In short
Intro to BBC’s new podcast “Top Comment,” focused on investigating and analyzing conspiracy theories, disinformation, internet culture, AI, crypto, and influential tech figures as they shape what people think and see on social media feeds. It argues that single posts can affect government agendas and mainstream news cycles, and that viral content can include true claims, false claims, deepfakes, memes, and leaked documents (e.g., “Epstein files”).
Guests
Marianna Spring (BBC’s first social media investigations correspondent) and Matt Shea (investigative journalist specializing in the darkest corners of the internet).
Key claims
social media mechanics can originate, spread, and alter news; there’s a deeper story behind what appears in feeds.
Notable examples
Epstein files; deepfakes; government/news-cycle impact.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOExploring the Podcast's Themes
2:26 to 3:25
Understand the focus on conspiracy theories and the impact of social media.
“the mainstream news cycle and shape reality itself.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Matt Shea:This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.
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1:37Marianna Spring:So Matt, we've got a new podcast.
1:40Matt Shea:Yeah, amazingly, I've managed to convince BBC Sounds to let me share your hallowed feed.
1:46Marianna Spring:Just before we get going, let's have a quick recap. I'm Marianna Spring. I'm the BBC's first ever social media investigations correspondent.
1:53Matt Shea:I'm Matt Shea. I'm an investigative journalist and a bit like Marianna, I specialize in the darkest corners of the internet.
1:59Marianna Spring:We want to tell you all about a brand new show that's taking over this feed and it's called Top Comment. We are going to be investigating and analysing everything conspiracy theories, disinformation, internet culture, AI, crypto, powerful tech bros, you name it. And all of these things are influencing how we think, act and experience the world because they're popping up on our social media feeds.
2:25Matt Shea:We live in a world today where a single social media post can impact government agenda, dictate the mainstream news cycle and shape reality itself.
2:40Marianna Spring:And we now inhabit this space online where a whole wad of files, say the Epstein files, can be released and everyone can pour over them and they spawn conspiracy theories, deep fakes, memes, stuff that's true, stuff that's not true.
2:55Matt Shea:We've all been there where there's something that's popped up on your feed and before you have time to figure out what's really behind it, how did it get there, you scroll on to the next thing.
3:03Marianna Spring:So the goal of this podcast is to navigate social media with you and figure out what is going on and why.
3:09Matt Shea:Because there's always a deeper story behind your feed. Every week, we're going to look at the mechanics of social media, how it spreads, alters and even originates news.
3:22Marianna Spring:Don't miss Top Comment on BBC Sounds with me, Marianna Spring and Matt Shea.
3:29Marianna Spring:I don't know which order you want.
3:31Matt Shea:Me, Marianna Spring and Matt Shea. That's what it sounded like.
3:35Marianna Spring:The three of us.
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From the publisher
In this brand new weekly show, BBC correspondent Marianna Spring and investigative journalist Matt Shea talk through the stories behind your social media feed. From global events that go viral, to bizarre moments that spill into real life, Marianna and Matt unpack the trends, theories and digital chaos shaping our world.