TechCapsules

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

NPR’s podcast “Wild Card” discovered a surge of cryptic comments on its Spotify episodes, initially suspected as bot traffic. A producer shared screenshots with NPR’s Slack, and after reviewing them, audio producer Hannah Chin identified the messages as coming from middle‑schoolers who were too young for mainstream social media. The children used the podcast’s comment section as a group chat, seeking quieter online spaces. NPR’s host Ira Glass later confirmed the youths’ identity and explained their motive. The incident highlights a new, unanticipated audience for public‑radio podcasts.