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PODCAST

Top Comment

The story behind your social media feed, from BBC correspondent Marianna Spring and investigative journalist Matt Shea. Top Comment investigates what"s blowing up online. From global events that go viral across social media, to bizarre moments that spill into real life, Marianna and Matt unpack the trends, theories and digital chaos shaping our world.You can also hear Marianna"s previous series for the BBC in this feed, including Marianna in Conspiracyland, Why Do You Hate Me?, Disaster Trolls,

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All Episodes

41:55

BONUS: Taylor Lorenz says "don't blame social media"

Top Comment ·

2026/05/19

On this bonus interview episode, Matt and Marianna are joined in the studio by leading social media journalist Taylor Lorenz. They discuss the evolution of meme culture, Clavicular's enduring virality, and why Elon Musk briefly kicked her off X. Plus, as the list of countries seeking stricter regulation of social media grows, why is Taylor so resistant to the legislation being proposed in the UK and US, and what are the alternatives?Top Comment is hosted by Marianna Spring and Matt Shea. The series

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33:13

Dare Market, hantavirus, and wtf is going on at...

Top Comment ·

2026/05/08

Launched last year, the website Dare Market describes itself as "the platform where you can dare anyone to do almost anything for real cash bounties". On this episode, Marianna speaks to Isla Rose Perfito, the founder of the site inviting comparisons to Black Mirror. From the individuals putting themselves at risk for financial gain, to brands sponsoring increasingly outlandish challenges, we ask whether her vision of a flourishing attention economy which rewards small entrepreneurial creators is

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26:01

Shooting conspiracies, breakup texts, and Dana...

Top Comment ·

2026/05/01

Following an apparent assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday night, dozens of high-profile conservative accounts posted almost identical reactions on X. On this episode, Matt and Marianna explain why some people think these posts are coordinated, and debunk false claims the event itself was staged.Also this week, why are conspiracy theories surrounding the tick-borne infection Lyme disease receiving so much online attention? And, the AI songs TikTok

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28:09

BONUS: Live at Maida Vale Studios

Top Comment ·

2026/04/28

For this bonus episode, Matt and Marianna are joined by producer Laurie on stage at Castfest - a live event at the BBC's Maida Vale Studios. They discuss why we're making Top Comment, the challenges of reporting on fast-moving internet culture stories, and some highlights from previous episodes.Top Comment is hosted by Marianna Spring and Matt Shea. The series producer is Laurie Kalus. The social producer is Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The editor is Justine Lang. The

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22:04

Haley Beck explained, and the crypto operation...

Top Comment ·

2026/04/24

Haley Beck - the sister of influencer Noah Beck - has denied wrongdoing after police recommended she be charged over allegations she cultivated a sexual relationship with a student in Arizona. The case is receiving outsized attention on TikTok, from testimonies by the teacher's former students, to those dissecting the thousands of messages she exchanged with the alleged victim. As details from a police report dubbed the 'Beckstein files' continue to circulate, Marianna and Matt consider what this

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24:15

Coachella, GRWM fakers, and Justin Bieber is...

Top Comment ·

2026/04/17

Ahead of Coachella's second weekend, Matt and Marianna are discussing how the festival often referred to as the 'Influencer Olympics' has become a microcosm of creator culture. They chat about people posting from their hotels without ever entering the event, the TikTokers mourning collapsed brand deals which may never have existed, and the AI influencers sharing their generated experiences in the desert.Also this week, social media outrage appears to be fuelling protests over Surrey Police's

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25:08

Iran, slopaganda, and the lego-inspired creator...

Top Comment ·

2026/04/11

Lego-inspired characters depicting conflict in the Middle East. This Iranian brand of so-called slopaganda has been viewed hundreds of millions of times and it is colouring the conversation around the US and Israel's war with Iran. On this episode, we speak to a key creator behind the content - the man who calls himself Mr Explosive - and challenge him on his connection to the Iranian government. Also this week, will a TikToker running into the Church of Scientology's LA headquarters rekindle the

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29:30

Misogyny, boomers, and China just got Krissed

Top Comment ·

2026/04/03

When newly-elected Green Party MP Hannah Spencer gave her maiden speech on International Women's Day, she was subject to a torrent of online abuse targeting her appearance, with one user on X prompting Grok to "smarten up" her look. The chatbot continues to be flooded with similar requests, despite a crackdown by the platform on 'undressing' content earlier this year. Marianna and Matt discuss how AI is supercharging misogyny online, and hear from Hannah Spencer about her experience.Also on this

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29:25

Meta, YouTube, and a damning addiction verdict

Top Comment ·

2026/03/27

After a California jury found Meta and YouTube liable in a landmark social media addiction case, we explain why the platforms you use may soon be unrecognisable. Plus - an exclusive interview with an expert witness from the trial, the world-leading addiction psychiatrist Anna Lembke, about how tech companies used persuasive design techniques found in gambling to keep us hooked online. Also on this episode, after Instagram and OnlyFans removed the accounts of the so-called 'Maga dream girl', Matt and

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30:55

Whistleblowers, dolphin memes, and a million dollar...

