
AntiSocial
Peace talks for the culture wars.
In an era of polarisation, propaganda and pile-ons, AntiSocial offers an alternative: understanding, facts, and respect. Each week, Adam Fleming takes on a topic that's generating conflict on social media, blogs, talk shows and phone-ins and helps you work out what the arguments are really about.
Latest episodes

Aug 26, 2022 • 54min
Trigger warnings
'Upsetting content' warnings at universities: a harmless courtesy or oversensitivity?Some higher education institutions are accused of 'wokery' and pandering to 'snowflake' students because texts now sometimes come with notes saying some students may find the content distressing. People in favour of such warnings see them as an unintrusive way of respecting students’ mental well-being. But what does 'triggering' actually mean? What do students think about trigger warnings? How did they end up on university campuses? And do they actually work?
Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Simon Maybin & Josephine Casserly
Researcher: Octavia Woodward
Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown
Music: Oskar Jones
Editor: Emma Rippon

Aug 19, 2022 • 54min
Fast fashion and class
The argument about whether shopping "sustainably" is a privilege not everyone can afford.People online are debating whether contestants from ITV’s Love Island should be signing mega-bucks deals with clothes companies that sell people stuff cheaply and often - so-called fast fashion. Others claim it's a bit rich for the well-off to lecture everyone else about what's in their wardrobe? We’ll look at how fast fashion got turbo-charged, see if the stats on climate change and fashion add up, explore how fashion and social class have interacted over the years, and ask if “sustainable fashion” is an oxymoron.
Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Simon Maybin & Josephine Casserly
Researcher: Ellie House
Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown
Music: Oskar Jones
Editor: Emma Rippon

Aug 12, 2022 • 54min
Online justice and rape
Rape allegations about a footballer have led to debate online and protests in real life.A woman who says she was raped by a Premier League footballer put her allegations and evidence for them online. On social media some people have tried to pick holes in her account and demanded anonymity for people accused of rape. Others are outraged that the player hasn’t been suspended by his club. In real life, an aeroplane banner protest said “Kick rapists off the pitch”. What’s the law on identifying rape suspects? How common are false allegations of rape? And do people actually understand the law on rape?
Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Simon Maybin & Lucy Proctor
Researcher: Ellie House
Production co-ordinators: Maria Ogundele & Helena Warwick-Cross
Music: Oskar Jones
Editors: Hugh Levinson & Penny Murphy

Aug 5, 2022 • 54min
Drag queens and libraries
The row over drag queens reading stories to children.A spate of protests outside libraries has focused attention on the idea of drag queen story hours - drag queens reading stories to young children in libraries and other public spaces. For some, it’s the perfect way to build acceptance of LGBTQ+ identities, plus it’s fun and fabulous for the children. For others, it risks exposing young minds to adult entertainment and complex themes of sex and gender.Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Simon Maybin & Lucy Proctor
Researcher: Ellie House
Music: Oskar Jones
Editor: Hugh Levinson

Jul 29, 2022 • 55min
Race and representation
The England women’s football team has been on our screens a lot, but the team has attracted criticism for only fielding white players in the quarter finals. That sparked a discussion around what the right levels of representation should be on screen and in public life. Is it true that you can’t be what you can’t see?Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Simon Maybin & Lucy Proctor
Researchers: Ellie House and Octavia Woodward
Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown
Studio Manager: Chris Murphy
Music: Oskar Jones
Editor: Emma Rippon

Jul 22, 2022 • 54min
Gaslighting and relationships
Love Island has sparked debate about gaslighting and narcissism.The reality TV show Love Island has once again ignited discussion about the way men treat women in relationships. Two domestic violence charities called out what they called gaslighting and coercive control. Meanwhile on social media a wider conflict about these new terms has rumbled on.Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Josephine Casserly & Lucy Proctor
Researcher: Ellie House
Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown
Studio Manager: Hal Haines
Music: Oskar Jones
Editor: Emma Rippon

Jul 15, 2022 • 54min
Free speech and online harm
Hopefuls for the Conservative Party leadership have been talking about the Online Safety Bill. One candidate said the planned attempt to make tech companies do something about content that is legal but harmful amounts to ‘legislating for hurt feelings’. And social media had a lot to say. A comedian and an academic discuss.Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Chloe Hadjimatheou & Lucy Proctor
Researchers: Ellie House & Octavia Woodward
Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown
Studio Manager: Chris Murphy
Music: Oskar Jones
Editor: Emma Rippon

Jul 8, 2022 • 54min
Cars and the climate
The battle between gas-guzzlers and environmentalists.
Motorists have been staging go-slow protests on motorways over how expensive it is to get everywhere. Meanwhile, environmental protestors have been letting down the tyres of the biggest gas-guzzlers to stop them going anywhere. They want people to give up their cars, but drivers don’t like being told what to do. It’s getting people angry on social media. Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Simon Maybin & Lucy Proctor
Researchers: Ellie House & Octavia Woodward
Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown
Studio Manager: Hal Haines
Music: Oskar Jones
Editor: Emma Rippon

Jul 1, 2022 • 54min
White privilege and schools
This week, parents are voicing concerns about the way the concept of white privilege is being taught in schools.How did the conversation about white privilege go mainstream in the UK? Where did it come from? The BBC's Home Editor Mark Easton shares some data on the experiences of different ethnic groups in Britain. And a teacher grapples with whether you can tell poor pupils that they're actually privileged. Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Lucy Proctor & Simon Maybin
Researcher: Ellie House & Octavia Woodward
Production coordinator: Brenda Brown
Studio Manager: Hal Haines
Music: Oskar Jones
Editor: Emma Rippon

Jun 24, 2022 • 54min
Trans rights and free speech
Why is the conversation about trans rights and women's rights so toxic?This week, two sports governing bodies decided that trans women should not compete in women's categories. Other sports announced they would review their policies. There's a row about that, but beneath that is a deeper argument about how the tensions around gender identity are discussed and debated. Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Lucy Proctor & Simon Maybin
Researcher: Ellie House
Music: Oskar Jones
Editor: Emma Rippon