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USA Today
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Car shaming is real: What to do if someone criticizes your gas-powered vehicle
Car shaming is real: What to do if someone criticizes your gas-powered vehicle Show Caption Hide Caption Tech for travel: Get help finding a rental car, campsite Planning a summer vacation? These apps and sites can help you find a car or RV rental, available campsites and info on your destination's mask rules. Jennifer Jolly, Special to USA TODAY Car shaming, the act of criticizing others for driving gas-powered vehicles, is on the rise amidst growing environmental concerns and the increasing popularity of electric vehicles. While some car shaming incidents involve vandalism, most consist of verbal confrontations fueled by differing opinions on vehicle choices. Experts suggest responding to car shamers with grace, deflecting criticism by showing interest in their EV experiences, and avoiding escalating the confrontation. There's nothing like a road trip this summer – if you can get past the shame of it. Shame? Yeah, the shame of driving a gas-powered vehicle. "Car-shamers want everyone to buy an EV," said Matt Deter, who works for an industrial machinery company in Rocklin, California. Deter, who drives a gas-powered Porsche Cayenne, is put off by efforts to ban gas vehicles in California. He said EV technology isn't quite ready for prime time. He is also troubled by activists and EV drivers who call out people who continue to drive cheaper and more reliable gas cars. Check out Elliott Confidential, the newsletter the travel industry doesn't want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler. But don't tell anyone! It's as if they're trying to turn one of the great American traditions, the summer road trip, into a guilt trip. And this summer, driving vacations have never been more popular. AAA predicts a record 34.9 million drivers will be on the road this Memorial Day weekend, an increase of 3% from last year. But what is car shaming, and why is it happening this summer? Also, what should you do if someone tries to car-shame you? Airlines are getting stricter about carry-on luggage. Here's what to do about it. Will this be the summer of car shaming? Car shaming is as old as modern electric vehicles – and probably older. "Car shaming often comes from growing social pressure and shifting views on sustainability," explained Carla Bevins, who teaches business management communication at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business. "As more people become aware of environmental issues, some feel strongly about encouraging greener choices, which can sometimes result in criticizing others' decisions." Before EVs, car shaming was more of a "tsk-tsk" attitude dished out by a nosy neighbor or your in-law. ("Do you really need that much car?") But with the advent of EVs, it acquired more of an edge. Car shaming hit an inflection point in 2022, when a group of Gen Z activists calling themselves the Tyre Extinguishers began deflating the tires of SUVs with the goal of making it impossible to own "a huge polluting 4x4 in the world's urban areas." Lately, it has taken to spray-painting the SUVs. Car shaming became more complicated this year as Tesla CEO Elon Musk took on a more political role in the U.S. However, even as Tesla fell out of favor with some drivers, the fundamentals of car shaming remained. No one systematically tracks the number of car-shaming incidents. But anecdotal evidence suggests there have been more flare-ups in recent years, as environmentally minded EV owners square off against more traditional motorists at gas stations and in parking lots. Anyone driving a large vehicle like an SUV or a specialty vehicle seems most vulnerable to being shamed. Why is car shaming happening? People are quick to judge, said psychology professor Thomas Plante. That's happening more in a polarized political climate. Gas-guzzling pickup trucks are emblematic of red states; overpriced EVs are icons of blue states. (And never mind that the guy who made EVs a household word is himself, well, not a blue stater. But I digress.) "Also, people always look for ways to justify their own behavior," he added. "And so if someone buys an EV, for example – and perhaps spends time and extra money to do so – then they want to justify their own decision by criticizing others who made a different decision." So, there's a lot behind car shaming. It's politics. It's money. But what about the environment? What's it like to be car-shamed? In case it's never happened to you, here's what car shaming is like: Last summer, Stephanie Edenburgh was driving her Toyota Highlander in San Diego, where she runs a small publishing company. Another customer looked at her SUV and noticed the kids in the back. "Don't you care about your kids' future?" the customer asked. Edenburgh said nothing. Mushfiq Sarker drives a Honda Civic, and he also experienced car shaming. "Last month, I posted some photos on Instagram from a road trip," recalled Sarker, the CEO of a digital marketing agency in Dallas. "My Civic was parked by a scenic overlook, and