Ruined By The Internet? | Uncovering the human cost of our digital world

Gareth King

Is the internet really ruining everything, or are we just looking at it wrong? Ruined By The Internet? explores how social media, AI, and technology are shaping society, culture, and modern life; including how we think, behave, and connect - whether we want them to or not. From internet culture to the psychological and human impact of tech, we look at the digital world not as a set of products, but as the environment we all live in. Through conversations with leading experts from around the world, we seek to uncover the true casualties behind today’s biggest questions: How is social media changing us? Is AI reshaping human behaviour? And what are the real consequences of our very online lives? Help us investigate ourselves at https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/survey/ Let us know what to look into at https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/ Support the show at https://buymeacoffee.com/rbtishow

  1. Retail: Convenience That Costs Everything?

    4D AGO

    Retail: Convenience That Costs Everything?

    The internet promised to bring the world's stores directly to us. But in chasing convenience over everything, has it killed the high street, gutted retailers, and replaced the experience of shopping with a transaction? We're joined by Joe Zahaitis, a payments industry strategist with over 30 years experience in the high-velocity digital marketplace - giving him an insider's view of what happens when we trade a sensory, social experience for an impersonal digital one that leaves most retailers in a tech-driven race to the bottom. 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 e-commerce dismantled the high street and the community spaces built around it, examine the psychological effects of instant gratification and what it's done to our relationship with shopping, explore the trust and transparency challenges of buying in a world you can't touch or see, and ask whether AI and personalisation can ever replace what’s been lost. 00:00 - The transformation of retail in the digital age 03:02 - How e-commerce reshaped society beyond just shopping 06:08 - The rise of instant gratification and what it costs us 08:49 - Customer service in the digital age: better or worse? 12:07 - The future of local retail: survival or slow death? 14:46 - Trust and transparency in online shopping 18:04 - The role of AI in shaping consumer experiences 21:01 - The psychological effects of online shopping on behaviour and identity 23:52 - Digital payments and the friction they remove - and create 26:54 - Where online retail goes from here - and what gets left behind Guest links – Joe Zahaitis Website: https://www.zahaitis.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joezahaitis/

    38 min
  2. Sleep: Screens Stealing Our Slumber?

    MAY 6

    Sleep: Screens Stealing Our Slumber?

    The internet promised us connection that never sleeps. But has it also been sabotaging our rest - leaving us locked in a nightly battle with a digital world that refuses to turn off? We're joined by Chelsea Reynolds - sleep researcher and clinical psychologist - who is exactly the right person to ask about what happens when bedtime becomes screen time, and whether our screens are the problem, or the solution. 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 screens and digital habits are disrupting our sleep biology, examine the sleep displacement hypothesis and what it actually means for how we rest, explore the psychology behind why we choose screens over sleep even when we know better, and ask whether the same technology keeping us awake could ever genuinely help us sleep. 00:00 - The internet's impact on sleep and why it matters 04:59 - Sleep biology and exactly where technology interferes 09:57 - The sleep displacement hypothesis: are screens stealing our hours or just our quality? 15:00 - Navigating sleep aids in a world full of digital solutions 20:01 - How the blurring of work and personal life is destroying sleep boundaries 25:04 - The bright light hypothesis and how screen wavelengths affect sleep patterns 25:09 - Understanding sleep routines and where technology fits in 30:36 - Teenagers, sleep needs, and the specific risks of digital exposure 33:00 - The risk factors most people don't know are affecting their sleep 35:30 - How to transform technology from sleep disruptor into sleep aid 37:23 - Practical sleep strategies for a screen-saturated world 39:44 - The nuance of technology's role in sleep: it's not all bad Guest links - Chelsea Reynolds Website: https://www.bedtimewindow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-reynolds-29b43191/

    42 min
  3. Empowerment: Objectification Rebranded as Agency?

    APR 26

    Empowerment: Objectification Rebranded as Agency?

    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

    43 min
  4. Rental Markets: A Frantic Fight for Shelter as a Service?

    APR 13

    Rental Markets: A Frantic Fight for Shelter as a Service?

    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

    45 min
  5. Self Improvement: Progress Replaced with Performance?

    APR 1

    Self Improvement: Progress Replaced with Performance?

    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

    40 min
  6. The Taxi Industry: A Data-Driven Destruction of Dignified Work?

    MAR 21

    The Taxi Industry: A Data-Driven Destruction of Dignified Work?

