Is Drunk Elephant the new Barbie? Skincare is at the top of the holiday wish list for tweens, even though there’s no need for it. And social media might be part of the reason why.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's escape December's darkness with a mental vacation to some exotic travel locales. Tulum! Bali! Lisbon! Millions of people visit these popular tourist destinations, but why? Is it for personal growth and discovery, or are we just chasing social rewards by notching another iconic photo on our Instagram page? Maybe it's both! The idea that "social media has ruined travel" gets brought up a lot by grumbly Internet curmudgeons, but is it true? Bridget took a look at what social science has to say about it and discussed what she found with Producer Mike. Read the research article by Drs. Lauren A. Siegel, Iis Tussyadiah, and Caroline Scarles https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2022.2086451 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year Bridget hosted a roundtable on racialized disinformation attacks with three incredible experts. They talked about the long historical foundations that bad actors have built on to amplify divisions and racial divisions, and the ways tech platforms and other institutions have been used to not only perpetuate disinformation but also make record profits doing it. While marginalized people are disproportionately at risk, disinfo affects everyone. These narratives were a huge problem leading up to the election, and I'm sad to say they will remain a huge problem going forward. The roundtable was part of a video project with the great production company Exposure Labs. We're grateful to them and showrunner Josh Clark for the opportunity to be part of it, and for DCP Entertainment for making it possible. And special thanks to the incredible panelists for sharing their prescient insight: Jessica Ann Mitchell Aiwuyor, Founder of the National Black Cultural Information Trust; Liz Lebron, Founder & President of Blue Nexus Group; and Jaya Savita Aiyer, Director of the Asian Pacific Islanders Civic Action Network. Check out the entire Disinfo Dialogue here at DCP Entertainment: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRl4XDBfORqgbg7vB_I1JrJnrQxw-EDqg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re back with an update about what’s been going on with Bridget, and exploring a new low for the use of AI. AI-written obituaries are using technology to compound people’s grief and run roughshod over their privacy: https://www.fastcompany.com/91162990/ai-written-obituaries-are-compounding-peoples-grief Bridget has had it with digital scammers eating away at our humanity, just so they can make a lousy buck. She has a very special set of skills. And this time, it's personal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An update about Bridget and the show. TLDR: We're going on hiatus for a bit while Bridget focuses on some family matters, but we'll be back with new episodes soon! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon responds to Shein and Temu threat with new low-price storefront: https://www.techspot.com/news/103565-amazon-responds-shein-temu-threat-new-low-price.html Fast fashion retailer Shein’s brand trip didn’t quite go as they planned. They sent a group of influencers to China to tour their facility after a bunch of bad press, but now those influencers are facing backlash themselves, and renouncing their partnership with Shein. The whole thing raises questions about the ethics and harm of fast fashion, as well as the influencers who shill for it. Aja Barber wrote the book on consumption. She explains why it’s about more than just Shein. Aja is the most stylish person I know! Follow her on Patreon for sustainable style insights: https://www.patreon.com/AjaBarber Check out Aja’s book Consumed: https://www.ajabarber.com/book See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to write a book, be a musician, or be a podcaster? You’d better also be a social media branding expert, too. Bridget joins writers and creatives Yvest Jeffcoat and Katie Mitchell from the podcast On Theme to dive into why social media has turned everyone into personal branding experts and why it can sometimes be so exhausting. Everyone’s a sellout now: https://www.vox.com/culture/2024/2/1/24056883/tiktok-self-promotion-artist-career-how-to-build-following LISTEN TO YVES AND KATIE'S PODCAST ON THEME: https://www.ontheme.show/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s the Deal With ‘Hawk Tuah’ Girl? https://www.thecut.com/article/hawk-tuah-girl-viral-tiktok-video-explained.html Exposing Cheaters Isn’t Always a Flex https://www.thecut.com/article/man-cheating-on-flight-tiktok.html See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After Georgia Congressman Mike Collins tweeted in support of frat guys harassing a Black woman with racist tropes… nothing really happened. Popular Information's Judd Legum explores why we need better stories about our democracy, the intersection of media complacency with corporate money, and what's at stake. UPDATE: Congressman Collins feels the heat: https://popular.info/p/update-congressman-collins-feels See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friend of the show Abbie Richards explains why low effort AI generated conspiracy theory content is all over TikTok right now and who is profiting from it. With TikTok creator program, AI-sped misinformation pays: https://www.axios.com/2024/03/26/tik-tok-creator-program-ai-misinformation Follow Abbie Richards on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tofology See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If a tree falls in the garden where a woman enjoys drinking coffee with her husband and no one’s there to hear it, should the Internet harass her anyway? In 2022, Daisey sent one innocuous tweet that launched a thousand takes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Pride Month, which is a great time to be thinking about the LGBTQ people who have been beacons of the vastness of what is possible for our communities. In this episode, Bridget highlights the incredible achievements of Lynn Conway, a trans woman who invented a lot of the tech we take for granted today. Despite a successful track record at IBM, her contributions were credited to others for almost 50 years until IBM formally apologized and recognized her in 2020. She was