There Are No Girls on the Internet

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Marginalized voices have always been at the forefront of the internet, yet our stories often go overlooked. Bridget Todd chronicles our experiences online, and the ways marginalized voices have shaped the internet from the very beginning. We need monuments to all of the identities that make being online what it is. So let’s build them. read less

Our Editor's Take

The creator of the There Are No Girls on the Internet podcast spent her whole career exploring how marginalized people shape culture. Bridget Todd used to cohost a feminist podcast called Stuff Mom Never Told You. She also organized internet campaigns for Planned Parenthood, the Women's March, and MSNBC.

In her career, the podcast host saw huge movements getting started online. She was working and contributing during the #MeToo movement. She also witnessed the Black Lives Matter resurgence. Those points in modern history taught her that Black and marginalized people are always the ones pushing for change. They are the ones shaping the culture, connecting online, and making a big impact on the internet.

At the same time, Todd saw how white tech leaders refuse to be accountable to those very same people. She feels that those platforms would be nothing without the marginalized user base. Websites like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) have sweeping policies about what content they allow. She feels they claim to be neutral and apolitical. But the host believes they actually profit from the trolls. Todd thinks they silence marginalized voices and do not prevent abuse. She also thinks that not enough is done to stop online harassment. That's part of the reason she created the There Are No Girls on the Internet podcast.

Todd wants to change that. She wants women, Black people, and other marginalized voices to claim their stake. She also wants them to recognize their importance and influence online. Her internet culture podcast is a means to that end.

There Are No Girls on the Internet seeks to tell stories that don't get much exposure. Todd mentions how Talia Jane exposed Yelp for underpaying its employees. The show discusses the subsequent backlash. The show also discusses Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction." It actually led to the creation of YouTube. These are stories that show the way the internet can use and abuse marginalized people. But at the same time, the podcast also shows more positive things. It explains how internet activists uncover great injustices and contribute to its growth. New episodes debut several times each week.

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Episodes

Pornification of women on Twitch; Baltimore bridge DEI conspiracy; Amazon just walk out stores flop; Ignore your boss’s emails – NEWS ROUNDUP
Apr 5 2024
Pornification of women on Twitch; Baltimore bridge DEI conspiracy; Amazon just walk out stores flop; Ignore your boss’s emails – NEWS ROUNDUP
Latino immigrant workers died on the Baltimore bridge. More will likely rebuild it: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/04/business/immigrant-workers-baltimore-bridge/index.html Baltimore mayor faces racist attacks after bridge collapse: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/04/business/immigrant-workers-baltimore-bridge/index.html Amazon’s cashier-less technology was supposed to revolutionize grocery shopping. It’s been a flop: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/03/business/amazons-self-checkout-technology-grocery-flop/index.html California introduces 'right to disconnect' bill that would allow employees to possibly relax: https://www.engadget.com/california-introduces-right-to-disconnect-bill-that-would-allow-employees-to-possibly-relax-151705072.html Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj, Stevie Wonder, Dozens More Call on AI Developers to Respect Artists’ Rights: https://variety.com/2024/music/news/billie-eilish-nicki-minaj-ai-respect-artists-rights-1235957451 Researchers uncover ‘pornification’ trend among female streamers on Twitch: https://www.psypost.org/researchers-uncover-pornification-trend-among-female-streamers-on-twitch/#google_vignette Twitch bans turning butts and boobs into green screens: https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/27/24113838/twitch-community-update-body-part-screens-morgpieSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kate Middleton TMZ video; Don’t trash your boss on Glassdoor; Birth control misinfo online is out of control; AI Marylin Monroe – NEWS ROUNDUP
Mar 22 2024
Kate Middleton TMZ video; Don’t trash your boss on Glassdoor; Birth control misinfo online is out of control; AI Marylin Monroe – NEWS ROUNDUP
WE RECORDED OUR UPDATE ON KATE MIDDLETON BEFORE THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTED NEWS THAT SHE HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER. READ MORE ABOUT THAT HERE: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/22/world/princess-kate-middleton-cancer Staff at clinic where Kate had surgery ‘tried to access her medical records’ https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/mar/19/inquiry-reportedly-begins-after-claims-clinic-staff-tried-to-access-princess-of-waless-records  TMZ’s Kate video: https://www.tmz.com/2024/03/18/kate-middleton-seen-new-video-windsor-farm-shop-prince-william/ Users say Glassdoor added real names to user profiles without their consent: https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/20/glassdoor-added-real-names-profiles-without-consent/ A third of Bumble’s Texas workforce moved after state passed restrictive ‘Heartbeat Act’ abortion bill: https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/08/bumble-lost-a-third-of-its-texas-workforce-after-state-passed-restrictive-heartbeat-act-abortion-bill/  Washington Post report: Women are getting off birth control amid misinformation explosion https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/03/21/stopping-birth-control-misinformation/  AI Marilyn Monroe Marks Another Step Forward In Extending Celebrity Brand Value Beyond The Grave: https://deadline.com/2024/03/ai-marilyn-monroe-marks-another-step-forward-in-extending-celebrity-brands-1235850875/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
TikTok wants you to call congress; Black people love Trump in AI deep fakes; Disable this new Twitter feature — NEWS ROUNDUP
Mar 8 2024
TikTok wants you to call congress; Black people love Trump in AI deep fakes; Disable this new Twitter feature — NEWS ROUNDUP
What fake images of Trump with Black voters tell us about AI disinformation: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/03/06/what-fake-images-trump-with-black-voters-tell-us-about-ai-disinformation/ A bill that could lead to a TikTok ban is gaining momentum in Congress. Here's what to know: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tiktok-ban-congress-bill-bytedance-divest/ TikToker and disinfo expert Abbie Richards on why banning TikTok would harm marginalized communities: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banning-tiktok-would-hurt-marginalized-communities/id1520715907?i=1000606352152 Elon Musk switched on X calling by default: Here’s how to switch it off: https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/04/elon-musk-x-twitter-calling-privacy-switch-off/ AOC’s Plan to End Deepfake Porn: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/aoc-deepfakes-defiance-act-1234979373/ CBS Sued by ‘SEAL Team’ Scribe Over Alleged Racial Quotas for Hiring Writers: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/cbs-studios-paramount-reverse-discrimination-lawsuit-racial-quotas-1235842493/ Writers Sound Off About Litigious ‘SEAL Team’ Staffer Who Claims He Lost Gig Because He Was White & Male: https://deadline.com/2024/03/writers-reaction-seal-team-staffer-brian-beneker-lawsuit-discrimination-1235846195/ Thanks to the listener who helped get this obituary of Shafiqah Hudson published in the New York Times (if that listener is you - please reach out to me!): https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/05/us/shafiqah-hudson-dead.htmlSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.