Five Things You Had to See Online This Week

This week in “Thanks, Internet” —the epic journey of one man’s stolen iPhone, coping with… fake self help books, Funny or Die wins April Fools’ Day, the puppets take the internet, andGame of Thrones gets auto-tuned just intime for season five.

1. Phone Alone

One stolen iPhone, one crazy journey

(Matt Stopera)

The storyof Matt Stopera’s stolen iPhone is both epic and unbelievable, but itrenews one’s faith in the wonderful things the internet can do. He lost a phone, but then noticed random photos in his stream. He writes about it for BuzzFeed and the story blows up in China on Weibo. The guy who ended up with the phone invites him over. He goes.

Stopera was greeted by amedia scrum that proceeded to follow him around on his trip. He gave a press conference, made a fewmusicvideos,and found a new BFF. There’s a documentary on the way from something called BuzzFeed Motion Pictures. And so can you!

2.The Help

Jeff Wysaski plants real-looking fake books in the self-help section of his local bookstore.

(Jeff Wysaski/Tumblr)

A gem of a human being has been planting fake self-help books among all the real ones.He even alters section names. If you needed another reasonto avoid using Amazon, this is it.

3.Funny or Fool

Social media platform Dips gives us one-and-a-half second videos of celebrities making fun of the internet

(Funny or Die)

April Fools’ Day is an excuse for everyone on the internet to unapologetically troll you, which is why we were so pleased to see Funny or Die make fun of everyone on the internet. The site enlisted everyone from Jon Hamm to Britney Spears to launch Dips — a new video platform that loops 1.5 second videos. The site’s co-founder, Adam McKay, calls it “the next generation of social media.” Think Vine, but even more pointless.

4. Don’t Hug Me I’ma Puppet

What’s better than celebrities making fun of the internet? Puppets making fun of the internet!Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared is a wonderful Sesame Street-type series, but with puppets. And British. And not really intended for the children.

It’s the work of Becky Sloan and Joseph Pelling — two very talented and funny puppeteers. This week, they uploaded their latest episode to YouTube. It starts out with a few puppets wondering what the biggest thing on planet Earth is. They’re talking it through when their computer intrudes with a song, and an invitation into a very dark digital world.
Thanks, Emile!

5. Winter Is Over. SeasonFive Is Coming.