Middle Schoolers Used NPR Podcast Comments as a Secret Group Chat

A group of middle schoolers turned the Spotify comment section of NPR's Wild Card podcast into an unofficial group chat, likely because they were blocked from mainstream social media apps. The students deliberately chose a podcast with few existing comments to avoid detection. This American Life host Ira Glass investigated the phenomenon in a recent episode, speaking directly with the children involved. The incident highlights how young people find creative workarounds when access to social platforms is restricted. Showrunner Dave Blanchard initially had a different interpretation of the unusual comment activity before the full story emerged.