Speaker 1: Remember when the internet felt fun. That noise you associate
Speaker 1: with getting online back in the day, that dial up
Speaker 1: modem noise, that was like my cry of freedom. I
Speaker 1: can still hear my mom screaming at the top of
Speaker 1: the stairs, get off the dang computer. I'm trying to
Speaker 1: make a call. But that really was it for me.
Speaker 1: It was freedom. Remember when getting online felt like freedom,
Speaker 1: community and connection instead of feeling like a slog that
Speaker 1: you wish you could quit but feel like you can't.
Speaker 1: How did we get here? I'm bridgitad and since twenty twenty,
Speaker 1: I've been answering questions like these on my award winning
Speaker 1: tech and culture podcast, There Are No Girls on the
Speaker 1: Internet and iHeartRadio podcast that chronicles technology, the Internet and
Speaker 1: social media that actually centers the diverse artists, creators, researchers,
Speaker 1: and advocates who are building better writer digital futures. We're
Speaker 1: talking about technology and social media's impact on culture from
Speaker 1: influencer fueled fast fashion.
Speaker 2: This system of fast fashion wouldn't exist that influencers to
Speaker 2: the polarized, often toxic online discourse that's wrecking all of
Speaker 2: our mental health and threatening our democracy.
Speaker 3: One of the most destructive things that TikTok specifically has
Speaker 3: groomed people into doing is viewing political content as solely
Speaker 3: through the lens of those like clap back videos that
Speaker 3: lots of people do right.
Speaker 1: The Internet is not just created by coders and tech companies.
Speaker 1: It's created by all of us who use it every day.
Speaker 1: It can and should be a force that connects us.
Speaker 1: So why does it feel so toxic? And who benefits
Speaker 1: from the hate and mistrust that are rampant on social media?
Speaker 1: I created There Are No Girls on the Internet because
Speaker 1: the Internet belongs to everyone, all of us, and I
Speaker 1: wanted to spotlight the creative women, black folks, queer folks,
Speaker 1: and others who are creating and building at the forefront
Speaker 1: of the Internet to make that shared promise a reality
Speaker 1: for all of us. Our fifth season is launching in
Speaker 1: May twenty twenty five. Listen, I don't need to tell
Speaker 1: any of you that there are some big change is
Speaker 1: happening in our world right now, and we need an
Speaker 1: Internet that helps us face them together. So I hope
Speaker 1: you will join me and my guests on There Are
Speaker 1: No Girls on the Internet as we explore where keech
Speaker 1: went wrong, where it went right, and how we can
Speaker 1: build a better, brighter Internet for everyone. I think it'll
Speaker 1: be a good time and we'll find connection like we
Speaker 1: have in a long time. Listen to There No Girls
Speaker 1: on the Internet on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or
Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts.