The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Everything's a cult now

Apr 22, 2024

Derek Thompson, a Staff writer at The Atlantic and host of the Plain English podcast, explores the rise of cult-like thinking in today's digital landscape. He discusses how the internet has splintered society into niche subcultures, from crypto enthusiasts resembling religious devotion to pop culture fandoms that fill spiritual voids. Thompson also critiques identity politics, noting how modern political engagement often stems from opposition rather than policy. Amidst these trends, he emphasizes the importance of fostering real-world connections for genuine social engagement.

53:48

Episode guests

Derek Thompson

AI Summary

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Fragmentation of culture online leads to cult-like behavior, empowering followers through opposition and identity.

Modern media landscape fosters distrust and division, emphasizing the importance of balanced consumption and genuine connections.

Deep dives

The Fragmentation of Culture and Rise of Cult-like Behavior

The internet has led to the fragmentation of culture, with people increasingly segmented into various tribes and camps, resembling cult-like behavior. This shift is attributed to the breakdown of a shared reality, once dominated by media monoculture in the 20th century, which has now given way to a multitude of mini local realities online.

The Evolution of Shared Reality

01:17

The Appeal of Us vs Them Mentality in Media Entrepreneurship

01:04

Identity Defined by Negation in Cult-like Behaviors

01:17

The Impacts of the Internet Revolution on Social Interaction

02:36

Intro

3min

The Rise of Cultification in Digital Society

10min

Crypto as a Modern-Day Cult: Commitment and the Promise of a New Future

4min

Fandoms as New Faiths

5min

From Fandom to Cult: Political Identity and Opposition

6min

Identity Politics and Media Dynamics

19min

Navigating Housing Challenges and Modern Happiness

10min

The internet has fractured our world into a million little subcultures catering to the specific identities and habits of everyone online. Writer Derek Thompson believes this has led to a widespread cult-like mentality that has crept into all facets of modern life — pop culture, media, politics, and religion itself. He joins Sean to explain this theory, and why it’s maybe not such a bad thing.

Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray Area

Guest: Derek Thompson (@dkthomp). His podcast is Plain English, and he writes for The Atlantic.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate The Gray Area ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Be the first to hear new episodes of The Gray Area by following us in your favorite podcast app. Links here: https://www.vox.com/the-gray-area

Support The Gray Area by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

Please take a second to help us learn more about you! vox.com/podcastsurvey

This episode was made by:

Producer: Jon Ehrens

Engineer: Patrick Boyd

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Everything's a cult now

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Fragmentation of Culture and Rise of Cult-like Behavior

Understanding Cults and Fandoms

Power Dynamics and Anti-Institutional Messaging

Impact of Modern Media and Cult-like Behavior on Society

The Evolution of Shared Reality

The Appeal of Us vs Them Mentality in Media Entrepreneurship

Identity Defined by Negation in Cult-like Behaviors

The Impacts of the Internet Revolution on Social Interaction

Get the Snipd
podcast app

AI-powered
podcast player

Discover
highlights

Save any
moment

Share
& Export

AI-powered
podcast player

Discover
highlights

The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Everything's a cult now

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Fragmentation of Culture and Rise of Cult-like Behavior

Understanding Cults and Fandoms

Power Dynamics and Anti-Institutional Messaging

Impact of Modern Media and Cult-like Behavior on Society

The Evolution of Shared Reality

The Appeal of Us vs Them Mentality in Media Entrepreneurship

Identity Defined by Negation in Cult-like Behaviors

The Impacts of the Internet Revolution on Social Interaction

Get the Snipdpodcast app

AI-poweredpodcast player

Discoverhighlights

Save anymoment

Share& Export

AI-poweredpodcast player

Discoverhighlights

Get the Snipd
podcast app

AI-powered
podcast player

Discover
highlights

Save any
moment

Share
& Export

AI-powered
podcast player

Discover
highlights