Watts On Your Screen

The first episode in a mini-series on how millenial parents are approaching screen time with their kids. In this episode I talk to two prospective parents about their plans for bringing new life into an increasingly digital world. We talk about how coming of age online has shaped their approach, how it'll differ from the previous generation's approach, the role video games will play in their child...

🔗 LINKS: ScreenZen: https://screenzen.co/ StayFocusd extension: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/stayfocusd-%E2%80%93-website-bloc/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji NewsFeed Eradicator extension: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/news-feed-eradicator/fjcldmjmjhkklehbacihaiopjklihlgg Reddit Enhancer: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/reddit-enhancer/onglbklimdjicpdadjieknodkkm...

I talk to Adam, who uses the Meta AI Glasses to see what his own eyes can't. 🔗 LINKS You can find the previous Meta Glasses episode here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meta-glasses-all-content-no-consent/id1770285895?i=1000750382402 And you can find the Sunny Skies shop here: https://sunnyskies.shop/ If you're interested in some accessibility-focused smart glasses, check out Echovision: h...

An ambient excursion through positive and peculiar comments on the internet. Headphones on 🎧 for this experimental bit of audio. Don't worry if it's not your cup of tea, the next episode will be more normal. If you like this episode, you may also like: Unseen & Appropriated: https://pod.fo/e/356927 The Final Boss of Ad Data: https://podfollow.com/watts-on-your-screen/episode/bd9e088ac6bcc847b...

The stories of two women in Nottingham who discovered Tik-Tok videos of themselves which had been secretly recorded using Meta smart glasses and uploaded without their knowledge or consent. I also explore the motives, attitude, and Discord server of "Carlos", the man behind the glasses. That's him in the cover art. 👱‍♂️ MORE ABOUT MATT You can follow me on Instagram: @mattwattsmakesdocs Here's my...

An investigation into ubiquitous stock imagery used to depict cyberspace, technology and the 1980s. I examine the pop culture of the 80s, the influence of technology, certain cities, and synthwave. 🔗LINKS: 📰 Useful articles on the subject:  https://www.psd-dude.com/tutorials/resources/80s-font.aspx https://medium.com/@cywjoel/outrun-the-aesthetic-deconstructed-dbd3cd8679b7 https://wearethem...

A summary of the month of January 2025 told via unseen snippets of mundane video in an audio collage that I narrate. Yeah, it's an odd one, but give it a chance.  🔗LINKS: My Roosevelt documentary: https://youtu.be/uxyP0ue681A 👱‍♂️ MORE ABOUT MATT You can follow me on Instagram: @mattwattsmakesdocs Here's my website: https://www.mattwattsmakesdocs.co.uk/ Here's my newsletter: https://thematt...

Professor Andy Phippen talks about about his 20 years of experience in the world of online harms. We talk about the effectiveness of prohibition, the online safety act, harm reduction, and what young people actually say about their internet usage when you take the time to ask them.  🔗LINKS: The news story about the grooming victim in Wiltshire who was told by the police that he had done some...

I talk to local journalist Corey Bedford about the various pressures and business interests that are shaping the world of online local journalism.  🔗LINKS: Corey's conversation with Hold the Front Page after he took voluntary redundancy from the Leicester Mercury: https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2023/news/cuts-threatened-journalist-quits-for-sake-of-mental-health/   The Mirror's...

I investigate the origin of infuriating videos of people being thoroughly unreasonable. Where do they come from? Why are they made? Are they real? Who's behind them? 🔗LINKS: 📰 Reuters article: https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/british-police-officer-questioning-driver-clip-is-skit-2023-11-23/ 📺 The video mentioned in the Reuters article: https://x.com/stillgray/status/1720075180830228516 🎵 Ha...

I talk to the anthropomorphised embodiment of all my online ad data in a horrifying fever dream.  🔗LINKS: How to download your info on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/help/212802592074644/ How to download your info on Instagram: https://help.instagram.com/181231772500920 How to download your info on eBay: https://community.ebay.com/t5/Ask-a-Mentor/How-can-I-download-like-an-excel-or-cvs-f...

