Skip to content
TechCrunch·

🚨Middle Schoolers Flood NPR Podcasts with Bizarre Comments

Why are kids flooding NPR podcasts with gibberish?

TL;DR

Middle schoolers are flooding NPR podcasts with indecipherable comments, targeting shows with few comments. NPR's 'Wild Card' and 'TED Radio Hour' were hit. The reason? Fewer comments mean more visibility.

Middle schoolers have been flooding NPR podcasts like 'Wild Card' and 'TED Radio Hour' with indecipherable comments filled with bizarre abbreviations and emojis. A producer noticed the unusual activity and reported it to Spotify. The comments were later identified as likely coming from middle schoolers using group chats. The kids targeted shows with fewer comments for more visibility. This trend raises questions about the impact of social media on younger generations and the nature of online engagement. The host of 'This American Life' asked one of the kids why they targeted NPR podcasts, and the answer was straightforward: fewer comments mean more visibility. The incident highlights the unintended consequences of social media and the evolving landscape of online behavior among young users.

Middle Schoolers Flood NPR Podcasts with Bizarre Comments — TechCrunch

Key Points

1

Middle schoolers are using group chats to flood NPR podcasts with indecipherable comments, targeting shows with fewer comments for more visibility.

2

The comments on 'Wild Card' and 'TED Radio Hour' were identified as likely coming from middle schoolers using group chats.

3

The host of 'This American Life' asked a kid why they targeted NPR podcasts, and the answer was straightforward: fewer comments mean more visibility.

4

The incident highlights the unintended consequences of social media and the evolving landscape of online behavior among young users.

5

Parents have tried to keep their kids off social media, but the impact of social media on younger generations is becoming increasingly apparent.

Why It Matters

Middle schoolers are flooding NPR podcasts with bizarre comments, targeting shows with fewer comments for more visibility. This trend highlights the impact of social media on younger generations and the evolving landscape of online engagement. The host of 'This American Life' asked a kid why they targeted NPR podcasts, and the answer was straightforward: fewer comments mean more visibility. This incident raises questions about the nature of online engagement and the unintended consequences of social media.

social mediapodcastsmiddle schoolersonline engagementcybersecurity

Comments

Subscribe to join the conversation...

Be the first to comment

Enjoyed this article?

Get it daily. 7am. Free. Reads in 5 minutes.

Join 3,508 builders reading daily.

Also get