a bad ass innovator, and a pioneer for trans people trying to navigate a hostile world. She passed away this week at the age of 86, but her legacy and many contributions will be with us forever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2024 isn’t just an election year, it’s THE election year, with almost half the global population voting in elections this year. And unfortunately women leaders and candidates are facing identity based attacks just for wanting to serve their communities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Outspoken Network’s new pod But We Loved: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-but-we-loved-174494262/ Listen to Joey’s take on Bottoms on Stuff Mom Never Told You: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-stuff-mom-never-told-you-21123631/episode/feminist-movie-friday-bottoms-183565696/ Israel Secretly Targeted American Lawmakers With Gaza War Influence Campaign: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/security-aviation/2024-06-05/ty-article-magazine/.premium/israel-secretly-targeted-american-lawmakers-with-gaza-war-influence-campaign/0000018f-e7c8-d11f-a5cf-e7cb62af0000 Key misinformation “superspreaders” on Twitter: Women in their late 50s: https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/05/key-misinformation-superspreaders-on-twitter-older-women/ Lesbian app to ‘use facial recognition technology’ to identify and exclude trans users https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/06/03/lesbian-app-facial-recognition-technology-trans/ FBI Raids Corporate Landlord in Major Rent Price-Fixing Probe: https://www.pymnts.com/cpi-posts/fbi-raids-corporate-landlord-in-major-rent-price-fixing-probe/ Court Allows K-Pop Group to Subpoena YouTuber's Identity from Google: https://www.404media.co/newjeans-kpop-google-youtube-lawsuit/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grant program for Black women business owners is discriminatory, appeals court rules: https://www.npr.org/2024/06/03/g-s1-2649/fearless-fund-grant-program-appeal-ruling Fearless Fund is a Black woman-led venture capital firm that offers investment, financial support, and mentorship to Black women-owned businesses. But they are under attack for providing support for traditionally marginalized entrepreneurs. Edward Blum, the professional hater at the heart of the Supreme Court’s legal challenge of affirmative action, is suing them for what he says is racial discrimination. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi There Are No Girls On The Internet Fans! Take a listen to the trailer of our newest show Sixteenth Minute (of Fame) About the show: Sixteenth Minute (of Fame) is a weekly show from Jamie Loftus that takes a closer look at the internet’s main characters – one part reported, one part interviews, and one part Jamie collapsing her permanently internet-damaged brain. Whether it’s an enduring meme or a dreaded Character of the Day distinction, it’s the kind of notoriety that often results in little money, unwarranted attention, and a confusing blurred line of consent. What do you do when you get more attention and judgement than any one person is built to handle? The Sixteenth Minute of Fame is the place where we figure that out, putting people in the context of the moment they've been frozen inside of. Listen hereand subscribe to Sixteenth Minute (of Fame) on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HE’S GUILTY song of the summer by Mad McFadden: https://www.tiktok.com/@madmcferrin/video/7374903247653326122 'All Eyes on Rafah' image shared by millions on Instagram following Israeli airstrike: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/-eyes-rafah-image-shared-millions-instagram-rcna154380 Donate to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund: https://www.pcrf.net/ 'Sextortion guides' sold on social media, BBC finds: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp00y03q93mo AI image misinformation has surged, Google researchers find: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/ai-image-misinformation-surged-google-research-finds-rcna154333 UK mother of boy who killed himself seeks right to access his social media: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/may/29/uk-mother-boy-who-killed-himself-social-media-access Sometimes to save the internet, you must eat glue: https://www.businessinsider.com/google-search-ai-overview-answers-pizza-glue-fix-2024-5 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the tragedy at Travis Scott’s Astroworld festival that left 10 dead and hundreds injured and traumatized, the rapper announced a “partnership” to provide a free month of therapy through the app BetterHelp, which is basically the Tinder of therapy. Jeff Guenthr, creator of Therapy Den, has been using his platform on TikTok to shed light on BetterHelp’s practices when it comes to data privacy and the way therapists are treated. Jeff joins Bridget and producer Dr. Michael Amato to talk about why this “partnership” feels so wrong in the wake of the tragedy. Check out Therapy Den: https://www.therapyden.com/ Jeff’s therapy TikToks get millions of views: https://www.tiktok.com/@therapyden/video/7007091547917372677?lang=en See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spike Jonze’s 2013 movie Her is in the tech zeitgeist. Have tech leaders watched the whole thing? Brian Merchant’s piece on Her and Open AI is a must read: https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/why-is-sam-altman-so-obsessed-with?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web Bridget rocking Google Glass in 2013: https://www.instagram.com/p/Z1xL1OHw-Z/?igsh=MTR0OXU5aGV2Z3V3NA%3D%3D Listen to our summary of the Open AI Scarlett Johansson controversy here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scarlett-johanssons-open-ai-voice-fight-shows-the/id1520715907?i=1000656338161 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scarlett Johansson says Open AI ripped off her voice for their ChatGPT4.0 even after she said no. No means no, Sam Altman! Here’s what their behavior says about consent in tech. Scarlett Johansson Says OpenAI Ripped Off Her Voice for ChatGPT: https://www.wired.com/story/scarlett-johansson-says-openai-ripped-off-her-voice-for-chatgpt/ AI Art and the Problem of Consent https://artreview.com/ai-art-and-the-problem-of-consent/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.