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Artwork for Top Comment

Top Comment

BBC
Social Media
Conspiracy Theories
Disinformation
Online Hate
Donald Trump
Tiktok
Israel-Palestine Conflict
Paloma Shemarani
Trolling
Misogyny
Deepfakes
Psychological Impact
Las Vegas Shooting
NHS
Meta
Algorithms
Kamala Harris
Misinformation
Online Abuse
Football

Discover what's behind the content flooding your feed.

Top Comment is a brand new BBC podcast which sheds light on the darkest corners of the internet. Every week, Matt and Marianna unpack a range of viral topics from controversial influencers and the clipping economy, to murky crypto operations, prediction markets, and even information warfare. Follow us inside the algorithm as we expose the inne... more

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Artwork for Top Comment

Latest Episodes

The manosphere is just the tip of the iceberg - that's the premise of a new report, shared exclusively with Top Comment, about the so-called male grievance industry. Its author, Kristina Wilfore, has spent years investigating state information warfar... more

From chasing pickpockets to unmasking predators, vigilantism has become one of the biggest trends on social media. On this episode Matt and Marianna discuss how the age of streaming has added a new layer of risk to content like this, with the potenti... more

Manosphere kingpin Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan were arrested in the US over the weekend after British authorities announced dozens of new charges against the pair, including rape and sex trafficking, which they deny. On this episode, we unpac... more

You may already think crypto is overexposed online, but is what we're experiencing just the tip of the iceberg? On this episode, Matt talks about his new BBC documentary in which he meets some of the tech billionaires who believe blockchain can be us... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
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Recent Guests

Becky Flint
Former child star and YouTuber, discussed as the guest in this episode
Independent/Media
Episode: Andrew Tate is blaming the Matrix again
Curtis Yarvin
Dissident intellectual, author of Mencius Moldbug
Self/Thinker featured in the documentary
Episode: Erling Haaland, crypto billionaires, and the foxes incident
Rachel Connolly
Journalist and cultural commentator with a focus on internet trends
BBC
Episode: Solo-maxxing and the femosphere (live at Crossed Wires)
Gabriel Shemirani
Central figure in the Marianna in Conspiracyland investigation
Family affected by Kate Shemirani; investigations into medical misinformation
Episode: Gabriel Shemirani on medical misinfo and rejecting Conspiracyland
Charlie Downes
Campaigns Director at Restore Britain
Restore Britain
Episode: Restore Britain, Merlin the duck, and FIFA's content farm
Chloe Palmieri
BookTok creator who spoke to the team for insights on the Hot Girls Read controversy
Episode: Agartha explained, and hot girls revolt on BookTok
Hasan Piker
Co-founder/influencer associated with The Young Turks (TYT)
The Young Turks
Episode: Is Hasan Piker NSFW now? And Tung Tung's generational run
Cenk Uygur
Co-founder of The Young Turks
The Young Turks
Episode: Is Hasan Piker NSFW now? And Tung Tung's generational run
Taylor Lorenz
Top social media journalist and meme curator
The information in transcript indicates her role as journalist
Episode: BONUS: Taylor Lorenz says "don't blame social media"

Hosts

Marianna Spring
BBC journalist and social media investigations correspondent; co-host of the show, focused on misinformation and online culture.
Matt Shea
Investigative journalist and co-host; specialises in online misinformation, digital culture, and investigative reporting.

Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars from 3.1k ratings
  • Top pod

    Keep up the good work.

    By the look at the number of negative comments/reviews there is a great need for this type of journalism.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Briz_Dee
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Don’t waste your time!

    Wouldn’t even give it one star but no option to give zero. Absolute rubbish, nothing fact checked, who gave these liars a platform?!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nadosal
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Vacuous

    Such a vacuous commentary. Very white and rich centered. Would not recommend a single minute of this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Josefp78
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Misuse of Kelechi’s content

    Without requesting permission, you took a creator’s consent, misconstrued what she said and used it to form dumb statements against the black community.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Abdul.said.that
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Racist white supremacy at its worst.

    False uneducated narrow minded narratives coming out of thin lip, salt and pepper, receding hair line individuals

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    moleface.
    United Kingdom2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some reviews note pacing or stylistic quirks, but consistently commend the hosts' skeptical approach.
Listeners praise rigorous, well-sourced analysis and practical takeaways for navigating online misinformation.
Guest mix and subject matter draw strong engagement, though a portion of listeners critique tone or framing on controversial topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Solo-maxxing and the femosphere (live at Crossed Wires)
Q: What about the clipping economy and the control influencers have over their brand when clips are taken out of context?
Clipping often reduces creators' control and can amplify parts of their content that don't reflect their broader views, making it a precarious balance between exposure and brand integrity.
Solo-maxxing and the femosphere (live at Crossed Wires)
Q: Hi, I wanted to touch on the idea of influencers being pulled away from their brands if they get a boyfriend. How does real-world relationship change affect their online persona and sponsorships?
Relationships can force shifts in branding; audiences expect authenticity, and creators may risk losing followers or sponsorships if their personal life diverges from the persona they've built.
Gabriel Shemirani on medical misinfo and rejecting Conspiracyland
Q: Gabriel, could you tell us who you are and how you became involved in this story?
I'm Gabriel Shemirani, and I got involved because my sister Paloma's illness and death were shaped by my mother's misinformation about medical treatment; I became part of a broader investigation that exposed how online conspiracy content can have real-world consequences.
Haley Beck explained, and the crypto operation hijacking the BBC
Q: What are the actual facts about the Beckstein case as currently known?
There was a police investigation into allegations related to encouraging prostitution; evidence includes messages and interviews, but no charges have been filed yet, and the full facts require due process and more formal proceedings.
BONUS: Taylor Lorenz says "don't blame social media"
Q: Why were you suspended on X, and what did that reveal about platform control and the algorithm?
Lorenz discusses being suspended after publishing critical reporting, argues that Elon Musk shows considerable influence over the algorithm, and highlights how such actions reflect broader tensions between news media and platform governance.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Top Comment

What is Top Comment about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two BBC hosts explore how online trends, misinformation, and social media dynamics spill into real life. Episodes tackle topics like brand-sponsored online stunts, AI-generated content, internet sleuths, and the ethics of platform design, often with investigative guests or experts weighing in on media literacy and digital accountability. The show stands out for its practical take on virality, rigorous sourcing, and willingness to critique platforms, making it a useful listen for brands, publishers, and anyone navigating the noisy digital info ecosystem.

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Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Top Comment. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Top Comment and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

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How many subscribers and views does Top Comment have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Top Comment 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 Top Comment?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Top Comment:

1. Americast
2. The News Agents
3. The News Agents - USA
4. Newscast
5. The Slow Newscast

How many episodes of Top Comment are there?

Top Comment launched 3 years ago and published 92 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 Top Comment?

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 Top Comment?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Top Comment from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Top Comment?

Recent guests on Top Comment include:

1. Becky Flint
2. Curtis Yarvin
3. Rachel Connolly
4. Gabriel Shemirani
5. Charlie Downes
6. Chloe Palmieri
7. Hasan Piker
8. Cenk Uygur

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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