The Internet is Playing You

A convincing lie no longer needs to look suspicious. It can appear in a familiar social media feed, come from someone who seems real, or arrive as a video that looks almost impossible to fake. By the time doubt sets in, the post may already have been shared thousands of times.

Few people understand that online environment better than today's guest. Nina Jankowicz has spent more than a decade studying what she calls the bad things that happen on the internet. She is an internationally recognized expert on disinformation and online harassment. She was also named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in AI.

Nina explains how disinformation spreads and why emotional content travels so quickly. She talks about online harassment, doxxing, romance scams, and AI-generated impersonation. The conversation also covers ways to check questionable information and protect your personal data. Just as important, Nina shares how to step away from trolls before they take over your time and attention.

Show Notes:

[01:00] Nina Jankowicz describes her work studying disinformation, online harassment, and AI-generated harm.
[03:50] The important difference between misinformation and deliberate disinformation.
[05:09] Why an emotional reaction may be a sign that someone is trying to manipulate you.
[07:09] How social media platforms monetize attention and reward harmful engagement.
[10:05] Using lateral reading and multiple sources to evaluate questionable online content.
[12:27] Why slowing down matters when an image or video may have been generated by AI.
[14:04] How algorithmic feeds have made information consumption increasingly passive.
[17:01] When an aggressive disagreement crosses the line into harassment.
[19:34] Threats, doxxing, and the limits of platforms and law enforcement.
[22:18] Nina's one-reply rule and how blocking trolls removes the attention they want.
[24:07] Why laws and law enforcement training have not kept pace with cyberstalking.
[26:06] Preserving screenshots, documenting abuse, and asking employers for support.
[29:23] Password managers, two-factor authentication, and the personal details hidden in photos.
[32:34] Removing information from data brokers and making online safety more manageable.
[34:40] A romance scam involving stolen images and real-time AI impersonation.
[37:35] Why older adults need digital literacy training as much as children do.
[39:44] Addressing disinformation without suppressing speech or telling people what to believe.
[42:12] How social media incentives favor profitable engagement over trustworthy information.

Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review.

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