Podcast Summary: "Why We Care What Other People Think & How Social Media is Shaping Language"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Something You Should Know
• Host: Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media
• Episode Title: Why We Care What Other People Think & How Social Media is Shaping Language
• Release Date: August 4, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of Something You Should Know, host Mike Carruthers delves into two compelling topics: the psychological underpinnings of why women tend to need reading glasses earlier than men, and the intricate ways in which social media algorithms are transforming language. Additionally, the episode touches upon the often-debated subject of the correct way to hang a roll of toilet paper. Through insightful interviews with experts Meg Josephson, a psychotherapist, and Adam Oleksik, a linguist, the episode unpacks these diverse subjects with depth and clarity.

Why Women Usually Need Reading Glasses Sooner Than Men

Key Discussion Points:

• Presbyopia Explained: As people age, the eye's lens stiffens, reducing the ability to focus on close objects, leading to presbyopia—a common reason for needing reading glasses.
• Gender Differences: Research indicates that women typically develop presbyopia earlier than men. The primary reason is anatomical: women generally have shorter arm lengths, causing them to hold reading materials closer to their faces. This proximity accelerates the stiffening of the lens, leading to blurred vision sooner.

Notable Quote:

"Since their arms are shorter, they hold the material closer. And that causes problems with focus and blurred vision sooner."
— Mike Carruthers [07:10]

Conclusion: The difference in the onset of reading glasses need between genders is primarily anatomical, stemming from shorter arm lengths in women. This finding underscores the importance of ergonomic considerations in daily habits to potentially delay the onset of presbyopia.

People Pleasing: Why We Care What Others Think

Guest: Meg Josephson, Psychotherapist and Author of "Are You Mad at Me? How to Stop Focusing on What Others Think and Start Living for You."

Key Discussion Points:

1. Understanding People Pleasing:

   • Definition: People pleasers excessively seek approval and fear disapproval, often compromising their own needs to maintain harmony.
   • Origins: This behavior often stems from childhood experiences where maintaining a relationship's harmony was crucial for emotional safety, especially in volatile or critical households.

2. The Fawn Response:

   • Explanation: Meg introduces the concept of the "fawn response," an instinctual reaction to perceived threats by appeasing them. For example, complimenting a seemingly upset boss to alleviate tension.
   • Impact: While initially protective, the fawn response can become exhausting and lead to burnout when overused in adulthood.

3. Spotlight Effect:

   • Definition: The tendency to overestimate how much others notice and judge our actions.
   • Implications: People pleasers may believe that others are constantly evaluating them, leading to unnecessary anxiety and self-blame.

4. Strategies to Overcome People Pleasing:

   • Regulation Over Reaction: Instead of immediately responding to perceived threats, individuals should take a moment to calm themselves and assess the situation objectively.
   • Trust and Communication: Encouraging direct communication and trusting others to express their feelings can reduce the need for constant reassurance.
   • Validation vs. Reassurance: Shifting from seeking reassurance ("Are you mad at me?") to seeking validation ("I've been feeling distant lately. Can we talk?") fosters healthier relationships.

Notable Quotes:

"We're not trying to shut that voice out, but instead trying to create a relationship to that voice."
— Meg Josephson [14:06]

"Sometimes we need to fawn when our body is detecting a threat. Whether that threat is real... or perceived."
— Meg Josephson [09:31]

Conclusion: People pleasing is a deeply ingrained behavior often rooted in early life experiences. By recognizing the fawn response and understanding the spotlight effect, individuals can adopt healthier communication strategies, reduce unnecessary anxiety, and build more authentic relationships.

How Algorithms and Social Media Are Shaping Language

Guest: Adam Oleksik, Linguist and Author of "How Social Media is Transforming the Future of Language."

Key Discussion Points:

1. Influencer Accents and Speech Patterns:

   • Development of an Influencer Accent: Influencers often use specific speech patterns—like raising their voice at the end of sentences—to maintain viewer engagement, driven by algorithmic preferences for high attention.
   • Replication of Success: Successful content creators establish speech habits that others imitate, leading to widespread adoption of certain accents or intonations online.

2. Emergence of New Slang and Memes:

   • Algorithm-Driven Language: Social media algorithms promote content that retains user attention, encouraging the creation and dissemination of catchy or attention-grabbing slang terms.
   • Examples of New Terms: Words like "unalive" (used instead of "dead") and "skibidi" illustrate how new vocabulary emerges from online trends and memes.

3. Contextual Evolution of Words:

   • Euphemisms and Doublespeak: The term "unalive" serves as a euphemism to bypass censorship on platforms like TikTok, reflecting a broader trend of creating indirect language to express sensitive topics.
   • Persistency and Longevity: While some algorithmically driven words falter over time (e.g., "fug"), others like "side eye" and "function" have gained traction and exhibit staying power.

4. Impact on Offline Language:

   • Influence on Real-Life Speech: As users adopt online speech patterns, these influences bleed into offline interactions, subtly altering everyday language.
   • Generational Differences: Younger generations, particularly middle schoolers, actively adopt and propagate new slang as a means of identity formation and differentiation from adults.

5. Emojis as Evolving Language:

   • Functionality: Emojis are used to replace words, signal tone, or convey aesthetic vibes, mirroring the versatility of words in language.
   • Dynamic Meanings: The meanings of emojis evolve rapidly, driven by meme lifecycles and shifting user preferences (e.g., the "crying laughing" emoji transitioning to the "skull" emoji for similar expressions).

6. Censorship and Language Adaptation:

   • Platform Policies: Platforms like TikTok implement censorship policies that lead to the creation of alternative terms to bypass restrictions (e.g., "unalive" for "dead").
   • Cultural Reactions: These adaptations often face backlash as users perceive them as awkward or insincere, yet they persist as part of the language evolution process.

Notable Quotes:

"We've seen the development of a full Influencer accent... engineered to keep your attention online."
— Adam Oleksik [33:31]

"Language is a social thing... Children particularly like adopting new words because it's a way to build their own identity and differentiate themselves from adults."
— Adam Oleksik [51:04]

Conclusion: Social media algorithms play a pivotal role in shaping contemporary language by promoting speech patterns and slang that maximize user engagement. This dynamic interplay between technology and linguistics fosters the rapid evolution of language, influencing both online and offline communication. While some new terms gain lasting acceptance, others fade as quickly as they emerge, reflecting the transient nature of digital language trends.

The Great Toilet Paper Debate

Key Discussion Points:

• Over vs. Under: The age-old debate on whether toilet paper should hang over or under the roll.
• Historical Perspective: According to Seth Wheeler's original 1891 patent drawings, the paper should hang over the roll. However, there's no explicit written directive, leaving the debate largely a matter of personal or aesthetic preference.
• Practical Considerations:
  • Over: Aesthetically pleasing, less likely to unravel by pets.
  • Under: Easier to access, potentially more hygienic by reducing contact with surfaces.

Notable Quote:

"If over is the way the inventor visualized it, his vote should carry some weight."
— Mike Carruthers [52:26]

Conclusion: The orientation of toilet paper rolls remains a subjective preference with no definitive right or wrong answer. Historical patents suggest an over-hanging orientation, but practical and aesthetic considerations continue to fuel the ongoing debate.

Final Thoughts

This episode of Something You Should Know offers listeners a multifaceted exploration of human behavior and linguistic evolution influenced by societal norms and technological advancements. From understanding the psychological roots of people pleasing to unraveling the complex ways social media molds our language, Mike Carruthers provides a platform for insightful discussions that encourage self-awareness and adaptability in an ever-changing world.

Note: All timestamps correspond to the podcast's transcript and are included to reference the context of notable quotes.