There Are No Girls on the Internet
Marginalized voices have always been at the forefront of the internet, yet our stories often go overlooked. Bridget Todd chronicles our experiences online, and the ways marginalized voices have shaped the internet from the very beginning. We need monuments to all of the identities that make being online what it is. So let’s build them.
Our Editor's Take
The creator of the There Are No Girls on the Internet podcast spent her whole career exploring how marginalized people shape culture. Bridget Todd used to cohost a feminist podcast called Stuff Mom Never Told You. She also organized internet campaigns for Planned Parenthood, the Women's March, and MSNBC.
In her career, the podcast host saw huge movements getting started online. She was working and contributing during the #MeToo movement. She also witnessed the Black Lives Matter resurgence. Those points in modern history taught her that Black and marginalized people are always the ones pushing for change. They are the ones shaping the culture, connecting online, and making a big impact on the internet.
At the same time, Todd saw how white tech leaders refuse to be accountable to those very same people. She feels that those platforms would be nothing without the marginalized user base. Websites like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) have sweeping policies about what content they allow. She feels they claim to be neutral and apolitical. But the host believes they actually profit from the trolls. Todd thinks they silence marginalized voices and do not prevent abuse. She also thinks that not enough is done to stop online harassment. That's part of the reason she created the There Are No Girls on the Internet podcast.
Todd wants to change that. She wants women, Black people, and other marginalized voices to claim their stake. She also wants them to recognize their importance and influence online. Her internet culture podcast is a means to that end.
There Are No Girls on the Internet seeks to tell stories that don't get much exposure. Todd mentions how Talia Jane exposed Yelp for underpaying its employees. The show discusses the subsequent backlash. The show also discusses Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction." It actually led to the creation of YouTube. These are stories that show the way the internet can use and abuse marginalized people. But at the same time, the podcast also shows more positive things. It explains how internet activists uncover great injustices and contribute to its growth. New episodes debut several times each week.
Episodes