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

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

Author: Gareth King Language: English Episodes: 30
It’s a question that nags at anyone who’s ever felt a pang of nostalgia or a wave of digital fatigue: are we better or worse off because of our constant connection? Hosted by Gareth King, Ruined By The Internet? digs into that uneasy feeling, moving beyond simple headlines to explore how our online world actively moulds society, culture, and the texture of daily life. This isn’t about reviewing apps or gadgets; it’s about treating the digital realm as the pervasive environment it has become. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with leading thinkers and researchers from around the world, dissecting the real evidence behind our shared anxieties and hopes. You’ll hear nuanced discussions that ask whether the casualties we often blame on technology are inevitable, or if we’re simply misdiagnosing deeper societal shifts. This podcast provides a space for considered reflection, offering listeners a clearer lens through which to view their own place in a world that is, for better or worse, thoroughly wired.
Episodes
Job Security: Optimised for Our Own Obsolescence? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:19
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 technolog…
Retail: Convenience That Costs Everything? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:17
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?We…
Sleep: Screens Stealing Our Slumber? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:05
The internet promised us connection that never sleeps. But has it also been sabotaging our rest - leaving us locked in a nightly battle with a digital world that refuses to turn off?Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - t…
Empowerment: Objectification Rebranded as Agency? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:13
When it comes to empowering ourselves, we were told the internet would give us back control. But instead, has it simply delivered a more efficient way for us to become products, and successfully rebranded objectification…
Rental Markets: A Frantic Fight for Shelter as a Service? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:24
The internet was supposed to make the rental market more efficient and transparent. But has it instead turned the basic human need for shelter into a frantic, dehumanising battle with technology - where algorithms, platf…
Self Improvement: Progress Replaced with Performance? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:41
The internet promised to make self-improvement accessible to everyone. But has it instead turned it into a spectator sport - replacing process with performance, and pushing us to consume playbooks rather than actually bu…
The Taxi Industry: A Data-Driven Destruction of Dignified Work? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:55
The internet promised to revolutionise how we get around - delivering a modern, efficient, and affordable alternative to the old ways. But did the revolution simply replace one system with an unstable, exploitative gig e…
Decentralisation: Freedom or Fragmented Control? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:50
The internet promised to be an escape from centralised power - a user-controlled, peer-to-peer network that would democratise access and dismantle the gatekeepers. But thanks to the domination of Big Tech and Venture Cap…
Deeper Connection: An Algorithmic Illusion of Intimacy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:15
The internet brought connectivity unlike anything we'd ever experienced. But by making so much of our communication instant and effortless, has it actually eroded everything we need to truly connect with each other?Welco…
Ayahuasca: From Ancient Ritual to Instagram Aesthetic? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:13
The internet has made ayahuasca more accessible than ever - bringing the promise of spiritual awakening and deep healing to people worldwide. But in doing so, has it commodified a sacred practice, fuelling a rise in unqu…