How Social Media Exploits Creators with Taylor Lorenz
Dec 20, 2023
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Adam Conover is joined by Taylor Lorenz, an internet expert and author of "Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet," to discuss the evolution of social media, the impact on journalism, the exploitation and inequality of creators, and the challenges of creative labor on social media platforms.
Social media has transformed human communication, leading to both positive and negative effects.
The rise of mommy bloggers in the late '90s and early 2000s paved the way for content creators and redefined fame in the digital age.
The creator economy relies heavily on free labor and deceptive practices, perpetuated by monopolistic tech giants.
Deep dives
The Rise of Social Media and Its Impact on Information Consumption
The podcast discusses how social media has transformed our world by changing how we access information and entertainment. It highlights how major events, such as wars, are now being streamed and shared on social media, leading to both positive and negative effects. While social media allows people to criticize false narratives, it also contributes to the spread of misinformation. The episode emphasizes the significant shift in human communication, from a one-to-many to a many-to-many media paradigm, led by powerful and profit-driven tech companies. It suggests that although many people have reservations about social media, ignoring its influence is risky.
The Emergence of Mommy Bloggers and the Transformation of Women's Media
The episode traces the origins of the creator economy to the rise of mommy bloggers in the late '90s and early 2000s. These women created personal blogs to share their experiences of motherhood and challenge traditional women's media. They built strong bonds with their audiences and monetized their blogs through ads and sponsored content. The emergence of mommy bloggers paved the way for other content creators, shaping the influencer landscape. The episode emphasizes their role in transforming women's media and redefining fame in the digital age.
The Illusion of the Creator Economy and Exploitative Practices
The episode critiques the hype surrounding the creator economy, highlighting the false promise of anyone being able to achieve success through platforms like YouTube and TikTok. It criticizes the exploitation and deceptive practices within the industry, asserting that the creator economy heavily relies on free labor, particularly from children. The episode exposes the disparity between the few highly successful creators and the vast majority of content creators who struggle to make a living, despite investing significant effort. It argues that the monopolistic power of tech giants perpetuates this exploitative dynamic, requiring regulatory interventions.
The Impact of Platforms and the Need for Regulation
The episode reflects on the centralization of power among social media platforms like Facebook and Google, triggered by the dominance of YouTube in the early 2000s. It highlights the lack of competition and the challenges faced by startups trying to enter the market. The episode raises concerns about the limited flexibility and innovation in the current landscape, as platforms have become gatekeepers, determining success and visibility. It stresses the urgent need for antitrust enforcement and regulation to address the inequalities, exploitation, and limited opportunities within the creator economy.
The Changing Landscape of Media and Prestige
The podcast episode explores the changing landscape of media and the shift in perceptions of prestige. It discusses how social media platforms have provided more people with the opportunity to directly benefit from their creative labor. However, it also highlights the challenges of monetizing creative work on the internet. The episode emphasizes the importance of considering work and creative labor done on the internet as valuable as traditional creative labor. It delves into the biases and distinctions made between online and traditional media, noting the need to take the internet seriously and have meaningful conversations about its impact.
The Devaluation of Media Infrastructure
The podcast delves into the devaluation of media infrastructure in the age of social media platforms. It discusses the collapse of traditional media companies and the loss of resources that accompanied it. The episode laments the impact on the quality of content, highlighting the constraints faced by content creators who lack the resources of traditional media. It raises concerns about the devaluing of labor, where individuals are expected to be their own directors, photographers, and editors. Despite the positives of social media, the episode acknowledges the need for greater resources and support for content creators and journalists to produce higher-quality work.
Social media is just media now. It has irreversibly changed how we engage with our world, yet it is often disregarded as frivolous. The dismissal of social media can be dangerous, as it minimizes not just the benefits but the dangers of our current media landscape. This week Adam is joined by Taylor Lorenz, an internet expert and author of "Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet," to track the evolution of social media, from the birth of mommy bloggers to the current crisis of social platforms exploiting their audiences for free labor. Find Taylor's book at factuallypod.com/books
About Headgum: Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com.
