# Episode 245: I'm With The Brand (bots in the algorithm), part six

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/clotheshorse-with-amanda-lee-mccarty-154275/episode-245-i-m-with-the-brand-bots-in-the-algorithm-part-six
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/clotheshorse-with-amanda-lee-mccarty-154275/episode-245-i-m-with-the-brand-bots-in-the-algorithm-part-six.md
Podcast: [Clotheshorse with Amanda Lee McCarty](https://stenobird.com/podcast/clotheshorse-with-amanda-lee-mccarty-154275)
Published: 2025-10-13T19:51:53+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/b5cbe400
Audio file: https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/pdst.fm/e/media.transistor.fm/b5cbe400/8425a4da.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/clotheshorse-with-amanda-lee-mccarty-154275/episodes/episode-245-i-m-with-the-brand-bots-in-the-algorithm-part-six
Duration seconds: 8901

## Resource

This episode is part six in an ongoing series about brands and how they influence our identities and drive consumerism. In this episode, we'll unpack how social media has been harnessed as a tool to drive trends, spread misinformation, and create influence. Also, Corinna, Cat, Bonnie, Kevin, and Miriam share their own thoughts about brands, loyalty, and consumerism. In this episode: What is an algorithm anyway? Why do Amanda and Dustin have very different social media feeds, despite sharing many common interests? How does social media distort our perception of reality? What do Cracker Barrel, the 2024 election, and Amber Heard have in common? Some upcoming election shoutouts from Amanda Additional reading: Link between excessive social media use and psychiatric disorders (study) "Cracker Barrel had good reasons to rebrand. But after its new logo misfired, here’s what’s next," Dee-Ann Durbin, AP. "Cracker Barrel Is Making A Major Change & Customers Are NOT Happy: 'It's Giving Soulless'," Amanda Mactas, Delish. Why fast food restaurants look the same (video) "Cracker Barrel Outrage Was Almost Certainly Driven by Bots, Researchers Say," AJ Dellinger, Gizmodo. "Amber Heard vs the Internet: An Organised Smear Campaign?," BBC. "Hot Topic Is Still Hot," Paula Mejia, The New York Times. ALSO: get your tickets for Clotheshorse LIVE! 10/23 Seattle, WA @ Here-After 10/26 Portland, OR @ Holocene Get your Clotheshorse merch here: https://clotheshorsepodcast.com/shop/ If you want to share your opinion/additional thoughts on the subjects we cover in each episode, feel free to email, whether it’s a typed out message or an audio recording: amanda@clotheshorse.world Did you enjoy this episode? Consider "buying me a coffee" via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/clotheshorse Clotheshorse is brought to…

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