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Top Comment

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

The story behind your social media feed, from BBC correspondent Marianna Spring and investigative journalist Matt Shea.

Top Comment investigates what's blowing up online. From global events that go viral across social media, to bizarre moments that spill into real life, Marianna and Matt unpack the trends, theories and digital chaos shaping our world.

If you want to get in touch about something y... more

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Latest Episodes

After achieving 7% of the vote in last week's Makerfield by-election, the social-led strategy of emerging right-wing party Restore Britain has come under the spotlight. Various anecdotal reports have concluded that their relative success feels dispro... more

The BookTok community has erupted after creator AllieRoseCo announced she had trademarked merchandise featuring the phrase 'Hot Girls Read'. User backlash was instantaneous, with many accusing her of attacking small businesses and even betraying her ... more

After a second night of rioting in Belfast, social media companies are being accused of playing a role in creating disorder. Technology secretary Liz Kendall has said an update to the Online Safety Act will be brought to parliament next week, putting... more

When Twitch streamer Hasan Piker was denied entry into the UK this week, it rekindled a conversation around the Home Office's approach to free speech. From Kanye West to Valentina Gomez, the list of prominent names who have seen their travel plans de... more

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Recent Guests

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"
Isla Rose Perfito
Founder of Dare Market
Dare Market
Episode: Dare Market, hantavirus, and wtf is going on at JPMorgan?
Mr. Explosive
Alleged head of Explosive Media, Iran-linked propaganda operator
Explosive Media
Episode: Iran, slopaganda, and the lego-inspired creator behind it all
Anna Lembke
Author of Dopamine Nation; addiction psychiatrist; expert witness in the California trial
Stanford University / Addiction Medicine
Episode: Meta, YouTube, and a damning addiction verdict
Lindsay Rust-Purper
information aggregator on Nancy Guthrie case from New York
Independent influencer / online sleuth
Episode: Nancy Guthrie, TikTok sleuths, and Starmer's cringeposting era

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
  • 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 Kingdom10 days 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 Kingdom16 days 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 Kingdom19 days 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 Kingdom19 days ago
  • Decontextualisation and misinformation

    This podcast decontextualises creator content without permission and spreads misinformation

    Zero stars

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ruth_said
    United Kingdom19 days 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.

Apple Podcasts
#46
United States/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#2
United Kingdom/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#33
Canada/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#144
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#19
Australia/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#46
Italy/News/Tech News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
BONUS: Taylor Lorenz says "don't blame social media"
Q: Can you walk us through the episode's central tensions around regulation and platform responsibility?
Taylor Lorenz explains that the debate over regulation is complex, arguing for protecting vulnerable users through thoughtful design changes, greater transparency, and competition rather than sweeping bans, while noting that evidence does not support simple causal links between social media use and mental health—emphasizing nuance and the role of researchers.
Iran, slopaganda, and the lego-inspired creator behind it all
Q: Matt, just to recap, what does this content look like? Where's it being shared?
The content is widespread across major social networks—TikTok, X/Twitter, Instagram—with millions of views, and features Lego-based depictions of the US–Iran conflict that blend political messaging with pop culture and conspiracy themes.
Nancy Guthrie, TikTok sleuths, and Starmer's cringeposting era
Q: How do platforms' algorithms affect political narratives and public perception?
Algorithms prioritize engaging, often sensational content, which can amplify certain messages and force politicians to tailor their communications to maximize visibility, sometimes at the expense of accuracy or nuance.
Nancy Guthrie, TikTok sleuths, and Starmer's cringeposting era
Q: What motivates online sleuths to engage with missing-person cases, and what are the risks?
Sleuths are driven by curiosity and a desire to contribute, but the main risks include spreading misinformation, misidentifying people, and potentially endangering investigations or violating individuals' rights.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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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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Which podcasts are similar to Top Comment?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Top Comment:

1. Americast
2. Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast
3. Newscast
4. The News Agents
5. Strong Message Here

How many episodes of Top Comment are there?

Top Comment launched 3 years ago and published 86 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.

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What guests have appeared on Top Comment?

Recent guests on Top Comment include:

1. Charlie Downes
2. Chloe Palmieri
3. Hasan Piker
4. Cenk Uygur
5. Taylor Lorenz
6. Isla Rose Perfito
7. Mr. Explosive
8. Anna Lembke

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