

AntiSocial
BBC Radio 4
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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

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

Jun 17, 2022 • 2min
Introducing AntiSocial
Where there are angry-face emojis, AntiSocial brings understanding. Context, facts, views that will make you think - and NO SHOUTING.


