IRL: Online Life is Real Life

Our online life is real life. We walk, talk, work, LOL and even love on the Internet – but we don’t always treat it like real life. Host Veronica Belmont explores this disconnect with stories from the wilds of the Web – and gets to the bottom of online issues that affect us all. Whether it’s privacy breaches, closed platforms, hacking, fake news, or cyber bullying, we the people have the power to change the course of the Internet, keeping it healthy, weird, and wonderful for everyone. IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For behind-the-scenes video of IRL Trailer production, and a bit more about why we're making this podcast, check out our blog.

You’ve heard the expression, “When something is free, you’re the product.” And, while you may think it’s no big deal to give away your personal data in exchange for free online services, how can you know that what you get for what you give is a fair trade? Meet some of the people determined to shape the reality (or lack thereof) of privacy online. IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For more on the series go to irlpodcast.org. Go here for the World Privacy Forum's list of the Top 10 Most Important Opt-outs. Mozilla also has a few suggestions on how to manage the data privacy challenge discussed in this episode. For more on this episode, including editorial commentary, visit Mozilla's Internet Citizen blog. Leave a rating or review in Apple Podcasts so we know what you think.

The Internet (at least in the US) is at a crossroads as the FCC is considering rolling back the net neutrality regulations it adopted in 2015. If net neutrality is abolished, the Internet could shift from an essential service that all consumers can access to a product that can be packaged and sold to the highest bidders. Get to know the potential winners and losers on both sides of the issue. IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For more on the series go to irlpodcast.org Undecided as to whether or not you support net neutrality? Check out our blog for more. Find out how to participate in the Net Neutrality Day of Action here. You can file comments on Pai's plan to roll back net neutrality rules at this link. Just click "Express" to write a comment directly into the FCC form. Leave a rating or review in Apple Podcasts so we know what you think.

Have you been hacked, or been the victim of malware or ransomware? Humans make the internet vibrant, but we're also the weakest link — we're predictable and often easily fooled. This episode of IRL focuses on our internet insecurity. Meet the unsung heroes fighting to keep us safe. IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For more on the series go to irlpodcast.org. Stay safe online! Here's more on how to not be a ransomware victim. And, if you'd like to learn a bit more about the PATCH Act mentioned in our episode, go here.

Trolls. You'll find them in every corner of the Internet. During this episode, explore the landscape of trolling online, its impact on individuals, and its impact on the Web. Some people are fighting back in new and tasty ways. Baked goods included. IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For more on the series go to irlpodcast.org. Help form a more inclusive world and Web.

We react against the idea of surveillance, but it turns out that we’ve invited it into our homes through devices like digital assistants, connected toys, and baby monitors. Are you comfortable with the idea that someone might be watching you or listening to you right now? IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For more on the series go to irlpodcast.org. Struck by the idea that toys made for kids may have prying eyes (and ears)? For more on connected devices and surveillance, head over to our blog. And, check out the Surveillance Self-Defense Kit mentioned in this episode, developed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Leave a rating or review in Apple Podcasts so we know what you think.

What is life like without fast Internet, and how does life change once a person has it? Should Internet access be a right, rather than a luxury? Veronica Belmont explores these questions as she talks to people about joining the digital economy. Inspiring stories of access are surfaced by members of a small Minnesota community and by a Syrian refugee who found hope in Amsterdam. IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For more on the series go to irlpodcast.org The more voices, perspectives, languages, and people contributing to the Web, the richer the experience for everyone. But the Internet is not yet accessible to all. Find out how you can make a difference. And, find out how libraries, in particular, are evolving to meet digital demand and address patrons' connectivity issues.

In our final episode of season 1, we break from our usual format to host a big conversation. Recent events like the Charlottesville, VA rally have revealed the Internet’s role in helping spread IRL threats and violence. Leaders in the tech world have represented varying positions on both protecting free speech and also reducing hate speech online. Should tech companies regulate who says what on the Internet? Brandi Collins of Color of Change, Anil Dash of Fog Creek Software and Jillian York of the Electronic Frontier Foundation address this question and more with Veronica Belmont. IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For more on the series go to irlpodcast.org. Freedom of speech is important, online and off. And, it’s also important that free speech not infringe on the freedom of others. Tell us: what can regular internet citizens do to address this issue? How can we all accelerate the pace of change for a more free, civil and healthy Internet? Leave a rating or review in Apple Podcasts so we know what you think.

