That's A Thing?!

In Part 2 of our examination of YouTube, Elizabeth zooms out and zooms back in again on what is wrong with her generation’s main source of information and entertainment, and why they’ll keep watching anyway.

Are you up on SCP? How about the Look-See? If a kid said “I like rusty spoons,” would you know what he was on about? Elizabeth recommends the scariest things your teen has probably already seen.

Elizabeth explains the drama-soaked world of YouTube and the false promise of the American dream through the lens of the debacle known as Tanacon. Part 1 of 2, with a special guest appearance by Kyle Marshall.

A listener question requesting help to interpret various memes prompts us to bring in reinforcements (i.e. Elizabeth’s brother Jon) to explain the dank, deep-fried, spicy and wholesome bits of internet culture whose meaning might elude you.

Flossing — it’s not just for teeth anymore. Elizabeth explains the origins of the dance move to Karen, and expresses disbelief that she didn’t know about it, because isn’t already over by now? Also, relive the dance crazes of the ‘80s and early ‘90s, because Gen-X nostalgia is the best nostalgia.

Elizabeth has an interesting theory about the phenomenal rise of K-Pop sensation BTS, and Karen finds parallels to The Monkees and Moonlighting. Is Suga your bias? Do you even know what that means? Listen and you will.

More than 14 million people follow Fortnite on Twitch, but somehow, Karen had never heard of it. Elizabeth enlightens her mom about the game that has glued kids to their phones and freaked out “old people media.”

Elizabeth introduces her mom to the surprisingly vast and very teen-girl-driven world of fan fiction. It’s not all shipping (but it is a lot of shipping —listen if you don’t know what that is. Hint: No boats involved).

Elizabeth dives into the world of indie video games, introducing some that her mother would really rather not know about (hi, FNAF), and some that she's kind of looking forward to trying. Plus, #PaulWatch and the meaning of THOT. Find links to the games and more at https://thatsathing.libsyn.com We are a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

Elizabeth explains how eating Tide Pods became a thing, and analyzes media coverage of the phenomenon. This leads to a discussion of challenges past and present. We also revisit Logan Paul (shudder), who was briefly touched on in Episode 2 and has since invaded the grownups' part of the internet, and we answer a listener question! Find full show notes at https://thatsathing.libsyn.com

Elizabeth explains things to her mom in this sometimes belated, already outdated guide to your teens, tweens and everything under 20. This time around, she tells the story of Team 10, a collective of YouTube channels whose hosts boost each other’s follower counts by harnessing the same techniques that made old-time Hollywood, soap operas, wrestling and reality TV capture our attention.

In this inaugural episode of a sometimes belated, already outdated guide to your teens, tweens and everything under 20, Elizabeth explains a deliciously disturbing literary phenomenon. Full show notes at https://seenandheardyeg.com/category/thats-a-thing/