Meta, YouTube, and a damning addiction verdict
Top Comment
BBC
4.0 • 545 Ratings
🗓️ 27 March 2026
⏱️ 30 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
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 Marianna discuss the world of AI influencers. As an increasing number of virtual creators amass millions of followers, is this becoming a medium for political propaganda? And do regular users care if they are real or not?
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 Mike Regaard. The editor is Justine Lang. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts. |
| 0:07.0 | An early start here. It's time to kick off. |
| 0:10.0 | Your day. Morning! |
| 0:11.9 | What a line-up. |
| 0:13.3 | Oh, thanks very much. We do get some great guests on the show. |
| 0:16.1 | The crowd is loving this. |
| 0:18.3 | Thanks, guys. Thank you. Too kind. |
| 0:20.2 | From morning chaos to match day commentary. |
| 0:23.6 | And everything in between. |
| 0:25.0 | BBC sounds packed with personality. |
| 0:28.9 | Matt, you've had a little bit of drama this week. |
| 0:30.9 | Are we calling it drama? |
| 0:32.1 | Well, yes. |
| 0:33.3 | So, I mean, the first thing is we're both very excited that we're doing cast fest, |
| 0:37.4 | which is a podcast festival run by the BBC. |
| 0:41.7 | All the best podcasts, like AmeriCast, newscast, you name it, and obviously top comment. |
| 0:46.2 | Actual journalists like Laura Coonsberger are going to be there as well. |
| 0:48.8 | And us. |
| 0:49.8 | And us? |
| 0:50.6 | You can come along to, it's in Made of Outts, it's in London, |
| 0:53.7 | and if you go to the link in the |
| 0:55.7 | description, you can sign up for tickets to come along. |
... |
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