There Are No Girls on the Internet

Bridget shares her personal journey after a difficult hiatus, highlighting her struggles with grief following her mother's passing. The conversation shifts to AI-written obituaries, probing their ethical implications and emotional toll on families during their darkest moments. Bridget expresses frustration over the exploitation of personal loss for profit, particularly by digital scammers. The podcast raises critical questions about technology's role in mourning and the need for genuine tributes that honor the deceased, rather than automated messages.

An update about Bridget and the show. TLDR: We're going on hiatus for a bit while Bridget focuses on some family matters, but we'll be back with new episodes soon! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon responds to Shein and Temu threat with new low-price storefront: https://www.techspot.com/news/103565-amazon-responds-shein-temu-threat-new-low-price.html Fast fashion retailer Shein’s brand trip didn’t quite go as they planned. They sent a group of influencers to China to tour their facility after a bunch of bad press, but now those influencers are facing backlash themselves, and renouncing their partnership with Shein. The whole thing raises questions about the ethics and harm of fast fashion, as well as the influencers who shill for it. Aja Barber wrote the book on consumption. She explains why it’s about more than just Shein. Aja is the most stylish person I know! Follow her on Patreon for sustainable style insights: https://www.patreon.com/AjaBarber Check out Aja’s book Consumed: https://www.ajabarber.com/bookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to write a book, be a musician, or be a podcaster? You’d better also be a social media branding expert, too. Bridget joins writers and creatives Yvest Jeffcoat and Katie Mitchell from the podcast On Theme to dive into why social media has turned everyone into personal branding experts and why it can sometimes be so exhausting.  Everyone’s a sellout now: https://www.vox.com/culture/2024/2/1/24056883/tiktok-self-promotion-artist-career-how-to-build-following LISTEN TO YVES AND KATIE'S PODCAST ON THEME: https://www.ontheme.show/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s the Deal With ‘Hawk Tuah’ Girl? https://www.thecut.com/article/hawk-tuah-girl-viral-tiktok-video-explained.html  Exposing Cheaters Isn’t Always a Flex https://www.thecut.com/article/man-cheating-on-flight-tiktok.htmlSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Judd Legum, founder of Popular Information, dives into the recent fallout from Congressman Mike Collins' racially charged comments and the media’s lack of accountability. They discuss the dangers of superficial political reporting and the need for deeper narratives about democracy. Legum highlights the troubling ties between corporate influence and political actions, examining how this dynamic shapes decision-making. The conversation sheds light on the normalization of racism in politics and the critical role of engagement and investigative journalism in fostering a healthier democracy.

Friend of the show Abbie Richards explains why low effort AI generated conspiracy theory content is all over TikTok right now and who is profiting from it.  With TikTok creator program, AI-sped misinformation pays: https://www.axios.com/2024/03/26/tik-tok-creator-program-ai-misinformation Follow Abbie Richards on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tofologySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If a tree falls in the garden where a woman enjoys drinking coffee with her husband and no one’s there to hear it, should the Internet harass her anyway? In 2022, Daisey sent one innocuous tweet that launched a thousand takes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Pride Month, which is a great time to be thinking about the LGBTQ people who have been beacons of the vastness of what is possible for our communities. In this episode, Bridget highlights the incredible achievements of Lynn Conway, a trans woman who invented a lot of the tech we take for granted today. Despite a successful track record at IBM, her contributions were credited to others for almost 50 years until IBM formally apologized and recognized her in 2020. She was a bad ass innovator, and a pioneer for trans people trying to navigate a hostile world. She passed away this week at the age of 86, but her legacy and many contributions will be with us forever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2024 isn’t just an election year, it’s THE election year, with almost half the global population voting in elections this year. And unfortunately women leaders and candidates are facing identity based attacks just for wanting to serve their communities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.