105: TikTok, Cults, & Conspiracies (w/Abbie Richards)

Is humanity doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past?

This week, Julian traces a timeline from the bright-eyed early days of the internet to the dark message boards where QAnon emerged—and that still foment white supremacist mass shootings. to the dizzying infinite scroll on TikTok. Each new evolution of social media exploits innate human vulnerabilities more effectively, delivering more potent strains of deceptive manipulation to receptive young minds.

No surprise, then, that a crew of talented dancers with huge TikTok audiences appears to have been recruited into a high-demand evangelical group with a divine mandate to conquer all aspects of American life for Jesus. We'll hear from friends and family anxiously wondering what is going on.

For today's interview, Abbie Richards returns. She's the the mis and disinformation researcher with special expertise on the "clock app."

Show Notes

How Lonelygirl15 Changed The Internet

Analyzing TikTok Usage and Growth

Is "The Garden" a TikTok Cult?

Dancing In The Name of The Lord

Inside the $2.5M LA Mansion Where Alleged TikTok "Cult" Shoots Videos

Shekinah Church "About" Page

The Modern Apostles Who Want To Want To Reshape America Ahead of the End Times

HBO Recruits Instagram Independent Reporters