In 2016 JK Rowling was accused of Native American appropriation. She wrote about skin walkers, this idea of malevolent wizards who disguise themselves as animals. When it's not fandom wars, it's like Twitter is politics, full stop. 4chan users delighted in developing new ways to inflict reputational damage on people they saw as embodying Tumblr values.
The early days of the internet collide with the feverish fandom of “Harry Potter,” and a sprawling, global community emerges. But the hopefulness of this new technology brings with it the darker impulses of human nature.
Produced by Andy Mills, Matthew Boll, and Megan Phelps-Roper, with special thanks to Candace Mittel Kahn and Emily Yoffe.
This show is proudly sponsored by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. FIRE believes free speech makes free people. Learn more at thefire.org.