How did a 16-year-old girl with no prior online presence manage to gain more than 700k TikTok followers within a week of her first post? On this episode, we discuss the theories behind Ellie Ellis' unlikely explosion, ask whether her multimillion-view debut video could have gone viral organically, and consider how platforms profit from the aspirational lottery underpinning their algorithms. 

Also this week, a growing number of influencers in Bali have been panic-posting as a specialised taskforce ramps up its crackdown against those working illegally there. Matt and Marianna explain how the island paradise became a hotspot for digital nomads, and why the lifestyle they are selling isn't entirely transparent. And, we get the perspective of Alita, an Indonesian content creator who decided to leave.

Plus - Clavicular defends his latest flex from the ick allegations.

Top Comment is hosted by Marianna Spring and Matt Shea. The series producer is Laurie Kalus. The social producer is Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The editor is Justine Lang. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to get in touch about something that's popped up on your feed, our email address is [email protected] or you can send us a WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

After roughly 78,000 migrants made the journey from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in a matter of hours at the end of July, reporters across the world were quick to identify the role of social media. Capitalising on misinformation about a Spanish Supreme Court ruling, millions of posts appeared over several weeks portraying the territory as a viable path to a new life in Europe. On this episode of Top Comment we take a detailed look at the accounts sharing what we're calling 'mirage content', revealing a network of coordinated profiles spamming the algorithm. For the first time, we expose a direct link between these faceless creators and those profiting from the movement of people, uncovering an integrated business operation run through Instagram.

Top Comment is hosted by Marianna Spring and Matt Shea. The series producer is Laurie Kalus. The social producer is Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Stephen Bailey. The editor is Justine Lang. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

In response to our reporting, Meta told the BBC: “We have a team monitoring the situation in Ceuta in real time and removing content that violates our policies - including content that offers to provide, facilitate or seek human smuggling services”. 

If you want to get in touch about something that's popped up on your feed, our email address is [email protected] or you can send us a WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

The manosphere is just the tip of the iceberg - that's the premise of a new report, shared exclusively with Top Comment, about the so-called male grievance industry. Its author, Kristina Wilfore, has spent years investigating state information warfare, a playbook she says is now being followed by influencers weaponising economic anxiety, body dysmorphia, and political disenfranchisement. We've also been given access to brand new data about the viral looksmaxxing trend, which reveals how just 216 accounts drove 14.6bn views on this type of content within the last two years. Kristina, Matt and Marianna discuss the pipeline behind these numbers, and with effective algorithmic regulation seemingly a way off, consider more ambitious methods to clamp down on the exploitative practices which mid-tier creators are using to monetise at scale.

Plus - why the streamers flocking to Epstein island are being sued, and Boy Throb's Darshan finally got a visa!

Top Comment is hosted by Marianna Spring and Matt Shea. The series producer is Laurie Kalus. The social producer is Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The editor is Justine Lang. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

You can access the full report from Reset Tech and Equimundo, 'The Grift Economy: How Young Men Are Being Sold Fake Belonging and Fake Wealth Online', via this link: https://www.equimundo.org/resources/the-grift-economy

If you want to get in touch about something that's popped up on your feed, our email address is [email protected] or you can send us a WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

From chasing pickpockets to unmasking predators, vigilantism has become one of the biggest trends on social media. On this episode Matt and Marianna discuss how the age of streaming has added a new layer of risk to content like this, with the potential for devastating consequences including reputational damage and even legal repercussions.

Also this week, as national media fangirls over Andy Burnham's TikTok persona, we ask what the new prime minister is doing right online. Is social media now the ultimate test of a politician's authenticity, and could cosying up to influencers set a dangerous precedent in terms of transparency and accountability for those in positions of power.

Plus - Clavicular can't run in those little high heels, and the foxes have their say!

Top Comment is hosted by Marianna Spring and Matt Shea. The series producer is Laurie Kalus. The social producer is Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The editor is Justine Lang. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to get in touch about something that's popped up on your feed, our email address is [email protected] or you can send us a WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Manosphere kingpin Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan were arrested in the US over the weekend after British authorities announced dozens of new charges against the pair, including rape and sex trafficking, which they deny. On this episode, we unpack the allegations being made against the influencers, and what it could mean for those associated with them. Matt, who has reported extensively on the Tate empire, describes the social media narrative being pursued by the brothers as they attempt to paint a picture of a deep state conspiracy and undermine trust in the justice system.

Also this week, should parents be able to profit from posting content of their kids on social media? From the Rizzler to Lil Tay, shooting to internet superstardom at an early age can come with criticism and complications. Marianna has been speaking to former child youtuber turned activist and entrepreneur, Beckii Flint, about the dilemmas around consent, monetisation and exploitation in a space which remains largely unregulated. And, as a new U16 ban approaches in the UK, what happens when kidfluencers become viral on platforms they can’t use?

Plus - Jimothy the viral racoon, and another affiliate marketing scandal.

Top Comment is hosted by Marianna Spring and Matt Shea. The series producer is Laurie Kalus. The social producer is Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The editor is Justine Lang. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to get in touch about something that's popped up on your feed, our email address is [email protected] or you can send us a WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

You may already think crypto is overexposed online, but is what we're experiencing just the tip of the iceberg? On this episode, Matt talks about his new BBC documentary in which he meets some of the tech billionaires who believe blockchain can be used to transform the fabric of society. From micronations to corporate monarchies, we outline their radical vision for the future.