I talk to 'whiz kid editor' Andrew, an administrator and bureaucrat on Wikipedia. We talk about how he got started on the site, the effects it's had on him, and how tens of thousands of wikipedians work tirelessly to maintain the internet's largest free repository of information.  🔗LINKS: The BBC article on US House of Representatives IP address getting blocked: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/te...

I talk to a teacher about keeping his online life and his professional life separate, how realistic the Netflix series Adolescence is, and how online content is manifesting in the classroom in amusing, innocuous, and disturbing ways.  ⚠ Adult topics and language throughout.  🔗LINKS: 🎧Those Who Can't Teach... Anymore - the podcast I recommended: Those Who Can't Teach Anymore 👱‍♂️ MORE...

I talk to Adam, Deen, and Ryan: "The Goodboys" about the Tik Tok and Youtube videos they make. We discuss pranking police officers, the motivations behind their predator hunting content, and what happened when they caught their maths teacher allegedly trying to meet a 15 year old boy for sex.  👩‍⚖️ LEGAL NOTE: I am not aware of any ongoing legal action regarding the predator sting we discuss...

I talk to Father Sebastian Hamilton about being a priest in the online world, his early foray into podcasting, and his affection for a certain stop-motion duo. It's a cracking listen, lad. 👱‍♂️ MORE ABOUT MATT You can follow me on Instagram: @mattwattsmakesdocs Here's my website: https://www.mattwattsmakesdocs.co.uk/ Here's my newsletter: https://themattazine.beehiiv.com/ 💌 WHAT'S ON YOUR SCREEN...

Meet Dave, the 77-year-old giga-chad boomer who makes gifs that get millions of views a day.  🔗 LINKS: You can find Dave's work here: https://www.giphy.com/dotdave https://www.3dgifartist.com  https://bsky.app/profile/3dgifartist.bsky.social 🎧 Sound effects used in this episode include: London Underground Tube Departing.wav by Motion_S -- https://freesound.org/s/178899/ -- License: Att...

What's it like to delete all your social media? What are the social ramifications? And do you miss it? I talk to Sam about the reasons he took the decision to delete his social media. We discuss creativity, comparison, and the 2006 England football team. 👱‍♂️ MORE ABOUT MATT You can follow me on Instagram: @mattwattsmakesdocs Here's my website: https://www.mattwattsmakesdocs.co.uk/ Here's my news...

How can you go from living vicariously via the internet to actually experiencing life? I talk to Adam about his experiences with internet addiction and the self-help content he found helpful.  🔗 LINKS: The HealthyGamerGG video that the consumption vs production clips come from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2--Nhxasrew Adam's Youtube video: https://youtu.be/InY1cxhJldo  👱‍♂️ MORE ABO...

How does being bilingual online change your experience of both the internet and the English language? I talk to Julia about the differences between the english-language internet and the polish-language internet, how being a directioner sharpened her language skills, and how certain phrases don't necessarily translate from screen to speech. ⚠ CONTENT NOTE: There is a brief mention of self-harm. If...

We've all got a Swiftie in our lives, but what does being part of Taylor Swift's army of fans actually mean? I talk to Leanne about the community and friendship she's found through this one-woman subculture. I messed up the sound on this one. Sorry. I promise it won't happen again. 👱‍♂️ MORE ABOUT MATT You can follow me on Instagram: @mattwattsmakesdocs Here's my website: https://www.mattwattsmak...

Did your mum ever teach you not to talk to strangers? Well Stefan's mum musn't have. In this episode we talk about seeking, forming, and maintaining online friendships. We also talk about the history of queer chat platforms and tensions between friendship and sexual attraction. 👱‍♂️ MORE ABOUT MATT You can follow me on Instagram: @mattwattsmakesdocs Here's my website: https://www.mattwattsmakesdo...

I talk to Pippa, aka shewearssocks, about being an autism influencer on TikTok. We discuss the peculiarities of sudden popularity, her responsibilities as a neurodivergent creator, and her attitude to the constant push to Make More. 🔗LINKS: Pippa's TikTok account: https://www.tiktok.com/@shewearssocks 👱‍♂️ MORE ABOUT MATT You can follow me on Instagram: @mattwattsmakesdocs Here's my website...