Middle schoolers use podcast comments to stay connected
The Verge reports that children likely blocked from other social platforms used Spotify comments beneath an NPR podcast episode to communicate.
Middle schoolers apparently used Spotify comments under an episode of NPR’s Wild Card podcast as an informal group chat, according to The Verge’s report on a new episode of This American Life.
The children were likely blocked from other apps and social networks, the report says, though it does not establish who imposed the restrictions. Asked why they chose the podcast, one child said they looked for shows with few comments.
NPR showrunner Dave Blanchard initially thought the posts were bot activity. He described them as fragmented and heavy with emoji and shorthand, and deleted them. After an account posted that its comment had been removed, Blanchard shared screenshots with colleagues.
Producer Hannah Chin recognised the posts as children using an online space to talk with friends. Chin recalled communicating with friends through Google Docs as a child.
The report notes a similar occurrence involving NPR’s Ted Radio Hour last year. It does not specify how many children took part or how long they used the comments to communicate.
