Ruined By The Internet? – How Social Media, AI and Technology are changing modern life

The internet promised to revolutionise how we get around, delivering a modern, efficient, and affordable break from the old ways. But did the revolution simply bring an unstable, exploitative gig economy, offering the illusion of flexibility with almost zero protections?
Helping us look at how technology disrupted taxis is Rod Barton, a former Victorian Member of Parliament and founder of the Transport Matters Party.
⁠https://rodbarton.com.au⁠
⁠https://linkedin.com/in/rod-barton⁠
⁠https://facebook.com/RodBarton08⁠
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 the show, let us know what else to look into at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or support us at ⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/rbtishow⁠⁠⁠ 
In this episode, Rod joins us to explore the impact of the internet on the Victorian taxi industry and the wider gig economy, the challenges faced by traditional taxi services as they compete with rideshare apps, the regulatory environment, and safety concerns in rideshare services.
We also look at the rights of gig economy workers, the need for better protections, and the importance of government regulation in ensuring fair practices in the taxi industry and beyond.
00:00 The Impact of the Internet on the Taxi Industry
03:01 The Taxi Industry Before Uber
05:52 Regulations and Challenges in the Taxi Industry
08:57 Safety and Insurance in Rideshare Services
12:13 The Gig Economy and Worker Rights
15:05 Customer Service in the Age of Rideshare
17:50 The Future of the Gig Economy
21:00 The Role of Government in Regulating the Industry
23:55 The Path Forward for Taxi and Rideshare Services
taxi industry, rideshare, Uber, gig economy, worker rights, exploitation, regulations, ridesharing, customer service, government policy, transport industry, class action

The internet promised to be an escape from centralised power. But thanks to the domination of Big Tech and Venture Capital, has the dream of a user-controlled, peer-to-peer network been systematically stolen by a new set of gatekeepers?
Joining us is Joseph Kennedy, Head of Marketing & Growth at blockchain platform Alephium.
⁠http://www.alephium.org⁠
⁠http://www.twitter.com/bigpepghost⁠
⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephkennedyuk/⁠
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 the show, let us know what else to look into at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or support us at ⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/rbtishow⁠⁠ 
In this episode, Joseph joins us to explore the evolution of decentralisation in the internet age, particularly focusing on the impact of big tech and venture capital on the original ideals of blockchain technology. We discuss the rise and fall of cryptocurrencies, the role of centralised exchanges, public perception of Web3, and the influence of government regulation.
We also look at the future of decentralisation, the risks posed by centralisation, and the potential for self-regulation within the crypto space.
00:00 The Promise of Decentralization and Its Erosion
02:50 The Role of Venture Capital in Crypto
06:11 Centralization vs. Decentralization: The Infrastructure Dilemma
08:57 Public Perception of Crypto and Web3
12:11 The Influence of Regulation on Decentralized Innovations
15:08 Corporate Involvement in Web3: A Double-Edged Sword
17:52 NFTs: Beyond the Hype and Towards Utility
20:50 Value Perception in the Digital Asset Space
23:07 The Rise and Fall of Steemit
28:08 Centralization vs. Decentralization: The Ethical Dilemma
30:29 Self-Regulation in the Decentralized Space
33:18 Government Control and the Decentralized Response
37:50 Barriers to Mass Adoption of Decentralization
40:12 The Future of Decentralization: A Divided Landscape
42:55 A Vision for True Decentralization

