What Channing Tatum tells us about the psychology of burner accounts | Top Comment Podcast

After years spent sheltering from the public gaze, Hunter Biden re-entered the mainstream consciousness last summer via a surprise YouTube appearance alongside prominent alternative media figure Andrew Callaghan. The interview went viral, and ever since the embattled son of former president Joe Biden has seen his online reputation soar.

On this episode, Matt and Marianna track Biden Jr’s journey from ridicule to redemption, and ask whether he has fumbled that newly found following with a dubious crypto enterprise, an all-too-familiar fall from grace in the age of the internet.

Also this week, actor Channing Tatum has denied he is behind an Instagram ‘burner’ account which was critical of his ex-partners, despite being its only follower.

Sleuths had discovered comments across several posts which appeared to support him while calling out Jenna Dewan, Zoe Kravitz and others.

We discuss the broader phenomenon of anonymous celeb-run accounts, examples of identities being uncovered, and the psychology of lurking online.

Top Comment is hosted by Marianna Spring and Matt Shea.

Source: BBC News (video)