Dr. Jessica Maddox: Pretty Furious About Social Media’s Impact on Politics & Critical Thinking, AI as a Net Negative, & Why ACOTAR Sucks

This week’s guest is Dr. Jessica Maddox, an incoming Associate Professor of Screen Media at the University of Georgia. In this conversation, Mallory, Maggie, and Jess discuss the influence of social media on political discourse, the rise of the Manosphere, and the role of influencers in shaping public opinion, and the implications of social media on youth. This episode emphasizes the need for critical thinking and social media education, as well as the accountability of platforms for their societal, economic, & environmentall impacts. Mallory, Maggie, & Jess dissect the multifaceted impact of social media on society, discussing its addictive nature, the importance of media literacy, and the representation of reality. They explore the role of AI in shaping perceptions and the dangers of misinformation, particularly in the context of political discourse. The discussion also touches on the need for critical thinking regarding personal social media use and the significance of understanding media encoding and decoding. They may also reference Moodang… you’ll have the find out for yourself.Jessica Maddox is an outgoing Associate Professor of Digital Media at the University of Alabama and incoming Associate Professor of Screen Media at the University of Georgia. She is a researcher and teacher of social media, content creators, influencers, and media studies. Her work examines how pop culture and labor function on social media. She is the author of The Internet is for Cats: How Animal Images Shape Our Digital Lives (Rutgers University Press, 2023) and of Anatomy of an Internet Scandal: Content Creators and the Politics of Going Viral (University of California Press, forthcoming). She has written over twenty peer-reviewed academic articles on social media and has appeared in over 200 international news outlets to discuss internet culture. When she’s not working, you can find her cooking, baking, reading fantasy novels, or on her Peloton.Chapters00:00 The TikTok Dilemma: National Security or Business Competition?02:50 The Impact of Social Media on Personal Branding05:44 The Fragmentation of MAGA and the Manosphere08:09 Health Care and Political Consequences10:54 Introducing Dr. Jessica Maddox: Social Media Insights22:42 The Impact of Social Media on Personal Experiences23:36 Jess's Journey into Social Media and Academia24:31 Social Media's Role in Politics and Misinformation25:33 The Vibes-Only Culture in Political Discourse28:31 The Rise of Conspiracy Theories on Both Sides33:11 Addressing Misogyny and Influences on Young Boys34:04 Education and Accountability in Social Media39:05 Changing Online Behavior and Personal Responsibility45:43 The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health47:57 Encoding and Decoding Media: Understanding Bruce Springsteen51:40 The Role of AI in Society: Opportunities and Threats53:38 The Aesthetic of AI and Its Political Implications58:48 Navigating the Digital Landscape: Finding Joy in Chaos01:02:32 Cultural Critique: The Gen Z Stare and Literary TrendsThis Week’s Product Mentions:Sephora Daily Brush CleanerL'Oréal Panorama MascaraOlay Skincare* Follow us on Instagram* Follow us on TikTok* Follow us on Substack* Subscribe on YouTube* Apple Podcasts This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prettyfuriouspod.substack.com/subscribe