#Web3 #DigitalSovereignty #BigTech #internet #technology #society #culture

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?
Helping us examine how the digital world affects our ability to connect with people is Maria-Elena Lukeides, a clinical psychologist specialising in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapies, drawing on neuroscience, behavioural design, and evolutionary psychology.
⁠https://www.drmariaelenalukeides.com.au⁠
⁠https://www.instagram.com/drmariaelena_lukeides/⁠
⁠http://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-elena-lukeides-270379a5
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 the show, let us know what else to look into at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or support us at ⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/rbtishow⁠⁠⁠ 
In this episode, Maria-Elena joins us to examine the impact of the internet and social media on human connection. We explore how digital communication has changed the nature of relationships, the illusion of connection in a hyper-connected world, the addictive nature of dopamine-driven validation, and the importance of oxytocin for deeper connections.
We also look at the neuroscience behind social interactions, the dangers of AI in fostering isolation, and the importance of patience and vulnerability in building meaningful relationships.
00:00 The Impact of the Internet on Human Connection
02:34 The Illusion of Connection in a Digital Age
06:03 The Depth of Communication: Online vs. Offline
10:37 The Erosion of Patience in Relationships
13:30 The Challenge of Unpleasant Emotions
17:14 Dopamine vs. Oxytocin: The Chemistry of Connection
20:53 The Quest for Meaningful Relationships in a Fast-Paced World
24:17 The Impact of Digital Communication on Real-Life Connections
28:23 AI as a Substitute for Human Connection
33:43 The Challenges of Modern Relationships
38:07 Strategies for Building Resilience in Relationships
41:00 Exploring Psychedelic Therapy and Connection

The internet has made ayahuasca more accessible than ever; bringing the promise of spiritual awakening and deep healing to people worldwide. But in doing so, has it commodified a sacred practice, leading to a rise in unqualified facilitators and a disregard for cultural traditions?
Joining us is Bia Labate, a Brazilian anthropologist, founder and Executive Director of The Chacruna Institute of Psychedelic Plant Medicines, and one of the world’s leading ayahuasca experts.
⁠http://www.bialabate.net⁠
⁠https://chacruna.net/⁠
⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC22F9iOhoGVWPiVlO9ueN0Q/featured⁠
⁠https://www.instagram.com/labatebia/⁠
⁠https://chacruna.net/the-commodification-of-ayahuasca-how-can-we-do-better/⁠
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 the show, let us know what else to look into at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or support us at ⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/rbtishow⁠⁠⁠ 
In this episode, Bia joins us to explore the profound impact of the internet and social media on the world of ayahuasca. We discuss the accessibility of ayahuasca, the rise of unqualified facilitators, and the ethical challenges of marketing spiritual experiences.
We also look at the risks involved in seeking ayahuasca ceremonies and the positive outcomes of increased global interest in this traditional practice, as well as the need for education, harm reduction, and ethical collaboration with indigenous communities to ensure the integrity of ayahuasca experiences.
00:00 Introduction to Ayahuasca and the Internet's Impact
02:51 Personal Experiences with Ayahuasca and Digital Evolution
06:02 The Role of Social Media in Ayahuasca Ceremonies
08:49 Marketing Challenges and Ethical Considerations
11:52 Authenticity and Misrepresentation in Ayahuasca Practices
14:45 The Rise of Unqualified Facilitators
18:00 Navigating Risks in Ayahuasca Ceremonies
21:05 Positive Outcomes of Ayahuasca's Global Exposure
24:10 Future Directions for Ayahuasca Practices
26:48 Advice for Prospective Ayahuasca Participants

The internet promised a place where people from diverse backgrounds could find connection and understanding. But has it instead become a deeply polarised medium where echo chambers and ideological extremism make meaningful connection harder than ever?
To help us understand what’s happening, we’re joined by Dr. Andres Reiljan, a political scientist at the European University Institute.
⁠https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=uBEitnwAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao⁠
⁠https://x.com/AReiljan⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/andres.reiljan⁠
⁠https://bsky.app/profile/areiljan.bsky.social⁠
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 the show, let us know what else to look into at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or support us at ⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/rbtishow⁠⁠⁠ 
In this episode, Andres joins us to explore the complexities of polarisation in the digital age. We discuss the concept of affective polarisation, the role of algorithms in amplifying divisive sentiments, and the psychological toll of constant exposure to conflict.
We also look at the importance of finding common ground and the potential for technology to help bridge divides, while also acknowledging the challenges posed by misinformation and emotional polarisation.
00:00 The Promise and Peril of the Internet
05:04 Understanding Affective Polarisation
09:59 The Role of Algorithms in Polarisation
15:07 Factual Belief Polarisation and Misinformation
19:56 The Impact of Polarisation on Society
25:04 Finding Common Ground in a Polarised World
29:54 The Psychological Toll of Polarisation
35:03 Using Technology to Combat Polarisation