Podcast Summary
The power of communication in difficult times: Sharing experiences and connecting with others during hardships can bring hope, healing, and support.
Even in the darkest moments of life, finding a way to connect and communicate with others can bring hope and healing. Matt, a grieving father, started a blog to update his extended family on his progress as a single parent after his wife's sudden death. The simple act of sharing his experiences led to a viral story that brought comfort and accountability to him and connection to his readers. This story reminds us of the power of communication and the importance of reaching out to others during difficult times. Matt's decision to write a blog not only helped him cope but also touched the lives of many people, showing that even in the most challenging circumstances, we can find ways to connect and support each other.
The internet's ability to resurface old content can be distressing and intrusive: Be aware of the potential harm that can come from the internet's ability to resurface and distort old information, and take steps to protect your privacy and online reputation.
The internet can resurface old content and misrepresent it in ways that can be distressing and intrusive, even a decade later. Matt, a man who gained unwanted attention a decade ago when his late wife's pregnancy blog was featured in clickbait articles, faced this reality when he started receiving emails about the resurfaced content before his remarriage. The articles, which were paid for and appeared at the bottom of real news articles, presented inaccurate and sensationalized versions of Matt's story. When clicked, they led to websites filled with more clickbait content. Matt's experience serves as a reminder of the potential harm that can come from the internet's ability to resurface and distort old information. It's important for individuals to be aware of this and take steps to protect their privacy and online reputation.
The Unstoppable Viral Sensation of Matt and Liz's Story: Despite Matt's regret, his personal story has gone viral, with numerous articles being published by freelance writers for various clients, making it difficult for him to stop the spread.
The resurfaced story of Matt and Liz has become a viral sensation, appearing on numerous clickbaity articles across various websites. Matt had unintentionally shared a personal story online a decade ago, which he regrets due to the recent unwanted attention. Although he wants the articles taken down, he has limited control as they are being produced by a multitude of freelance writers for different clients. I started investigating the origin of this viral trend by contacting writers, and found that there are at least 18 similar articles about Matt and Liz, with more likely to come. Unfortunately, Matt's story has become a hot commodity in the viral content circuit, and he is powerless to stop it. I'm currently working on a plan to help Matt by identifying the clients behind these articles and attempting to persuade them to remove them.
Clickbait sites' monetization through reputable news sites: Clickbait sites earn money by paying to have their links displayed on reputable news sites, creating a cycle of user engagement and benefiting both parties
The proliferation of clickbait websites and the presence of their content on reputable news sites are interconnected. These clickbait sites, such as LifeBuzz, Articles Valley, and Hyperactives, rely heavily on companies like Outbrain and Taboola for monetization. These content recommendation or discovery companies sell ads that appear as "chum boxes" on the bottom of articles, and both the publishers of reputable news sites and the clickbait sites earn money from these arrangements. The clickbait sites pay to have their links displayed on reputable news sites, and the publishers of reputable news sites receive payment for hosting these ads. This relationship creates a cycle where users are encouraged to click on and engage with more clickbait content, ultimately benefiting the clickbait sites and the companies facilitating their monetization.
Chumbox Ads: Unsightly but Lucrative: Chumbox ads, also known as auto-play ads on the side of webpages, generate up to 30% of publishers' earnings. Despite their frequent inaccuracies, they are clicked on often and serve as a lucrative business model.
The Chumbox, or auto-play ads on the side of webpages, have become a significant source of revenue for publishers, often generating up to 30% of their earnings. Despite their unsightly appearance, these ads are clicked on frequently, especially by those drawn to top ten lists or sensational headlines. The information provided in these ads may not always be accurate, but they serve as a lucrative business model for publishers. Julia Stiles was used as an example in the discussion, but the issue is not limited to her or any particular individual. The websites that publish these ads are unlikely to remove them, even if the information they contain is misleading or inaccurate.
Content farms and chumbox companies spread misinformation: Specialized software used by content farms and chumbox companies, like BuzzSumo, identify trending articles and enable their widespread copying and sharing, contributing to the spread of misinformation.
The proliferation of misleading or false articles about individuals, like in the case of Matt and Liz, can be attributed to the use of specialized software by content farms and chumbox companies, such as BuzzSumo, which identifies trending articles and allows them to be copied and shared widely. These companies, like Taboola and Outbrain, may seem unassuming but play a significant role in spreading misinformation. The interviewee's attempts to contact these companies for an interview were met with hesitation, and the discovery of a potential pen name used by an author further complicated the issue. The virality of these articles can be traced back to their initial publication on popular websites, such as Little Things, and their subsequent promotion through chumboxes. The use of pen names and the difficulty in contacting authors or content farms highlights the challenges in holding these entities accountable for the spread of misinformation.
Discovering Heartfelt Stories on Little Things: Little Things curates and shares heartfelt human interest stories, often from YouTube, to create a larger ecosystem of related content.
The website Little Things specializes in sharing heartfelt human interest stories, and they source their content from various places, including YouTube channels of popular shows like Rachael Ray. The story of Matt and Liz, which went viral on the site, was likely discovered by the author through a video of Matt on the Rachael Ray Show that was uploaded in 2017. The author's theory is that the site's content creators actively seek out meaningful stories, regardless of their timeliness, and share them to create a larger ecosystem of related content. The author's goal is to get Tabula and Outbrain to remove ads featuring Matt and Liz from their platforms. During a meeting with Tabula's founder and CEO, Adam Singolda, the author learned that Tabula's offices are modern and inviting, and the team offers visitors food and drinks. Singolda, who started Tabula at the age of 26 after serving in the Israeli army, was described as a handsome tech nerd. The author also shared that he was surprised by Singolda's age, as he appeared much younger.
Taboola and Outbrain remove intrusive ads: Large tech companies can address individual concerns, demonstrating empathy and understanding, and prevent future occurrences when contacted.
Even large tech companies can respond effectively to individual concerns when brought to their attention. In the discussed scenario, Taboola, a content discovery platform, removed ads related to a man's deceased wife's story at his request. The process took only a few days, and the company notified their content review team to prevent future occurrences. The man, Matt, had been receiving intrusive ads for over a decade, which caused him distress. Taboola's CEO acknowledged the issue and took action, demonstrating a level of empathy and understanding towards Matt's situation. This incident shows that even in the vast digital world, individual voices can be heard and addressed by tech companies when they choose to listen. Additionally, Taboola's competitor, Outbrain, also agreed to remove related ads upon being contacted.
The Challenges of Unexpected Tasks: Even seemingly insignificant tasks can present unexpected challenges, but determination and teamwork can help overcome them.
Even the most seemingly insignificant tasks can lead to unexpected challenges, much like trying to hit a switch at the right moment in a musical number or in space travel. The Reply All team, led by PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman, experienced this firsthand while trying to understand the mysterious behavior of a planet they encountered. Despite the difficulties, they persevered, reminding us that every problem, no matter how small or large, can be solved with determination and teamwork. The team's production was supported by a talented team of producers, editors, and interns, and their theme song was composed by the enigmatic Brakemaster Cylinder. Listeners can find more episodes of Reply All on various podcast platforms.
