Who gets to be seen online? with Dr. Jess Rauchberg

Who gets to be seen online? with Dr. Jess Rauchberg

Author: Caitlin Begg September 14, 2026 Duration: 39:23

We discuss "ugly laws", shadow bans, influencer snark (especially r/illnessfakers), influencers using sick kids for clout, child agency, state hopping by family content creators, the history of influencers , consumption and identity formation, “infotainment”, "Can we have an intellectual conversation on a platform that’s designed to mine our attention?", lolcows, autism and TikTok, and more.

Dr. Jess Rauchberg is an award-winning creator culture expert and Lecturer in the School of Media and Communication at the University of Leeds.

Jess's Instagram

Jess's Website


There's a quiet but persistent feeling that something essential is getting lost in our digital shuffle. Progression to Analog is a space to examine that feeling, hosted by sociologist and Authentic Social founder Caitlin Begg. This isn't a nostalgic retreat, but a thoughtful exploration of how reintroducing analog elements-whether in communication, work, or leisure-can reshape our daily experience toward something more intentional and, ultimately, more human. Each conversation in this podcast moves beyond simple tool-swapping to ask deeper questions about presence, connection, and the architecture of our attention. You'll hear discussions that weave sociological insight with practical reflection, considering how the textures of a less-mediated life can influence our relationships, creativity, and sense of self. New episodes arrive every Monday, offering a regular pause to consider the pace and quality of the everyday. Tune in for a series that treats the analog not as an antiquated concept, but as a meaningful progression.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 46

Hypercommunication
Podcast Episodes
Four Principles of Sociotechnical Design [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:38
In this mini episode, I detail my four principles of sociotechnical design. Sociotechnical design works to improve the relationship between people and technology, prioritizing joint optimization. I speak about psychogeog…
All Things AI with Dublin-based Jonathan McCrea [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:35
Whipsmart Media and Get Started With AI founder Jonathan McCrea and I speak about the future of AI, how to close the gap in AI knowledge between big businesses and small enterprises, technology and communication, AI tran…
Psychology of Virality with Professor Steve Rathje [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:51
Steve Rathje, Incoming Assistant Professor of Human Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon University, joins us to kick off season three of Progression to Analog! You may know Steve from his TikTok @stevepsychology (1M+…
Swipe: Being Online 24/7 with Ieva Jakusa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:38
I came across Swipe: Being Online 24/7 at McNally Jackson in lower Manhattan a few months ago and was drawn by the unique nature of the book. Swipe presents questions about the smartphone that the users may not have aske…
Why can't we have difficult conversations? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:32
"I think we have a listening problem" -Stephanie from NYC (name changed) I interview six people, explore expert opinions (and share my own) re: why it can be tough to have difficult conversations today.
D̶o̶o̶m̶scrolling is good for you? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:11
Can scrolling be good for you? Yes, if you take out the doom. I explore different perspectives on scrolling, based on Harvard Medical School research, and a perspective from a UVA Professor on 'hope scrolling'. NYC volun…
We live in a simulation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:02
From a ⁠Baudrillardian (versus ⁠Bostrum-esque)⁠ angle of simulation theory, I discuss why we live in a simulation, what that means in terms of everyday life, and how we can deal with it. "THE SIMULACRUM IS NEVER WHAT HID…
One Year of Progression to Analog [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:09
A year ago today, I launched the trailer for Progression to Analog. Twelve months later, I'm reflecting on what a year it was—speaking about Progression to Analog at conferences and universities across the United States…