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Artwork for Ruined By The Internet?

Ruined By The Internet? | Uncovering the human cost of our digital world

Gareth King
Internet
Social Media
Artificial Intelligence
The Internet
Video Games
Ayahuasca
Games As a Service
Video Game Journalism
Society
Culture
Social Interaction
Trust In Information
Digital Communication
Social Media Influencers
Climate Science
Media Trust Crisis
AI and Misinformation
Journalism
Monetization
Multiplayer Experience

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 investiga... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes32Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CulturePhilosophyTechnology

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Artwork for Ruined By The Internet?

Latest Episodes

The internet promised to be a vast global network of human thought and connection. But as the digital ecosystem is increasingly choked by synthetic content and non-human users, is the internet’s true premium – the certainty of human thought – being d... more

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, divis... more

YouTube

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 a... more

YouTube

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 Inter... more

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Recent Guests

Dani Mercy
Host of Rabbit Hole Conspiracy Theories podcast
Rabbit Hole Conspiracy Theories
Episode: Conspiracy Theories: Weaponised From the Fringe to Your Feed? | Misinformation, Radicalisation & the Attention Economy
Nick Jain
Harvard-trained former private equity investor and co-founder of Eagle Rock CFO
Eagle Rock CFO
Episode: Job Security: Optimised for Our Own Obsolescence? | AI, Automation, Future of Work & Job Displacement
Joe Zahaitis
Payments industry strategist with over 30 years in the high-velocity digital marketplace
Independent / Zahaitis (zahaitis.com)
Episode: Retail: Convenience That Costs Everything? | E-Commerce, Consumer Behaviour & the Future of Retail
Chelsea Reynolds
Sleep researcher and clinical psychologist
Sleep research clinic/academic affiliation referenced in show
Episode: Sleep: Screens Stealing Our Slumber? | Screen Time, Sleep Science & Digital Wellbeing
Courtney Kocak
Writer, comedian, memoir author (Girl Gone Wild)
Author, Writer, Comedian
Episode: Empowerment: Objectification Rebranded as Agency? | Digital Monetisation & the Attention Economy
Thomas Sigler
Deputy Head of the School of the Environment and Associate Professor of Human Geography, University of Queensland
University of Queensland
Episode: Rental Markets: A Frantic Fight for Shelter as a Service? | Airbnb, PropTech & the Housing Crisis
Justin Leff
Behavioral coach focusing on discipline, wellness and self-understanding
Episode: Self Improvement: Progress Replaced with Performance? | Social Media, Algorithms & Personal Growth
Rod Barton
Former Victorian MP and founder of the Transport Matters Party; advocate for taxi industry reform
Transport Matters Party
Episode: The Taxi Industry: A Data-Driven Destruction of Dignified Work? | Uber, The Gig Economy & Worker Rights
Joseph Kennedy
Head of marketing and growth at Alephium
Alephium
Episode: Decentralisation: Freedom or Fragmented Control? | Blockchain, Crypto, Web3 & Digital Freedom

Host

Gareth King
Host of Ruined By The Internet,"Ruined By The Internet" project lead, with a focus on the human costs of digital life and governance of online platforms.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 20 ratings
  • Fascinating!

    These discussions are brilliant. They voice the concerns within myself that I constantly try to ignore. I appreciate that solutions are brought up, it keeps a heavy subject lighter. Great show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jessi Hartnett
    United States7 months ago
  • Bad and oogly

    Propaganda to justify government’s assault on the internet. Internet is too free and the people at the top don’t like that freedom. They want to be able to censor and control information, unmask everyone, and monitor everyone’s activity.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    barbadenis
    United States7 months ago
  • Great concept!

    Love this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    1980ed1980
    Australia10 months ago
  • Thoughtful and thought-provoking

    I love the topic of this podcast and the gentle way it goes about examining how the internet has changed our world so rapidly. It asks the right questions and provides us with concrete steps for how to move forward. The guests are consistently interesting and Gareth King guides the interview in such a way that I assume he’s been doing this professionally for years. Highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Canadian Townie
    Canada10 months ago
  • A really interesting and informative listen

    A huge subject to explore and the first episodes have been fascinating. I look forward to hearing more from Gareth and his subject matter experts over coming episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    R_J*23
    Australiaa year ago

Listeners Say

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

The host guides discussions with clarity and nuance, making complex topics accessible.
Guests are consistently interesting and grounded in real-world relevance.
Thoughtful, well-structured conversations that connect tech trends to human impact.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Sleep: Screens Stealing Our Slumber? | Screen Time, Sleep Science & Digital Wellbeing
Q: Chelsea, thank you so much for joining us, and welcome to the show. Before we get into it today, can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you came to this area of expertise?
I'm a clinical psychologist with a focus on sleep; I've done a lot of clinical work treating insomnia and have been researching sleep and technology use to understand how screens intersect with sleep, both as potential disruptors and as tools.
Empowerment: Objectification Rebranded as Agency? | Digital Monetisation & the Attention Economy
Q: Before we get into it, can you tell us a little about yourself and the journey that led you here?
Courtney describes her path from acting to writing and podcasting, her memoir, and how those experiences shaped her views on empowerment and self-expression in the online era.
The Taxi Industry: A Data-Driven Destruction of Dignified Work? | Uber, The Gig Economy & Worker Rights
Q: What does the future look like for coexistence between traditional taxis and gig platforms, and what reforms could help workers?
He expresses cautious optimism about potential wage protections and arm's-length inquiries, stressing the need to protect essential workers while evaluating regulations and industry structure.
The Taxi Industry: A Data-Driven Destruction of Dignified Work? | Uber, The Gig Economy & Worker Rights
Q: What are the core financial and regulatory pressures now facing drivers and license owners?
Rod outlines licensing costs, government leasing practices, insurance gaps, and the uneven regulatory requirements that shift risk and cost toward traditional taxi operators and away from gig workers.
The Taxi Industry: A Data-Driven Destruction of Dignified Work? | Uber, The Gig Economy & Worker Rights
Q: What was life like in the industry before tech disrupted it, and how did Uber enter the market in Australia?
He explains the industry's complacency with technology, the delayed regulatory response, and Uber's entry as a foreign company that catalyzed political action and a class-action response.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ruined By The Internet?

What is Ruined By The Internet? about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show investigates how digital life is changing people, communities, and institutions by talking with researchers, policymakers, technologists, and creatives about social media, AI, and online culture. Episodes explore the human costs and societal shifts driven by online platforms, data, and automated systems, often weighing productivity and innovation against concerns like mis/disinformation, polarization, and the erosion of trust. Each conversation tends to blend rigorous analysis with concrete examples, making complex tech dynamics accessible for listeners who want to understand how the internet shapes behavior, work, and democracy. A notable strength is the willingness to connect academic insights with real-world implications, from ... more

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1. Suspicious Minds: AI and the Apocalypse
2. People Who Read People: A Behavior and Psychology Podcast
3. The Gray Area with Sean Illing
4. OnlyFantasy
5. SuperHuman

How many episodes of Ruined By The Internet? are there?

Ruined By The Internet? launched a year ago and published 32 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Ruined By The Internet??

Recent guests on Ruined By The Internet? include:

1. Dani Mercy
2. Nick Jain
3. Joe Zahaitis
4. Chelsea Reynolds
5. Courtney Kocak
6. Thomas Sigler
7. Justin Leff
8. Rod Barton

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