The Personal Essay Is Back. The Internet Isn't Ready.
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In this episode of ICYMI, host Kate Lindsay and guest Leigh Stein explore the resurgence of the personal essay in 2026, examining how the genre has evolved from its explosive 2010s heyday. Once a gateway for young women to build careers through confessional blogging on sites like XO Jane, Jezebel, and The Hairpin, the personal essay was fueled by viral moments—like a woman writing about a ball of cat hair in her vagina or a man claiming to have sex with a dolphin. But by the late 2010s, public appetite waned due to fatigue, social justice critiques, and the rise of opinion-driven content. Now, with The Cut publishing controversial essays—such as one about a mother mistreating her cat or another about cutting off a friend over GLP-1 use—the genre is back, but the internet is more fractured, emotionally charged, and ethically vigilant. Unlike the past, readers now demand accountability, and writers face real-world consequences. The episode contrasts the reception of Lindy West’s memoir *Adult Braces*—met with skepticism and defensiveness—with Lena Dunham’s *Fame Sick*, which resonated due to humility and remorse. The conversation concludes with a reflection on whether the personal essay can survive in an era where online outrage is instantaneous and empathy is scarce.
The personal essay boom of the 2010s was fueled by women building careers through confessional writing on platforms like XO Jane and Jezebel.
Today’s personal essays are more ethically scrutinized—readers don’t just want stories, they want accountability and moral clarity.
The shift from viral blogging to memoirs and Substacks reflects a change in how personal stories are monetized and consumed.
Lena Dunham’s successful comeback shows that vulnerability paired with remorse can rebuild trust, while Lindy West’s defensive tone alienated fans.
The internet’s fragmentation means there’s no single ‘town square’ for discourse—conversations happen in group chats, Substacks, and niche platforms.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Rise of the Confessional Internet
The episode opens with a series of sponsor ads before introducing the central theme: the return of the personal essay. Kate Lindsay and Leigh Stein reflect on the early 2010s internet, where personal essays on sites like XO Jane, Jezebel, and The Hairpin were a career launchpad for women, often built around shocking, viral stories.
The Golden Age of Viral Confession
“I have one that sticks with me that I think I brought up in our meeting as a team when we work on this. The one I think of all the time, it was an XO Jane, of course, because that's where some of the most unhinged ones were. But it was someone who said they got... A ball of cat hair in their vagina!”
The Decline and the Shift to Opinion
The conversation shifts to why the personal essay boom faded. After Trump’s election, the internet demanded that personal stories be framed through social justice lenses. Writers faced scrutiny over race, class, and representation. The genre was overtaken by opinion pieces, like Lauren Duca’s viral essay on Trump gaslighting America.
The 2026 Revival: When Essays Spark Real-World Outrage
“It's that in and of itself is like a kind of a crazy example. But it does feel like this time around when The Cut publishes a personal essay, it's not just discourse. We are like intense and angry.”
Why the Reception Is So Different Now
“The experience of reading Adult Braces is like watching a car accident in slow motion and you just want her to get out.”
“I have one that sticks with me that I think I brought up in our meeting as a team when we work on this. The one I think of all the time, it was an XO Jane, of course, because that's where some of the most unhinged ones were. But it was someone who said they got... A ball of cat hair in their vagina!”
“The experience of reading Adult Braces is like watching a car accident in slow motion and you just want her to get out.”
“It's that in and of itself is like a kind of a crazy example. But it does feel like this time around when The Cut publishes a personal essay, it's not just discourse. We are like intense and angry.”
Host
Guest
Leigh Stein
person
Kate Lindsay
person
The Cut
product
Lindy West
person
Lena Dunham
person
XO Jane
product
Substack
other
Jezebel
product
WebMD
product
Gia Tolentino
person
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