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Rabbit Hole

The New York Times

What is the internet doing to us? The Times tech columnist Kevin Roose discovers what happens when our lives move online. read less

Our Editor's Take

The podcast Rabbit Hole talks about internet culture. The title comes from the metaphor of going down a rabbit hole when discovering weird things. Kevin Roose is a technology columnist for The New York Times. He hosts this eight-part podcast. The series came out in 2020, but it is still relevant. It explores how the internet is transforming American lives. With each episode, Roose discusses a different aspect of online culture and its impact on society.

The host examines many important topics on this podcast. The Rabbit Hole show focuses on things like social media addiction. It also explains conspiracy theories. These stories spread through YouTube algorithms and radicalization via extremist forums. Roose also shares personal stories from people hurt by these phenomena.

One compelling Rabbit Hole episode features an interview with Caleb Cain. He's a young man who fell down an alt-right rabbit hole. This happened after he watched hours of far-right content on YouTube. Another podcast episode focuses on QAnon. Some of Donald Trump's supporters still believe in this bizarre conspiracy.

Throughout his investigation, Roose provides listeners with valuable insights. He explains what happens when people spend more time living online than off. To be sure, Rabbit Hole also acknowledges positive aspects of the internet. That includes increased access to information. But the show also talks about many negative aspects. That includes cyberbullying and echo chambers.

Rabbit Hole offers thought-provoking analysis. People interested in understanding how digital technologies shape the world today may like this show. It also raises important questions. Can people ever disconnect from this virtual reality? And if they can't, can they navigate it in a safe way? Fans of this podcast may also like Hard Fork, Roose's other technology podcast.

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