By Lacey Okamura
Staff Writer
It seems that nowadays everybody has a podcast. It’s simple to do really — you buy a microphone, set up a camera and say whatever is on your mind for an hour or two.
Recently, podcasts have been the latest social media trend to blow up. When scrolling on apps like TikTok, every other video is of someone filming a podcast.
Before it became a trend, podcasts were typically centered around a specific topic. True crime, sports and comedy were all genres of podcasts that you could find on Spotify or NPR. These types of podcasts still exist, but they’re being overshadowed by conversational and interview podcasts.
Some of these podcasts have become increasingly popular and have even drawn the attention of celebrities and other well-known people. Ranked number one on Spotify’s charts is an interview-style podcast created by Alex Cooper named “Call Her Daddy.” Cooper has interviewed notable stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Miley Cyrus and Chase Crawford. Her latest episode was a one-on-one exclusive with U.S. Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
As podcasts gain more traction and attention, content creators are rushing to get their slice of the pie. Not everyone has the same credibility as “Call Her Daddy” to be able to secure famous interviewees, so many of them turn into conversational podcasts based on the lives and opinions of the hosts. Some creators focus on drama, while others try to give advice to their listeners. But are any of these people really qualified to lead these conversations?
Three-time Olympian Simone Biles said it best: “Not everyone needs a mic and a platform.”
While it's amazing how podcasts are able to reach large audiences, the messages being portrayed can sometimes be misleading or even harmful. Just a few years ago, a man named Andrew Tate had a large social media presence, appearing on and hosting a number of podcasts.
Tate was known for his misogynistic views, spreading his vile and demeaning opinions of women. Before being arrested on sexual assault charges, Tate was able to speak freely without reprecussion, meaning many people were listening to and internalizing his words.
Andrew Tate may be an extreme example of how hateful podcasts can be, but there are still many with unfavorable takes out there. Most podcasts you’ll find on TikTok are centered around people giving opinions on someone’s life and drama. By normalizing these kinds of podcasts, it makes it seem acceptable to talk about other people’s business. In many ways, podcasts have turned into public gossip sessions.
Gossip is fun and amusing until you are the person being put on blast. Social media already faces massive criticism for the hate and bullying it generates, and podcasts are only adding to it.
Podcasts that serve as an open invitation to make fun of and criticize anything the host pleases are simply unnecessary. While we are all entitled to our own opinion, there should also be an understanding of online etiquette, and all commentary should be kind and respectful. Creators should step away from the mics, and let this podcast trend die out.
