Sussex & Surrey Soapbox: Mental Health - has social media turned neighbours into enemies?
The latest episode of the Sussex & Surrey Soapbox Podcast tackles one of the biggest tensions shaping modern community life: has social media turned neighbours into enemies?
Hosted by Clive Hilton, the diverse Roundtable features special guest Michelle Lucas alongside Maureen Jones, Micaela Leal, Georgie Lucas, Aga Es, Abigail Chapman-Miller, James Tidy and Magdalena Rahman.
Recorded in the aftermath of the 7 May local elections, the discussion explores the growing hostility of online debate, the personal impact of trolling on local political candidates, and whether algorithms reward outrage more than respectful conversation.
Panellists debate anonymity, cancel culture, online abuse, “keyboard warrior” behaviour, and the effect social media may be having on democracy, loneliness, and younger generations.
The episode reflects the podcast’s wider mission: creating balanced, human conversations where differing viewpoints can challenge each other respectfully while searching for common ground on the issues affecting Sussex & Surrey communities.
Sussex & Surrey Soapbox: available across all podcast platforms with soundbites on SUSY 103.4 Sunday from 10am and Meridian 107 Sunday from 8pm.
This episode can be heard in full: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2591386/episodes/19119721.