Sickfluencers, the Covid-Conscious Lesbian Bar and the Algorithmic Ableism Trap
Shownotes
When viral stories like the Last Ditch bar masking controversy and the “sickfluencer” debate whipped the internet into a frenzy, disabled people found themselves in the crosshairs. Researcher and creator Jess Rauchberg saw a common driver behind the vitriol: algorithmic ableism.
The term describes how social media platforms and their algorithms suppress disabled creators while amplifying ridicule of them. Jess has seen it first hand as a disabled content creator, and has explored it in a research paper and an upcoming book.
Morgan talks with Jess about the history of disabled people in public life, how some people with disabilities get turned into “lolcows,” how algorithms push ableist rage, and why social media platforms are the ones who come out on top.
Guests:
Dr. Jess Rauchberg, creator culture expert and lecturer at the University of Leeds
Further Reading/Listening:
Greenfield lesbian bar Last Ditch faces mask-rule backlash — Annalisa Quinn, The Boston Globe
The Insidious World of Lolcows — Emily Topping, Current Affairs
An Honest Review of the WorldofTShirts Experience — Steven Asarch, Passionfruit
Illegal to be ’ugly’? The history behind one of America‘s cruelest laws — National Geographic
Articulating algorithmic ableism: the suppression and surveillance of disabled TikTok creators — Jess Rauchberg, Journal of Gender Studies, Volume 34, Issue 8
A Long-Ignored Syndrome Is Drawing Unprecedented Attention — Laurie Tarkan, Medscape
TikTok Told Moderators: Suppress Posts by the “Ugly” and Poor — Sam Biddle, Paulo Victor Ribeiro, Tatiana Dias, The Intercept
No One Should Be Shamed for Using a Mobility Aid — Nicole Clark, TIME
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Credits: Close All Tabs is hosted by Morgan Sung. This episode was produced by Cayla Mihalovich and Francesca Fenzi. Our team includes producer Maya Cueva, editor Chris Hambrick and senior editor Chris Egusa who also composed our theme song and credits music. Our intern is Lauren Yoon. Additional music from APM. Audio engineering by Brendan Willard. Audience engagement support from Maha Sanad. Jen Chien is our Director of Podcasts. Ethan Toven-Lindsey is our Editor in Chief.
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