The “Sickfluencer” Witch Hunt

<p>Like clockwork, another article has created a moral panic about so-called “sickfluencers,” or people—usually women—who share online about their illnesses and disabilities. Critics argue that the rise of these diagnoses and creators is some kind of social contagion, with participants faking their symptoms for social media attention. But these fears are not just overblown—they’re harmful. On today’s show, host Kate Lindsay is joined by social psychologist <u><a href="https://drdevonprice.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Devon Price</a></u>, author of <em>Unmasking Autism</em> and <em>Laziness Does Not Exist</em>, to discuss the realities of this trend, and why so much of the criticism is rooted in sexism. </p><br><p>This podcast is produced by Vic Whitley-Berry, Daisy Rosario, and Kate Lindsay.</p><p>Need to set up your Slate Plus feed? If you subscribed through Slate.com, check out our <a href="https://slate.com/podcastfaqs#plusbenefits" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FAQ</a> at slate.com/podcastfaqs for easy instructions. Members subscribed via Apple Podcasts get automatic access—no setup required.</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>