Because Online Life Is Real Life
Host Veronica Belmont shares real stories of life online and real talk about the future of the Web.
IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla Corporation.
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Season 3 Ep. 7
What to Expect When You're Electing
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The 2016 U.S. presidential election blew up our ideas about influence campaigns in the age of screens. Two years later, Veronica Belmont and Baratunde Thurston examine how the internet is changing our minds, our votes, and our democracies – all over the world.
Pulitzer prize winning New York Times reporter Scott Shane details the United States’ long history with election meddling. Paris correspondent for the Washington Post, James McAuley, shines a light on how other countries are managing the the changing dynamics of online political campaigns. And speculative fiction authors Malka Older and Genevieve Valentine describe what elections may look like in the future, with advances in technology. Show NotesSubscribe to IRL. Because online life is real life.
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Season 3 Ep. 6
Kids These Days
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Today’s teens are the first humans who have spent their entire lives online. Join Veronica Belmont and Manoush Zomorodi as they explore what kids are facing on the interwebs, how they’re using social media for good, how they’re handling cyberbullying, and how parents can keep up.
Parkland, Florida’s Cameron Kasky discusses how he uses social media as a platform for activism; tech journalist Alexandra Samuel talks about Lil Tay and and the the role parents can play as they help their children navigate the internet; and Common Sense Media’s Sierra Filucci gives us an exclusive look at data from a new study about technology’s impact on our youth. Show NotesSubscribe to IRL. Because online life is real life.
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Season 3 Ep. 5
Bullying and Bonding Online
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It’s a problem when tribalism divides us, online and in real life. Join Veronica Belmont and Franchesca Ramsey as they meet the people working to make the web — and world — friendlier places. Jhamel Robinson discusses how he used social media to organize a massive BBQ in Lake Merritt park after a racial altercation went viral; Dr. Meredith Clark sheds light on the need for social media platforms to hire members of vulnerable communities; Jon Ronson talks about snap judgements; Professor Kip Williams speaks to the effects of ostracism online and off; and recent high school graduate Natalie Hampton shares her story of surviving extreme bullying and what she’s doing now to help others. Show Notes
Subscribe to IRL. Because online life is real life.
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Season 3 Ep. 4
Virtual Connections
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:‘-) Ever wonder why emoticons exist? They popped up in the 1980s to make online connections feel a little less digital and a little more personal :D. In this episode of IRL, host Veronica Belmont and special guest Peter Rojas explore how the Internet is both building and also confusing our relationships every day. Chloe Stuart-Ulin gives a first-hand account of her life as a “closer” for an online-dating service; we hear a dramatic, real-life story about a woman who finds her biological parent online; and Emma Brockes talks about how we can all maintain humanity while interacting with others on the internet. Show Notes
Subscribe to IRL. Because online life is real life.
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Season 3 Ep. 3
Paid Attention
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There’s a new currency in town (and no, we’re not talking about Bitcoin). We’re talking about attention. In this episode of IRL, Veronica Belmont and special guest Jane Lytvynenko explore all the ways your attention has become worth money on social media. Meet Hamlet the Piggy, an Instagram star who is helping her owner cope with epilepsy and also build a business; Lisette Calveiro, whose quest for fame online left her spending beyond her means; and media theorist Douglas Rushkoff, who discusses what’s behind the emerging attention economy. Show Notes
Subscribe to IRL. Because online life is real life.
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Season 3 Ep. 2
Press Play
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One of the most successful recruitment tools the U.S. Army ever made was… a video game? Sometimes without even knowing it, gaming elements in technology — often designed for addiction — are incentivizing you to think certain ways and do certain things. Join Veronica Belmont and co-pilot Ashley Carman as they explore the rise of gamification in our everyday lives, its positives and negatives, and its future. Show Notes
Subscribe to IRL. Because online life is real life.
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Season 3 Ep. 1
The Grand Bargain
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We’re told from a young age to “accept the things we cannot change.” But should this be the case online as well? We click “Accept” every day, but often don’t know what we’re giving away. Is it a fair trade, and should we demand a better bargain? Veronica Belmont and special guest Dave Pell explore if what we get for what we give online is a good deal. We hear how one man’s HIV status was exposed without permission, how a massive data-mining company is using our information to predict how we’ll behave, and why on earth our email inboxes are filling up with privacy policies. Show Notes
Subscribe to IRL. Because online life is real life.
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Season 3 Trailer
Introducing Season 3 of IRL: Because Online Life is Real Life
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In Season 3 of IRL, we’re exploring the bargains we make online every day, and how we might approach striking better deals with the powers that be. You’ll find out what happened when the U.S. Army got into the video game business, what it’s like to be a professional flirter on Tinder (for real), and how a super cute pig transformed a person’s life one Instagram post at a time. Episode 1 launches July 2nd.
Subscribe to IRL. Because online life is real life.
Season 2
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How to stop the spread of disinformation online. Listen now.
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How technology can create, and can break, our filter bubbles. Listen now.
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5: Algorisky
When bad code spreads disinformation and bias, it’s never something that “the algorithm did.” It’s something people did. Listen now.
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On the Internet no one knows you’re a dog, as the old joke goes. But does anonymity truly exist on the web anymore? Listen now.
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3: Face Value
From Snapchat filters to Apple’s Face ID, biometric technology plays a growing role in our everyday lives. What do we actually give up when we upload our face to these apps? Listen now.
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Recent reports estimate that over 50% of teens are addicted to their smartphones. Veronica Belmont investigates the impact of growing up online. Listen now.
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1: Bot Or Not
Most website visitors aren’t human. They’re bots. Here’s how to spot them. Listen now.
Season 1
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Bonus: Net Neutrality Emergency
The battle for the open Internet isn’t over. In the days leading up to the FCC’s vote, we investigate what’s next for net neutrality. Listen now.
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Bonus: Status Update
On the Internet, everything happens so much. Veronica Belmont explores the latest developments in digital activism, cybersecurity and troll clapbacks. Listen now.
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Recent events in Charlottesville, VA have revealed the role the Internet plays in IRL threats and violence. Should tech companies regulate who says what on the Internet? Listen now.
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What is life like without fast Internet, and how does life change once a person has it? Veronica Belmont talks to people about joining the digital economy. Listen now.
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Surveillance. Turns out, we’ve invited it into our homes through digital assistants, connected toys and baby monitors. Listen now.
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Trolls are in every corner of the Web, but people are fighting back in new ways. Baked goods included. Listen now.
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3: Hack Jobs
This episode of IRL focuses on our internet insecurity. Meet the unsung heroes fighting to keep us safe. Listen now.
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The Internet is at a crossroads. Mozilla’s IRL podcast dives into the current net neutrality debate. Listen now.
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There is no such thing as a free lunch. Mozilla’s IRL podcast dives into the price of “free” online series. Listen now.
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Introducing IRL: Because Online Life is Real Life Listen now.