In this bonus episode, we check in on some of Season One’s stories and see how they’ve evolved. Activist Amanda Werner talks about their turn as the Monopoly Man at the Equifax hearings, and how to create visibility for victims of identity theft. Investigative journalist Marcy Wheeler follows the case of hacker Marcus Hutchins, and tries to make sense of why he was arrested. Troy Hunt argues that IoT devices need warning labels. And, drumroll, we hear back from a troll we sent a cake to last season. IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For more on the series go to irlpodcast.org. Life on the Internet moves fast. Director of Firefox Runtime Selena Deckelmann explains why every millisecond matters. Learn more. And, keep it clean out there. Check out our data detox kit for more ways to keep your personal info safe. Leave a rating or review in Apple Podcasts so we know what you think.

The battle for the open Internet isn’t over. In the days leading up to the FCC’s net neutrality vote, we investigate what’s next in the fight. We Rate Dogs’ Matt Nelson talks about trolling Ajit Pai with a pay-per-pupper plan. Verizon protesters share their experience on the ground. The FCC’s Mignon Clyburn weighs in on net neutrality’s road ahead, while Gizmodo’s Dell Cameron outlines how taking the fight to court could play out. IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For more on the series go to irlpodcast.org What does it take to get net neutrality? People like you. Find out more about how you can help here. Leave a rating or review in Apple Podcasts so we know what you think.

Most website visitors aren’t human. They’re bots. And these automated accounts are having serious, real-world impact; from the 2016 election to the FCC’s recent, controversial net neutrality vote. Veronica Belmont investigates the rise of social media bots with Lauren Kunze and Jenn Schiffer. Lisa-Maria Neudert measures how bots influence politics. Butter.ai’s Jack Hirsch talks about what happens when your profile is stolen by a political bot. Ben Nimmo teaches us how to spot and take down bot armies. And Tim Hwang explores how bots can connect us in surprising, and meaningful, new ways. IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For more on the series go to irlpodcast.org Bots, they’re just like you and me. Except easier to find, especially on Twitter. :) Here’s a handy guide to spotting bots in social media, plus the answers to the bot-or-not quiz you heard on the episode. Leave a rating or review in Apple Podcasts so we know what you think.

What does it mean to grow up online? Veronica Belmont investigates how the www is changing us: our personalities, our bodies, and our brains. A college student shares his experience at rehab for Internet addiction. Bestselling author Nir Eyal breaks down what apps borrow from gambling technology. Writer Heather Schwedel talks about taking a cue from Kanye and breaking up with Twitter. Blogger Joshua Cousins talks about the Internet as a lifeline, in the wake of recent natural disasters. And we challenge a group of brave volunteers with a no-smartphone challenge. IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For more on the series go to irlpodcast.org Looking to reset your relationship with the Internet? Check out our digital detox kit. And if you still need something to stop your phone’s constant beep boops, we have the next best thing: an IRL ringtone.

From Snapchat filters to Google’s art selfies, biometric technology plays a growing role in our everyday lives. What do we actually give up when we upload our face to these apps? Steven Talley shares his experience as the victim of mistaken identity. Artist Adam Harvey investigates how racial bias seeps into big data sets. Emily Kennedy and Glynnis MacNicol talk about the power and risks of recognition for marginalized communities. Joseph Atick, a forefather of facial recognition technology, reckons with its future. And we head to China, where you’ll need your face to use the bathroom. IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For more on the series go to irlpodcast.org. Today, more than half of US adults are recorded in police facial recognition databases. For more on the far-reaching impact of facial recognition tech, check out our blog.

On the Internet no one knows you’re a dog, as the old joke goes. But does anonymity truly exist on the web anymore? And when it’s taken from us, what else do we lose? So Sad Today talks about the value of anonymity for women and self-care. Jonathan Hirshon shares his personal battle to keep his face off the Internet. New Yorker cartoonists Peter Steiner and Kaamran Hafeez discuss the evolution of memes and digital anonymity, in dog years. And Alison Macrina and Morgan Taylor reveal what’s underneath the surface of the searchable web. IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For more on the series go to irlpodcast.org. The most famous cartoon in New Yorker history is about a dog on the Internet. Makes sense. Cartoonist Kaamran Hafeez revisits the OG doggo meme, with an update for the post-privacy era. Check out his latest work here. Leave a rating or review in Apple Podcasts so we know what you think.