Also this week, why psychologists are worried about the growing trend of ADHD self-diagnosis via social media. A study from earlier this year said 52% of ADHD-related videos on TikTok were inaccurate. Matt and Marianna discuss the real world impacts, and why this type of misinformation can attract such high levels of engagement.

Plus, Erling Haaland's 'braut summer' in Agartha.

Top Comment is hosted by Marianna Spring and Matt Shea. The series producer is Laurie Kalus. The social producer is Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Jonny Baker. The editor is Justine Lang. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

You can watch Matt's full documentary, The Tech Billionaire Takeover, via this link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002z1j2

If you want to get in touch about something that's popped up on your feed, our email address is [email protected] or you can send us a WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Marianna is joined by guest host Rachel Connolly to journey into the lives of femcels, tradwives, and so-called loneliness influencers. As the merits of social isolation are preached on our feeds, why has solo-maxxing gone from a cheap Gen Z life hack to a dedicated philosophy for many users? How is the femosphere shifting conversations around gender dynamics and heteropessimism? And what does the tradwife trend tell us about the perils of pursuing authenticity as a creator in the volatile world of social media?

This episode of Top Comment was recorded live at Crossed Wires in Sheffield. It was presented by Marianna Spring. The series producer is Laurie Kalus. The social producer is Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The editor is Justine Lang. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to get in touch about something that's popped up on your feed, our email address is [email protected] or you can send us a WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

One year on from the BBC's investigation into the death of 23-year-old Paloma Shemirani - and two years since it happened - this episode of Top Comment explores what the case tells us about the dangers of medical misinformation.

Last June, Marianna revealed how Paloma’s brothers blamed their mother - the prominent anti-medicine conspiracy theorist Kate Shemirani - for Paloma’s decision to reject chemotherapy. She denies these allegations.

Now, we speak to Paloma's twin brother Gabriel about the aftermath of the inquest, what he wants to change to protect people like his sister, and the evolution of unregulated health advice online.

This episode of Top Comment is presented by Marianna Spring. The series producer is Laurie Kalus. The social producer is Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The editor is Justine Lang. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

To listen to the full series investigating Paloma's death, Marianna in Conspiracy Land 2, just follow the link here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002fcbh

If you want to get in touch about something that's popped up on your feed, our email address is [email protected] or you can send us a WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

After achieving 7% of the vote in last week's Makerfield by-election, the social-led strategy of emerging right-wing party Restore Britain has come under the spotlight. Various anecdotal reports have concluded that their relative success feels disproportionate to their presence on the ground, but their growing prominence online is inarguable - leader Rupert Lowe has over 2m followers across X and Facebook, and Elon Musk has repeatedly backed the party. So, was this a party born out of social media, and are they rejecting traditional campaigning? Marianna has been speaking to the party's chief strategist, Charlie Downes, about their approach and similar online movements which may have inspired them.

Also this week - as the World Cup group stage approaches its climax, internet discourse surrounding the tournament is already moving at a lightning pace. From the overnight fame of Vozinha and Merlin the duck to Lawrence, Kansas falling in love with the Algerian national team, it has provided a conveyor belt of viral moments. Matt and Marianna discuss whether global events like this represent an idealist vision of the benefits social media platforms could have, and why some may see it as the ultimate 'bread and circuses' distraction.

Top Comment is hosted by Marianna Spring and Matt Shea. The series producer is Laurie Kalus. The social producer is Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The editor is Justine Lang. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to get in touch about something that's popped up on your feed, our email address is [email protected] or you can send us a WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

The BookTok community has erupted after creator AllieRoseCo announced she had trademarked merchandise featuring the phrase 'Hot Girls Read'. User backlash was instantaneous, with many accusing her of attacking small businesses and even betraying her own followers. On this episode, Marianna explains why BookTok is such an influential marketing demographic on TikTok, and what this controversy tells us about the fragility of influencer careers tied exclusively to a personal brand.

Also this week, a viral photo which appears to show Donald Trump meeting with a group of mysterious figures has led to a raft of theories about their identities. One of the most prominent narratives to emerge is that the men are representatives of the mythical kingdom Agartha. Matt dives deep into the lore on Agartha, and its adoption by Nazi occultists. Why has this theory seen such a resurgence among young people on TikTok, and how dangerous is the implicit ideology behind it?

Top Comment is hosted by Marianna Spring and Matt Shea. The series producer is Laurie Kalus. The social producer is Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The editor is Justine Lang. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to get in touch about something that's popped up on your feed, our email address is [email protected] or you can send us a WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

After a second night of rioting in Belfast, social media companies are being accused of playing a role in creating disorder. Technology secretary Liz Kendall has said an update to the Online Safety Act will be brought to parliament next week, putting greater pressure on platforms to remove content which seeks to incite violence. On this episode, we explain why X is receiving particular scrutiny, and how its integrated AI chatbot Grok has fuelled misinformation surrounding cases from the murder of Henry Nowak to the deadly Bondi Beach shooting.

Also this week, with the UK government reportedly poised to announce significant restrictions for young people using social media, Matt and Marianna discuss how we got here. They examine some of the arguments for and against limits for under-16s, and ask whether a de facto ban could be reversible if companies address safety concerns.

Plus, another platform monetising dares, and the return of fake BBC crypto ads.

Top Comment is hosted by Marianna Spring and Matt Shea. The series producer is Laurie Kalus. The social producer is Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The editor is Justine Lang. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to get in touch about something that's popped up on your feed, our email address is [email protected] or you can send us a WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.