When it comes to empowering ourselves, we were told the internet would give us back control. But instead, has it simply delivered a more efficient way for us to become products, and successfully rebranded objectification as agency?

We’re joined by Courtney Kocak - writer, comedian, and author of the memoir Girl Gone Wild - to investigate one of the most uncomfortable questions about what technology has done to identity, autonomy, power, and the people caught in between.

Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.

Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation - new episodes regularly.

Visit us: https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/

Help us investigate ourselves: https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/survey/

Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/rbtishow

In this episode we trace the journey from early 2000s media to today's self-monetisation platforms, examine how the attention economy and algorithms have reshaped desire and self-perception, investigate the rise of online male communities and their generational impact, and ask whether AI is accelerating the problem - or simply making it harder to see.

00:00 - The Internet's impact on empowerment and objectification

03:10 - From early 2000s media to today's self-monetization platforms

07:50 - The evolution of pop culture and its increasingly explicit direction

09:12 - Tracing the cultural roots of today's online extremity

13:28 - The influence of the attention economy

14:37 - The rise of the manosphere and its impact

16:29 - The generational difference: navigating online life and authenticity

20:13 - Shifting attitudes toward sex work and societal acceptance

23:29 - The influence of explicit online content

25:34 - How online validation shapes our self-perception

27:13 - Authenticity and the rejection of algorithm-driven content

30:18 - The potential and pitfalls of AI in digital content and society

34:47 - The impact of AI-generated actors and content on creative industries

36:57 - The slow political response to AI and digital regulation

38:15 - The importance of nuanced conversations

39:41 - Concerns about technology's societal effects

Guest links — Courtney Kocak

Website: https://www.courtneykocak.com/

Podcast: https://www.privatepartsunknown.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneykocak/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@courtneykocak

The internet was supposed to make the rental market more efficient and transparent. But has it instead turned the basic human need for shelter into a frantic, dehumanising battle with technology - where algorithms, platforms, and data have more power than the people looking for a home?

We're joined by Thomas Sigler - Deputy Head of the School of the Environment and Associate Professor of Human Geography at the University of Queensland - whose research sits at the exact intersection of urban geography, technology, and how we live.

Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.

Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation - new episodes regularly.

Visit us: https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/

Help us investigate ourselves: https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/survey/

Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/rbtishow

In this episode we investigate how short-term rental platforms hollowed out housing supply, examine the role of PropTech in reshaping how we search and apply for homes, explore the data privacy implications of digital rental applications, and ask whether the technology that promised transparency has simply handed more power to landlords, platforms, and property influencers.

00:00 Introduction to the Rental Market Crisis

02:57 The Impact of Short-Term Rentals

06:04 Understanding the Rental Market Dynamics

08:47 The Role of PropTech in Rental Searches

11:55 Community Resistance and Transient Populations

15:02 The Rise of Digital Nomadism

17:51 The Transparency of Digital Platforms

21:07 Privacy Concerns in Rental Applications

24:09 Regulatory Challenges in the Rental Market

26:45 The Influence of Property Influencers

29:56 FOMO and the Property Market

33:10 Crisis in the Housing Market

36:05 The Future of Housing and Technology

38:59 What renters can actually do

Guest links — Thomas Sigler:

https://environment.uq.edu.au/profile/9602/thomas-sigler

The internet promised to make self-improvement accessible to everyone. But has it instead turned it into a spectator sport - replacing process with performance, and pushing us to consume playbooks rather than actually build habits?

We're joined by Justin Leff - behavioural coach and founder of Solilium Coaching - who helps people with discipline, wellness, and self-understanding, and has seen firsthand what happens when the algorithm becomes the self-improvement plan.

Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.

Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation - new episodes regularly.

Visit us: https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/

Help us investigate ourselves: https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/survey/

Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/rbtishow

In this episode we investigate how algorithms and social media have reshaped our goals and motivation, examine the danger of social comparison in a world of curated success, explore how digital overload creates decision fatigue, and ask whether AI is finally the personalised self-improvement tool we were promised - or just a more sophisticated version of the same one-size-fits-all problem.

00:00 The Impact of the Internet on Self-Improvement

03:12 Globalisation of Ideas and Goals

06:07 The Dangers of Social Comparison

09:08 The Role of Role Models in the Digital Age

12:03 Chasing Status vs. Genuine Self-Improvement

15:12 The Journey of Self-Discovery

18:05 The Process Over Quick Fixes

21:14 The Impact of Digital Overload on Motivation

24:08 Navigating Decision Fatigue in a World of Options

28:03 The Future of Self-Improvement Without Social Media

30:41 AI's Role in Tailored Self-Improvement

35:08 Finding Authentic Peer Support in Self-Improvement

37:13 The Importance of Community in Personal Growth

Guest links - Justin Leff

Website: https://www.soliliumcoaching.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soliliumthoughts/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SoliliumThoughts