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Introducing VEXT

Introducing VEXT

Everywhere you look, it's the same three stories about the same three people, told from the same three angles with nothing new to say. It's another grapevine rumor about a celebrity couple. Toothless takes that play it safe. Another regurgitated report that doesn't ask the real questions. And it's all so fucking boring.


VEXT is here to change that. We're a new magazine about culture and the people who create it. We cover what other places don’t: sex, drugs, shadow economies and whatever else emerges from the margins. We spotlight the artists, creators and activists who have something real to say, and we do it because no one else will.

Think deep dives into emerging online subcultures. Reports from underground movements that haven't hit your algorithm yet. Sociocultural commentary that sparks genuine conversation, even when it's contentious. Because VEXT is for the people who see culture happening before it gets sanitized for mass consumption — and those people are you.

How to Pitch

Send your pitches to hello@vextmagazine.com or use this form.

The Ground Rules

  1. No hate speech or discrimination. Period. Being edgy doesn't mean being an asshole.
  2. Keep pitches to one paragraph. We'll read it, promise. And please, no triple emails — we see you the first time.
  3. Original content only. No pre-written essays or previously published work. We want fresh perspectives, not leftovers.
  4. We accept features, op-eds, and trend pieces focused on current sociocultural movements. Check our existing content to get a feel for what we're after.
  5. Yes, we edit. Every accepted piece goes through our editorial process. It's not personal, but we want your voice to have every opportunity to come through effectively and clearly.
  6. We're small but mighty. Our team is tiny and our budget modest, so we can't accept everything. But we read every pitch and will get back to you as soon as humanly possible.

Welcome to VEXT. Finally, something worth reading.

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I'm Dating a Performative Man
Illustration by Mark Paez / Glyn Warren Philpot "Man in White" (1933)

I met my boyfriend on Hinge. On our first date, I bought him coffee. Twice. It wasn’t because he forgot his wallet. He just looked at me with that very specific kind of charm and said, “I don’t believe in transactions when it comes to connection.” He always orders his coffee black, with a splash of milk on the side. The first time I saw him do this, I realized I was sitting across from someone deeply committed to the performance of taste. This wasn’t just a drink. It was an aesthetic.

He was wearing a tattered vintage top layered under a denim jacket with enamel pins. One was of a cartoon duck. One just said, “existentialism.” I think he wanted me to ask about them, but I didn’t. There was a book in his pocket, a copy of A Little Book on the Human Shadow, visibly annotated with a singular bright neon post-it. When I asked what part he was on, he said, “Oh, I’ve read it before. I just carry it sometimes.”

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ChatGPT Psychosis in the Age of AI Companionship
Illustration by Mark Paez

It often starts innocently enough, with late-night chats about philosophy, deep dives into simulation theory or musings on the nature of consciousness. But for a small number of users, these exchanges with AI chatbots can take a darker turn. As tools like ChatGPT become more embedded into everyday life, mental health professionals are sounding the alarm about a rare but troubling new phenomenon. It's what some are now calling "ChatGPT psychosis," where AI interaction may intensify or trigger psychotic symptoms.

While there’s still no official diagnosis and the evidence remains anecdotal, these kinds of stories continue to pop up across the internet. On Reddit, users are sharing accounts of loved ones experiencing AI-associated delusions, often involving spiritual and supernatural fantasies. On X, prominent tech VC Geoff Lewis claims that he’s “the primary target of a non-governmental system,” beliefs that echo narratives commonly seen in persecutory delusions. Lewis stated that conversations with AI helped him uncover or “map” this supposed conspiracy, though it's unclear whether these beliefs preceded or followed his AI interactions.

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The Labubu as an Anti-Fashion Statement
Illustration by Mark Paez/Photos via Shutterstock

A couple of years ago, the Labubu was practically a secret. With its pointy ears and sharp-toothed grin, the Pop Mart plushie was an IYKYK obsession among fashion insiders, spotted on Birkin bags and in the front row of shows. It signaled a niche kind of cool, a playful rebellion against the seriousness of high fashion. It said, “I’m young, irreverent and fun.” And for a while, that’s exactly what it was.

Then came the boom.

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Masturbation Makes You More Social
Illustration by Mark Paez

Masturbation is cast as a solitary act, reserved for the awkward and perpetually single. A habit hidden beneath shame and heavy blankets, it’s been weighed down by pop culture punchlines and small-minded stereotypes for far too long. But as stigma fades and science steps in, new research says young people think masturbation isn’t about a lack of connection — it’s something that can foster it. And in this era of profound isolation, that has them reaching for the lube.

Gen Z is frequently referred to as the “loneliest generation,” and the data backs it up. Many experts say it comes down to social media, since it’s hard to feel social while constantly scrolling past bad news and curated perfection. But a new wellness study from Magic Wand suggests that masturbation can do more than just make you feel good. By easing loneliness and boosting self-confidence, people who self-pleasure may actually feel more socially connected, not less. And at a time when Gen Z is facing record levels of loneliness and emotional distress, that’s no small claim.

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It’s not even 11 p.m., and the house is already trashed. Empty beer cans line the window sills, people are ashing cigarettes into plastic cups and someone’s puking in the bathroom. The floor is sticky, and the iPod DJ is playing “Gasolina,” while the host is running around with a garbage bag, frantically trying to clean up the mess. It’s all pretty average by house party standards, but in 2025, everyone still wants to relive the nights they can’t remember.

House parties these days are rare. With rising rent prices and shrinking living spaces, most people can barely afford to throw one, let alone live somewhere big enough to host. Plus, young people are drinking and going out less, preferring more intimate hangouts over loud clubs or massive gatherings. But even with these shifts, house party nostalgia is alive and well — and it’s making a comeback with Gen Z.

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