    The internet promised to revolutionise how we get around - delivering a modern, efficient, and affordable alternative to the old ways. But did the revolution simply replace one system with an unstable, exploitative gig economy, offering the illusion of flexibility with almost zero protections? We're joined by Rod Barton - former Victorian Member of Parliament and founder of the Transport Matters Party - who fought the regulatory battle for taxi drivers firsthand, and understands better than most what happens when platforms disrupt an industry and governments struggle to keep up. 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 rideshare platforms dismantled the traditional taxi industry, examine the safety and insurance gaps that opened up in the process, explore the rights of gig economy workers caught between flexibility and exploitation, and ask whether government regulation has any hope of keeping pace with the platforms rewriting the rules. 00:00 - The internet's impact on the taxi industry 03:01 - What the taxi industry looked like before rideshare 05:52 - The regulatory framework rideshare bypassed 08:57 - Safety and insurance gaps in rideshare services 12:13 - Gig economy workers — flexibility or exploitation? 15:05 - Customer service in the age of algorithmic dispatch 17:50 - Where the gig economy is heading 21:00 - The role of government in regulating platform transport 23:55 - What a fair path forward looks like for drivers and riders Guest links — Rod Barton Website: https://rodbarton.com.au LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/rod-barton Facebook: https://facebook.com/RodBarton08

    33 min
  7. Decentralisation: Freedom or Fragmented Control?

    MAR 10

    Decentralisation: Freedom or Fragmented Control?

    The internet promised to be an escape from centralised power - a user-controlled, peer-to-peer network that would democratise access and dismantle the gatekeepers. But thanks to the domination of Big Tech and Venture Capital, has that dream been systematically stolen and replaced by a new set of gatekeepers wearing different clothes? We're joined by Joseph Kennedy - Head of Marketing & Growth at blockchain platform Alephium - who works at the centre of decentralisation and understands better than most the gap between what the technology promised and what it delivered. 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 venture capital and Big Tech quietly captured the decentralisation movement, examine the rise and fall of crypto's public credibility, explore the regulatory battle between governments and decentralised networks, and ask whether true decentralisation is still possible - or whether the centre always wins in the end. 00:00 - The promise of decentralisation and how it was eroded 02:50 - The role of venture capital in shaping crypto 06:11 - The infrastructure dilemma: centralised tools in a decentralised world 08:57 - Public perception of crypto and Web3: how did it go so wrong? 12:11 - The influence of regulation on decentralised innovation 15:08 - Corporate involvement in Web3: help or hijack? 17:52 - NFTs beyond the hype: is there real utility? 20:50 - How value is perceived in the digital asset space 23:07 - The rise and fall of Steemit as a cautionary tale 28:08 - The ethical dilemma at the heart of centralisation vs decentralisation 30:29 - Can the decentralised space self-regulate? 33:18 - Government control and the decentralised response 37:50 - The real barriers to mass adoption 40:12 - A divided landscape — where decentralisation goes from here 42:55 - A vision for what true decentralisation could look like Guest links – Joseph Kennedy Website: http://www.alephium.org Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bigpepghost LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephkennedyuk/

    47 min
  8. Deeper Connection: An Algorithmic Illusion of Intimacy?

    FEB 28

    Deeper Connection: An Algorithmic Illusion of Intimacy?

    The internet brought connectivity unlike anything we'd ever experienced. But by making so much of our communication instant and effortless, has it actually eroded everything we need to truly connect with each other? We're joined by Dr Maria-Elena Lukeides - clinical psychologist specialising in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapies, drawing on neuroscience, behavioural design, and evolutionary psychology - who understands better than most what genuine human connection actually requires, and what the digital world is quietly stripping away. 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 digital communication has changed the nature of relationships, examine the neuroscience behind why online validation feels like connection but isn't, explore the battle between dopamine and oxytocin in a world optimised for instant gratification, and ask whether AI is the most dangerous substitute for human connection yet - or simply the most convenient. 00:00 - The internet's impact on human connection 02:34 - The illusion of connection in a hyper-connected world 06:03 - What online communication can and can't replicate 10:37 - How the internet is eroding our patience for real relationships 13:30 - Why we avoid unpleasant emotions - and what that costs us 17:14 - Dopamine vs oxytocin: the chemistry of real vs digital connection 20:53 - The quest for meaningful relationships in a fast-paced world 24:17 - How digital habits are bleeding into real-life connections 28:23 - AI as a substitute for human connection: comfort or catastrophe? 33:43 - The challenges facing modern relationships 38:07 - Building resilience in relationships in a distracted world 41:00 - Psychedelic therapy and its role in rebuilding connection Guest links - Dr Maria-Elena Lukeides Website: https://www.drmariaelenalukeides.com.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmariaelena_lukeides/ LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-elena-lukeides-270379a5

    47 min
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Is the internet really ruining everything, or are we just looking at it wrong? Ruined By The Internet? explores how social media, AI, and technology are shaping society, culture, and modern life; including how we think, behave, and connect - whether we want them to or not. From internet culture to the psychological and human impact of tech, we look at the digital world not as a set of products, but as the environment we all live in. Through conversations with leading experts from around the world, we seek to uncover the true casualties behind today’s biggest questions: How is social media changing us? Is AI reshaping human behaviour? And what are the real consequences of our very online lives? Help us investigate ourselves at https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/survey/ Let us know what to look into at https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/ Support the show at https://buymeacoffee.com/rbtishow

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