did they look hot at the party? Were they hanging out with the right people at the party?

If you couldn't see their phones, you'd mistakenly think that the point of the party was to be there. In fact, the point almost entirely was to be able to broadcast online that you'd been there, ideally having done something outrageous. Normal behavior for celebrities, I think somewhat new behavior for teenagers. One teen at the party buys bad pills, Percocets, supposedly.

If you couldn't see their phones, you'd mistakenly think that the point of the party was to be there. In fact, the point almost entirely was to be able to broadcast online that you'd been there, ideally having done something outrageous. Normal behavior for celebrities, I think somewhat new behavior for teenagers. One teen at the party buys bad pills, Percocets, supposedly.

If you couldn't see their phones, you'd mistakenly think that the point of the party was to be there. In fact, the point almost entirely was to be able to broadcast online that you'd been there, ideally having done something outrageous. Normal behavior for celebrities, I think somewhat new behavior for teenagers. One teen at the party buys bad pills, Percocets, supposedly.

He overdoses, ends up in the hospital. He later posts from the hospital to Instagram to make a joke out of it, which really amuses Jack.

He overdoses, ends up in the hospital. He later posts from the hospital to Instagram to make a joke out of it, which really amuses Jack.

He overdoses, ends up in the hospital. He later posts from the hospital to Instagram to make a joke out of it, which really amuses Jack.

It's hard not to notice how the algorithm rewards the teens as they demonstrate more extreme behaviors, how it reinforces their bids for attention, whether or not that attention is even positive. The logic of the system is familiar. Teens being deranged by TikTok and Instagram, like boomers got deranged by Facebook, or Gen Xers and millennials by Twitter. I asked Lauren about this.