Algospeak

Jan 9, 2026, 10:00 AM25 min

Adam Aleksic's Roman Empire is how algorithms are changing the way we all use words. This week Endless Thread gets algospeak-pilled and learns how "unalive" evolved from a kids' Spider-Man cartoon to TikTok mental health communities trying to avoid censorship; what we're really saying when we identify with a "goblin-core" aesthetic, and whether this all means we're "cooked."

Adam Aleksic's Roman Empire is language, particularly how algorithms are changing the way we all use words. This week, Endless Thread gets algospeak-pilled and learns how "unalive" spread from a kids' Spider-Man cartoon to TikTok mental health communities trying to avoid censorship; what we're really saying when we say we're "goblin-core," and whether this all means we're "cooked." Show notes: Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language This episode was produced by Grace Tatter, edited by Meg Cramer, and co-hosted by Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson. Mix and sound design by Paul Vaitkus.