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Close All Tabs

KQED
Social Media
Tiktok
Misinformation
Elon Musk
Disinformation
Donald Trump
Silicon Valley
Spotify
Waymo
Charlie Kirk
Meme Culture
Family Vlogging
Chatgpt
Hyperpop
Data Centers
Dating Apps
Luigi Mangione
Micro-Genres
Generative AI
JD Vance

Ever wonder where the internet stops and IRL begins? Close All Tabs breaks down how digital culture shapes our world through thoughtful insights and irreverent humor. From internet trends to AI slop to the politics of memes, Close All Tabs covers it all. How will AI change our jobs and lives? Is the government watching what I post? Is there life beyond TikTok? Host Morgan Sung pulls from experts, ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes71Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureTechnology

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Latest Episodes

“Did The Sims make you gay?” is a long-running joke among Sims players. For millions, The Sims has been more than a video game — it’s been a place to experiment, tell stories, and explore identity. Long before LGBTQ representation became common in ma... more

During a recent phone call,  BBC tech columnist Thomas Germain couldn’t convince his aunt that he wasn’t AI. Being unable to distinguish a real person from a fabricated version is a problem born from the sheer volume of AI-generated content flooding ... more

When JetBlue replied to an angry customer on X that they should clear their cookies for a better flight price, it seemed to confirm a long-held consumer belief: companies use your personal data to determine what you should pay in real-time based on y... more

For three weeks, all eyes were on a salacious courtroom drama unfolding in Oakland, California. The Musk v. Altman trial had everything you’d expect from a favorite soap opera: Backstabbing? Check! Secret diary entries? Check! Pleading text messages?... more

Key Facts

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People also subscribe to these shows.

The Wirecutter Show
The Wirecutter ShowThe New York Times
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HyperfixedAlex Goldman & Radiotopia

Recent Guests

Thomas Germain
Co-host of The Interface, tech columnist at the BBC
BBC
Episode: How To Prove You're Not AI
Hany Farid
Professor at UC Berkeley, father of digital forensics
UC Berkeley
Episode: How To Prove You're Not AI
Lindsay Owens
Economic sociologist who runs the Groundwork Collective
Groundwork Collective
Episode: Escaping the Surveillance Pricing Trap
Siobhan Zilas
Venture capitalist and machine learning expert, OpenAI board member
OpenAI (board member)
Episode: Musk v. Altman Was Peak Silicon Valley Theatrics
Michal Klincewicz
Professor of computational cognitive science
Tilburg University
Episode: Iran Is Winning The Slopaganda War
Zander Small
Content creator and founder of Fanlock
Fanlock
Episode: How an OnlyFans Model and a Cosplayer Are Fighting Nonconsensual Deepfake Porn
Eva Galperin
Director of Cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Episode: Somebody’s Watching Me: The Crackdown on Stalkerware
Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman
Reporter at KQED who covers immigrant experiences and the H1B Life project
KQED
Episode: The H-1B Visa Process But Make It a Video Game
Danduk (Don Duk Dovedon)
Immigrant who shared his H-1B journey and family history
Individual interviewee
Episode: The H-1B Visa Process But Make It a Video Game

Host

Morgan Sung
Tech journalist and host of Close All Tabs

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 271 ratings
  • A vital resource for staying relevant

    As a parent- this is an essential resource. Such a service! So grateful. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    manhattanbeachmo
    United Statesa month ago
  • Love love love

    Every episode is fantastic - great in-depth engaging stories that are relevant to the state of the tech world

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ajhqt
    United States2 months ago
  • So helpful!

    Im a nature girl a bit overwhelmed and frustrated by the current digital world. This podcast is very engaging. My curiosity is being nourished here which is helpful for my wellbeing and navigation of what is unfolding.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Oak🌱seedlings🌈
    United States2 months ago
  • Great show

    Super current and always locked in

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mitchyblueeyes
    United States2 months ago
  • O M G

    In 23andme the guest on the episode is my auntie

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lemontree415
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Episodes are described as engaging, well-produced, and thought-provoking.
Listeners praise how the show explains complex tech topics and anticipates questions.
Fans appreciate diverse perspectives and the blend of storytelling with reporting.
Well-researched and timely, with informative and accessible episodes.
Some listeners note strong storytelling and high-quality guests while a few criticisms mention occasional ethical debates.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#156
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#134
Philippines/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#209
South Korea/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#227
United Arab Emirates/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Save or Scroll: Looksmaxxing, AI Fruit Love Island, BTS Arirang, and Meta Lawsuits
Q: What is looks maxing and why has it become controversial?
Looks maxing is a community focus on gamifying physical appearance to be more attractive, often with male-dominated culture and a mix of self-improvement rhetoric that intersects with performative masculinity and, in some cases, fascist aesthetics, leading to controversy about gender, power, and ideology.
Lessons for U.S. Netizens from Behind China’s Great Firewall
Q: What can American Internet users learn from their Chinese counterparts?
American users should recognize that their Internet may also be curated, understand other ecosystems outside their bubble, and embrace creative expressions such as memes to resist authority.
Lessons for U.S. Netizens from Behind China’s Great Firewall
Q: What similarities can be drawn between the censorship practices in China and those emerging in the U.S.?
There are increasing similarities in the tactics of control and surveillance, such as border control measures scrutinizing social media accounts, reflecting a troubling trend toward censorship in the U.S. that mirrors practices in China.
Love In The Time Of Doom Scrolling
Q: What do you think of integrating AI features into dating applications?
Maria Avgitidis expresses skepticism about AI in matchmaking, emphasizing the importance of community and the human aspect of connections.
How the AI Data Center Boom Impacts Black Communities
Q: Are those jobs permanent?
A majority of the jobs at data centers are not permanent, with only a small number of highly skilled positions created.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Close All Tabs

What is Close All Tabs about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful blend of technology and culture, this show unpacks how online platforms, policies, and digital behavior shape real-world life. Episodes frequently explore AI, privacy, online safety, and the societal costs and opportunities of our connected world, often featuring reporters, researchers, and practitioners who bring data-driven context and human stories to timely topics. A standout is its ability to translate complex tech and policy issues into engaging narratives, with a clear preference for nuance, accessible explanations, and diverse perspectives.

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How many listeners does Close All Tabs get?

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How many subscribers and views does Close All Tabs have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Close All Tabs has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Close All Tabs?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Close All Tabs:

1. Bay Curious
2. The Bay
3. Search Engine
4. The Wirecutter Show
5. Hyperfixed

How many episodes of Close All Tabs are there?

Close All Tabs launched 19 years ago and published 71 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Close All Tabs?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Close All Tabs?

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What guests have appeared on Close All Tabs?

Recent guests on Close All Tabs include:

1. Thomas Germain
2. Hany Farid
3. Lindsay Owens
4. Siobhan Zilas
5. Michal Klincewicz
6. Zander Small
7. Eva Galperin
8. Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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