I thought it was a fun moment to share. Shortly after, someone commented, 'Why are you still driving gas?" At first, he dismissed the comment. But then he started to wonder. Are gas vehicles not good enough for summer road trips? "I think car shaming is becoming more common because EVs are seen as a moral choice, not just a practical one," Edenburgh told me. "With the rise in EV sales and their increasing affordability, there's a growing expectation that everyone should switch to one. However, this mindset can ignore the fact that many families, like mine, need larger vehicles or can't yet afford an EV." How to handle a car shamer Car shamers come in several varieties. Let's start with the easy ones. If you see someone trying to deflate your tires or spray paint your car, call the police. But if someone confronts you about driving a gas-powered vehicle, here's what you can do: Be gracious : Many car-shamers feel they're performing a valuable public service by calling out polluters. Unfortunately, they fail to take into account the personal circumstances of the person driving a gas-powered vehicle. (Mostly, EVs are more expensive and often impractical because of range limitations and lack of charging infrastructure.) Still, it's worth thanking them for the feedback, however misguided. : Many car-shamers feel they're performing a valuable public service by calling out polluters. Unfortunately, they fail to take into account the personal circumstances of the person driving a gas-powered vehicle. (Mostly, EVs are more expensive and often impractical because of range limitations and lack of charging infrastructure.) Still, it's worth thanking them for the feedback, however misguided. Deflect the criticism : Usually, car shamers feel they have the right to wag their fingers at you because they think they've made a superior choice in transportation. So play along. Ask them how they get around. What's it like to drive an EV? Chances are, they'll want to tell you, and you can avoid an argument. : Usually, car shamers feel they have the right to wag their fingers at you because they think they've made a superior choice in transportation. So play along. Ask them how they get around. What's it like to drive an EV? Chances are, they'll want to tell you, and you can avoid an argument. Don't get into a fight : Plante, who teaches psychology at Santa Clara University, said there's no need to escalate a confrontation by defending your choice to drive a gas-powered car. "Instead, respond with respect and compassion," he said. That means thanking them for the feedback – and then driving away. : Plante, who teaches psychology at Santa Clara University, said there's no need to escalate a confrontation by defending your choice to drive a gas-powered car. "Instead, respond with respect and compassion," he said. That means thanking them for the feedback – and then driving away. I'll switch when I'm good and ready I know what you're thinking: What about you, wiseguy? Do you drive an EV? Actually, no. As a travel journalist who is on the road almost constantly, I don't even own a car. I take whatever transportation is available at the time, whether it's a tuk-tuk in Siem Reap or a gondola in Venice. I love road trips, and when I go on them, I rent the best car for the drive. Until now, that's always been one with an internal combustion engine. I'd like to see that change, and I think we're near an inflection point where it could change – and maybe where it should change. But deflating my tires and defacing my car won't speed up the change, nor will shaming me. Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at chris@
USA Today
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Instagram's 'Blend' feature: A new way to share connections with friends
Jennifer Jolly Special to USA TODAY I send an Instagram Reel to my best friend or adult daughter — who is also my best friend — almost every day. It's how I kill time waiting for my plane to take off or procrastinate when an important deadline looms (like with this story right now). More than anything, though, it's how I say 'I love you' without using actual words. Sometimes it's a heart-squeezing clip of a dad learning to do his daughter's hair before school, sometimes it's an absurdly immature joke that makes us both laugh so hard we risk actual public spit-takes. Reels are basically my digital love language. When Meta offered me early access to Instagram's new feature, Blend, I said yes — as a reporter, of course. Not because I needed help sharing Reels, but to see whether this feature actually adds value, or just gives the algorithm another excuse to sneak into our friendships and make Meta even more money based on our attention. Blend creates a private, curated feed of Reels based on what you and your friends are into. It's part shared discovery, part algorithmic intimacy experiment, and Meta's latest move to keep us all swiping longer and talking more inside the app. I tested it with my best friend, my adult daughter and a coworker I lovingly refer to as my 'digital enabler.' What followed was part social experiment, part accidental soul-baring, and slightly more fun than doomscrolling solo. Though, fair warning: a colleague told me using it with their manager made for a very awkward 48 hours. Choose your Blend crew wisely. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Here's how it works: open a 1:1 or group DM, tap the new Blend icon (it looks like two sparkly Reels having a sleepover), send an invite, and boom — you're in. You'll get a feed based on your previous activity that mashes up what Instagram thinks both of you will like. Every time someone reacts or replies to a Reel, Instagram notifies the group to keep the dopamine flowing and the conversation going. The vibe is like a TikTok group chat meets a digital friendship mirror My Blend feed is a fascinating peek into other people's algorithm-curated psyches. My daughter's side offers an empowering number of human rights activists and baby capybaras on skateboards. My coworker's feed comes in hot with interior decorating ideas, parenting tips and AI-powered salad choppers. Mine? Tech product reviews, weird gadgets, and — let's be honest — more than a few too many clips of dogs 'talking' to their owners with automated buttons. You can't hide in a Blend. Not really. Instagram literally shows you who each Reel was recommended for. So if you're into oddly satisfying soap-cutting videos at midnight, your friends are about to find out. There's a certain intimacy — and maybe a smidge of horror — in realizing your 'For You' page is now a shared experience. 'We want Instagram to be a place where people connect over creativity,' Instagram head Adam Mosseri said in a Reel. 'And this is one more way to do that… It's a really fun way to not only share your interests, but to learn a little bit about your friends' interests.' He's not wrong. But also, welcome to the era of the algorithmic friendship test. Who is this for? Meta says Blend is for 'people who want to connect over entertaining content.' Translation: people who are tired of sending Reels into the void and want to know what their friends actually think without texting 'lol' for the tenth testing, Meta says people reported it helped them discover more about each other's interests. Which sounds sweet — until you realize it also nudges everyone to spend more time watching Reels, right inside the app, without leaving the cozy cocoon of a DM. I also combed through a ton of feedback on Mosseri's post, Reddit threads, and elsewhere — and the feedback is less than stellar. The comments getting the most attention include sentiments about how there are too many options and features, and that the company should focus more on ways to make the app easier to use and easier for creators to make money. (Reality check: When has Meta ever operated in our best interest?) With more than two billion monthly users on Instagram worldwide, Meta's not-so-secret motivation here is to get us hooked on Reels solo and socially. More engagement equals more ad views, which equals more money. It's like if Netflix introduced a feature that let you and your friends simultaneously binge different rom-coms and then gossip about them in real time. The creep factor is mild but manageable Let's talk about the voyeur in the room: Does this feel a little invasive? Maybe. Blend shows you which Reels video it serves to which friend and invites commentary. It's like peeking at someone's diary, except that diary is full of dog videos, conspiracy-theory cooking tips, and a disturbing number of people whispering into microphones. But the voyeurism is mutual. And opt-in. You're not forced into Blend — you have to agree to join. Still, if you're the kind of person who meticulously curates their online persona, you might feel a little exposed. Is Blend worth it? If you love Reels and love knowing what makes your friends laugh, cry, or send a surprised-face emoji, you might like Blend. It's like a group chat meets a group brain. You'll discover new content, start new conversations, and probably learn that your friend Jessica is secretly into raccoon ASMR. For Meta, it's a potential goldmine: more time in-app, more personalized engagement, and more eyeballs for advertisers. For us real people though, it's more of a mixed bag. Sure, it might be a fresh way to feel closer to people you care about without needing to schedule a call or (gasp) leave the app. But it's a way to go even deeper into the dark side(s) of Instagram and social media at large. Cue "Adolescence", the manosphere, conspiracy theories, and an echo-chamber of personal propaganda that's not doing you — or society — any good. Is it revolutionary? No. But is it fun, addictive, and just the right amount of cringe? That remains to be seen. The bottom line Blend lets you and your friends share a custom Reels feed inside DMs. It's social, revealing, and probably designed to make you spend more time scrolling together. Just be ready for your algorithmic skeletons to come dancing out of the closet and straight into your group chat. Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech columnist and on-air contributor for "The Today Show.' The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. Contact her via her weekly newsletter or @JennJolly on Instagram.
