Prompt Cast
The Spread of Misinformation on Twitter and the Power of the Internet
TLDR This podcast episode explores the spread of misinformation on Twitter, including the case of a parody account that angered the real person it was impersonating. It also discusses the satisfaction of watching systems work efficiently and features voice memos from people sharing their embarrassing messages they wish they could undo.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
A tweet about the Eiffel Tower with the lights off sparks confusion and speculation among commenters.
04:09
A parody Twitter account of internet pioneer Jeff Jarvis, called fake Jeff Jarvis, spreads misinformation and angers the real Jeff Jarvis, who complains about it regularly.
08:17
A historical picture account on Twitter copied and pasted a fake tweet from fake Jeff Jarvis, but forgot to copy the "L" in "Eiffel Tower," resulting in a perfect example of the internet's tendency to spread misinformation and the irony of fake accounts criticizing the ignorance of others.
12:33
The hosts discuss the satisfaction of watching a system work efficiently, like the internet's tendency to spread misinformation, and provide an update on the fake Jeff Jarvis Twitter account.
16:32
The hosts discuss the possibility of a scandal behind the deletion of the fake Jeff Jarvis Twitter account and speculate on whether it was shut down by Twitter or if the person behind the account quit, which puts a negative spin on the original incendiary tweet.
20:46
The hosts listen to voice memos from people sharing the messages they wish they could undo, including accidentally sending mean things to the person they were about, inappropriate emails to religious officials, and misspelling a boss's name as "vagina."
25:08
A woman accidentally deleted someone else's essay on their computer and caused a big scene in a library.
29:16
A woman accidentally sent an email to her friend about a guy she had a crush on, but the guy responded positively and they eventually got married.
33:12
Cryptext is an app that turns emails into images hosted elsewhere, allowing the sender to recall or delete the image, making it perfect for spies or people who want to confound others.
Categories:
Technology
Society & Culture