From Google search to Facebook news, algorithms shape our online experience. But like us, algorithms are flawed. Programmers write cultural biases into code, whether they realize it or not. Author Luke Dormehl explores the impact of algorithms, on and offline. Staci Burns and James Bridle investigate the human cost when YouTube recommendations are abused. Anthropologist Nick Seaver talks about the danger of automating the status quo. Safiya Noble looks at preventing racial bias from seeping into code. And Allegheny County’s Department of Children and Family Services shows us how a well-built algorithm can help save lives. Algorithms aren’t neutral. They’re really just recipes; expressions of human intent. That means it’s up to us to build the algorithms we want. Read more on how we can make algorithms more accountable. IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For more on the series go to irlpodcast.org. Leave a rating or review in Apple Podcasts so we know what you think.

We’ve long heard that the ways the web is tailored for each user—how we search, what we’re shown, who we read and follow— reinforces walls between us. Veronica Belmont investigates how social media can create, and can break our filter bubbles. Megan Phelps-Roper discusses the Westboro Baptist Church, and the bubbles that form both on and offline. B.J. May talks about the bubbles he encountered every day, in his Twitter feed, and tells us how he broke free. Rasmus Nielsen suggests social media isn’t the filter culprit we think it is. And, within the context of a divided America, DeRay McKesson argues that sometimes bubbles are what hold us together. IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For more on the series go to irlpodcast.org. Read B.J. May's How 26 Tweets Broke My Filter Bubble. To grab a cup of coffee and Say Hi From the Other Side go here. Leave a rating or review in Apple Podcasts so we know what you think.

From campaign bots to conspiracy videos, it’s harder than ever to discover the truth online. In conversation with The New York Times’ Sheera Frenkel, Data For Democracy Policy Lead and Mozilla Fellow Renee DiResta, and DisInfoMedia founder Jestin Coler, we navigate the age of disinformation. It’s the season finale of IRL, recorded live in San Francisco on March 18th, 2018. A recent Gallup survey found that most Americans feel that it’s harder today to be well-informed than ever before. But each of us can play a part in stopping the spread of misinformation. Learn more. IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For more on the series go to irlpodcast.org. Leave a rating or review in Apple Podcasts so we know what you think.

In Season 3 of IRL, we're exploring the bargains we make online every day, and how we might approach striking better deals with the powers that be. You'll find out what happened when the U.S. Army got into the video game business, what it's like to be a professional flirter on Tinder (for real), and how a super cute pig transformed a person's life one Instagram post at a time. Episode 1 launches July 2nd. Subscribe via Apple podcasts or Spotify, or wherever you get your ear candy. IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For more on the series go to irlpodcast.org For behind-the-scenes video of IRL Trailer production, and a bit more about why we're making this podcast, check out our blog.

We’re told from a young age to “accept the things we cannot change.” But should this be the case online as well? We click “Accept” every day, but often don’t know what we’re giving away. Is it a fair trade, and should we demand a better bargain? Veronica Belmont and special guest Dave Pell explore if what we get for what we give online is a good deal. We hear how one man’s HIV status was exposed without permission, how a massive data-mining company is using our information to predict how we'll behave, and why on earth our email inboxes are filling up with privacy policies. IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For more on the series go to irlpodcast.org Tom Hayes works for an organization called Beyond Positive. Learn more. Nora Young discusses the GDPR in this episode. Here are 13 more things you need to know about the GDPR. Beyond GDPR, check out what else is changing your online rights. The rest of Jaron Lanier's talk can be heard on TED Talks Daily. Find Dave Pell's NextDraft newsletter here. And, click here for Mozilla's take on privacy and the trade-offs we make online. Leave a rating or review in Apple Podcasts so we know what you think.

One of the most successful recruitment tools the U.S. Army ever made was…a video game? Sometimes without even knowing it, gaming elements in technology — often designed for addiction — are incentivizing you to think certain ways and do certain things. Join Veronica Belmont and co-pilot Ashley Carman as they explore the rise of gamification in our everyday lives, its positives and negatives, and its future. IRL is an original podcast from Mozilla. For more on the series go to irlpodcast.org Ashley Carman is the co-host of the tech podcast, "Why’d You Push That Button?" Natasha Dow Schüll has written several books including Keeping Track and Addiction by Design. She uses the Freedom App to lock herself offline. Long before the Internet, games were a source of entertainment, comradery, and learning. The rise of technology-enabled games to take on video form, and gaming as we know it became popular. Big Tech now gamifies most elements of our online life. The more you know about the evolution of games and why we are all so connected to them, the more you can see how they’re used to sometimes make online experiences better and sometimes more addictive. Here's more on the games we play online, from Mozilla. Leave a rating or review in Apple Podcasts so we know what you think.