007 – When the Internet Tries to Help

Technology often presents itself as helpful — crowdsourcing answers, finding discounts, filling in gaps where systems fall short. But what happens when that help causes harm?

In Episode 007 of Logging In, Techie and Luna unpack two very different stories with the same underlying question. First, they reflect on how Reddit’s role in investigations has changed over time, comparing the Boston Marathon bombing aftermath with a recent local case in Rhode Island at Brown University and asking whether online crowds have actually learned from past mistakes — or if the risks have simply shifted.

In the second half, the conversation turns to the Honey browser extension and growing concerns about how coupon tools operate behind the scenes. From affiliate code overrides to data collection and lawsuits involving PayPal, the episode explores how “saving money” online can quietly impact creators, businesses, and users alike.

Across both topics, the episode asks a bigger question: when technology steps in to help, who is it really helping — and who pays the price?

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