Top Comment ·

2026/03/20

How has an algorithmic arms race created an environment where controversial and incendiary content is routinely amplified on our feeds? On this episode, Marianna discusses her latest investigation, which provides a paper trail showing how social media giants ignored internal warnings about the design of their platforms. She's heard from whistleblowers about problematic moderation practices, how companies deal with so-called borderline content, and the troubling reality that algorithms may now be

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30:32

Nancy Guthrie, TikTok sleuths, and Starmer's...

Top Comment ·

2026/03/13

Almost six weeks since the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie (the 84-year-old mother of Today show host, Savannah Guthrie) the case which has shocked America remains unsolved. It's also led to a host of online amateur sleuths broadcasting their own investigations to a mass audience on TikTok, with many descending on Guthrie's home in Tucson, Arizona. Marianna has reached out to some of the people posting to discuss their motives, the issue of misinformation and the risk of undermining an active

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27:41

School wars, Dubai's crisis PR, and is Fabrizio...

Top Comment ·

2026/03/06

A series of posts appearing to encourage violence between neighbouring UK schools has caused widespread moral panic, and prompted police forces to issue dispersal orders. But, with zero incidents reported, could the 'red vs blue' phenomenon be a phantom trend? Matt and Marianna discuss the knowledge gap between parents and younger people on social media, and how online frenzies can have dangerous real-world consequences.Also, has Iran's retaliation to days of US-Israeli strikes exposed the reality

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34:40

Kalshi, Polymarket, and gamifying the future

Top Comment ·

2026/02/27

Over the past year, prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket have exploded in popularity, as users bet on everything from battles in Ukraine to sex toys being thrown at sports games. So with concerns over both regulation and the prevalence of insider information inviting intense scrutiny, Matt has been examining how these platforms really work.Also on this episode, is the recent rise in measles cases in London down to disinformation? With several proponents of vaccine scepticism being welcomed

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1:58

Introducing... Top Comment

Top Comment ·

2026/02/19

In this brand new weekly show, BBC correspondent Marianna Spring and investigative journalist Matt Shea talk through the stories behind your social media feed. From global events that go viral, to bizarre moments that spill into real life, Marianna and Matt unpack the trends, theories and digital chaos shaping our world.

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29:37

6. The Inquest

Top Comment ·

2025/10/02

Can Coroners' courts cope with conspiracy? It’s been more than a year since Paloma Shemirani died after rejecting chemotherapy in favour of alternative methods. Her brother Gabriel blames the beliefs of their mum Kate - who is a prominent British conspiracy theorist - for his sister’s death. This summer, he’s found himself face to face with his mum for the first time since Paloma died at an inquest into how and why she lost her life. After investigating - and revealing - what happened to Paloma for

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24:09

5. A collective immune system

Top Comment ·

2025/06/23

Can people fight back against medical misinformation? In the months after Paloma’s death, her brothers say they want to prevent other deaths, and they believe social media companies should take stronger action against medical misinformation. Meanwhile her Mum, Kate Shemirani, takes to social media to share a different account of her death. She has promoted a range of unproven theories on social media and podcasts about how Paloma was murdered by medical staff. The BBC has not seen evidence to

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22:58

4. The Archaeologists

Top Comment ·

2025/06/23

Are we equipped to deal with a rising tide of misinformation? The BBC’s social media investigations correspondent Marianna Spring investigates how safeguarding procedures work and how social services and hospitals are trying to deal with the mainstreaming of medical misinformation. She speaks to a social worker who says it’s time for the law to be reviewed in England and finds out more about what happened to Paloma in the months after she left hospital. Were there missed opportunities to help

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30:42

3. Down the cancer conspiracy rabbit hole

Top Comment ·

2025/06/23

What are cancer patients seeing on social media? The BBC’s social media investigations correspondent Marianna Spring goes down the cancer conspiracy rabbit hole to find out. She returns to the days Paloma spent in hospital after her cancer diagnosis to analyse the advice Paloma was being given by medical staff versus the advice she was receiving from alternative practioners and her Mum, Kate Shemirani. Marianna investigates Paloma’s mum’s platform as a conspiracy theory influencer and looks at the

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