Ruined By The Internet? | Uncovering the human cost of our digital world
Is the internet really ruining everything, or are we just looking at it wrong? Ruined By The Internet? uses technology as a lens to investigate its effects on society, culture, and modern life. Not products. Not industry news. The human costs of the digital world we all inhabit - whether we wanted them or not. Through conversations with psychologists, musicians, political scientists, FBI investigators, anthropologists, economists, researchers, and experts from every field technology has touched, each episode takes a social or cultural focal point and examines it from every angle. How is social media changing us? Is AI reshaping human behaviour? And what are the real consequences of our very online lives? Ruined By The Internet? is created, hosted and produced by Gareth King. New investigations drop regularly - follow or subscribe wherever you listen. Visit us: https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/ Share your thoughts: https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/survey/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/rbtishow/
Episodes
The internet gave us a way for conspiracy theories to find their audiences, connecting people and building communities around often-fringe ideas. But has it also supercharged them, turning once-fringe ideas into powerful forces of polarisation, division and radicalisation that reach far beyond the screen?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or n...
It promised to make us more productive, more employable, and more economically secure. But as AI begins replacing not just tasks but entire professional roles - including ones that took many years to reach - is technology making job security itself an obsolete concept?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.
Follow or subscribe to never miss ...
The internet promised to bring the world's stores directly to us. But in chasing convenience over everything, has it killed the high street, gutted retailers, and replaced the experience of shopping with a transaction?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.
Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation.
We're joined by Joe Zahaitis...
The internet promised us connection that never sleeps. But has it also been sabotaging our rest - leaving us locked in a nightly battle with a digital world that refuses to turn off?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.
Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation.
We're joined by Chelsea Reynolds - sleep researcher and clinical...
When it comes to empowering ourselves, we were told the internet would give us back control. But instead, has it simply delivered a more efficient way for us to become products, and successfully rebranded objectification as agency?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.
Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation.
We’re joi...
The internet was supposed to make the rental market more efficient and transparent. But has it instead turned the basic human need for shelter into a frantic, dehumanising battle with technology - where algorithms, platforms, and data have more power than the people looking for a home?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.
Follow or subscri...
The internet promised to make self-improvement accessible to everyone. But has it instead turned it into a spectator sport - replacing process with performance, and pushing us to consume playbooks rather than actually build habits?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.
Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation.
We're joined by...
The internet promised to revolutionise how we get around - delivering a modern, efficient, and affordable alternative to the old ways. But did the revolution simply replace one system with an unstable, exploitative gig economy, offering the illusion of flexibility with almost zero protections?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.
Follow or...
The internet promised to be an escape from centralised power - a user-controlled, peer-to-peer network that would democratise access and dismantle the gatekeepers. But thanks to the domination of Big Tech and Venture Capital, has that dream been systematically stolen and replaced by a new set of gatekeepers wearing different clothes?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life...
The internet brought connectivity unlike anything we'd ever experienced. But by making so much of our communication instant and effortless, has it actually eroded everything we need to truly connect with each other?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.
Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation.
We're joined by Dr Maria-Elena ...
The internet has made ayahuasca more accessible than ever - bringing the promise of spiritual awakening and deep healing to people worldwide. But in doing so, has it commodified a sacred practice, fuelling a rise in unqualified facilitators and a dangerous disregard for the cultural traditions it came from?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or...
The internet promised a place where people from diverse backgrounds could find connection and understanding. But has it instead become a deeply polarised medium where echo chambers and ideological extremism make meaningful common ground harder to find than ever?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.
Follow or subscribe to never miss the nex...
The internet was supposed to empower brands to build relationships based on authenticity and shared values. But has it instead become a surveillance capitalism machine - exploiting and manipulating our attention until we stopped trusting brands, marketing, and the platforms behind them entirely?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.
Follow ...
By creating an environment of radically decentralised authority, has the internet shattered the slow, controlled process of reputation management - turning it into a fast, volatile, and potentially permanent crisis cycle where your worst moment follows you forever?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.
Follow or subscribe to never miss the ...
The internet promised a more informed society where anyone could share knowledge freely. But has it instead created a crisis of trust - where expertise is constantly challenged, and huge numbers of us struggle to discern fact from fiction?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.
Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation.
We're j...
The internet was supposed to be where the free exchange of knowledge and ideas happened. But has it instead become a place increasingly controlled by a handful of companies - where inconvenient ideas are suppressed, and the original promise of an open web has been quietly hijacked?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.
Follow or subscribe t...
The internet has given us unprecedented connection. But thanks to relentless data retention and the constant tracking of our every digital move, is it now virtually impossible to shed our old identity and start a new life undetected?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.
Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation.
We're joined ...
With its constant presence and insatiable demand for attention, has the internet invaded our offline spaces - diminishing our ability to be truly present and eroding the quality of our in-person experiences?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.
Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation.
We're joined by Emily Toner - clinical ...
The internet promised to empower artists and give listeners infinite choice. But has it instead turned music into a disposable commodity - replacing human curation with algorithms, and making it virtually impossible for most artists to earn a sustainable living?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.
Follow or subscribe to never miss the nex...
The internet promised to modernise an age-old activity, bringing new convenience to a quick thrill. But has it instead delivered a predatory, 24/7 addiction machine - one that exploits our psychology with algorithms and has created what many now consider a serious public health crisis?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.
Follow or subscr...
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