The right dominates the online media ecosystem, seeping into sports, comedy, and other supposedly nonpolitical spaces

A new Media Matters analysis found 9 out of the 10 top online shows assessed are right-leaning

As Americans increasingly get their news from online shows and streamers, the influence of this media ecosystem becomes more prominent — and Media Matters has found that the most popular of this content is overwhelmingly right-leaning.

In a new study, Media Matters assessed the audience size of popular online shows — podcasts, streams, and other long-form audio and video content regularly posted online. To do so, we gathered data on the number of followers, subscribers, and views across streaming platforms (YouTube, Spotify, Rumble, Twitch, and Kick) and social media platforms that are used to amplify and promote these shows (Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok). Apple Podcasts does not publicly provide follower counts on its platform, so it was not included in the audience data.

This analysis was based on 320 online shows with a right-leaning or left-leaning ideological bent. We found that right-leaning online shows dominate the ecosystem, with substantially larger audiences on both politics/news shows and supposedly nonpolitical shows that we determined often platformed ideological content or guests.

  • Lyrl@lemm.ee
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    10 hours ago

    The “society and culture” and “comedy” topics are only slightly right-skewed, which seems representative of the US voting behavior with Republicans winning more elections but not by much.

    The non-political topics with political sprinkles are interesting, and where the right overwhelms the left. People don’t listen to these shows because of the politics - they are there for the sports talk, or the discussion on getting and staying healthy, or for some inspiration and spiritual reflection - but the political sprinkles aren’t enough to drive them away. Does anyone see a path to a left-leaning host attracting significant audiences for mainly sports or wellness or spirituality, with occasional progressive sprinkles?

    • easily3667@lemmus.org
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      8 hours ago

      Not really, left leaning people always have the same problem: something that could reasonably called a set of morals (other than might makes right).

      Your examples are toxic masculinity, diet grifters, and metaphysical grifters. It’s hard to square a sense of right and wrong with grifting.

      I think you might be able to make inroads with women’s sports but…you need already toxic men to care.

      You could make a diet show that does actual medicine, but the advice would be eat less, especially less meat and less alcohol. Eat green stuff instead. Go outside every day. Can’t make a long lasting show on this because it’s stable advice…this is why you need a grifter to make the show last, the content just doesn’t support the show.

      Not gonna bother with metaphysical grifting, we get it.

      • Lyrl@lemm.ee
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        7 hours ago

        I have gotten a lot of social connections and philosophy learning through my congregation, consumed a variety of exercise safety and effectiveness tips, enjoyed discovering recipes that fit with my lifestyle and dietary preferences (many of which contribute healthy variety to my food intake), and get positive feelings finding spaces that share experiences and tips around specific health conditions I have. It’s sad to see all of those experiences cast as me being a victim of grifting.