#041: June 4th, 2018
Self-Help Videos and Death: The Story of a YouTube Guru
How much power do YouTube influencers have? Sure, Logan Paul might influence teens to buy shoes or travel somewhere, but what about a spiritual guru? What about the type who 10 years ago might have been leading a cult?
What about someone whose target audience is people struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts?
Teal Swan is one such guru. Her self-help videos draw hundreds of thousands of views, and she tackles topics from hopelessness to weight gain and beyond. But Teal is not a trained professional and her critics call her dangerous, some even dubbing her “the suicide catalyst.”
It’s these claims that lead Gizmodo to create six-part investigative series The Gateway. It’s an interesting look into the real power of a new generation of online spiritual leaders.
Hope you enjoy it,
Stephen and EvanYour Podcast Delivery crew
“She has more in common with internet influencers and vloggers than she does with the Maharishi or Eckhart Tolle.”Part 1: Catalyst
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