What happens when algorithms shape how young girls see themselves and who’s watching? In today’s episode, Marcus Arredondo sits down with Jennifer Valentino-DeVries to share the story behind her powerful investigation into the world of child influencers. They explore the hidden economies of social media, the role of data in uncovering systemic issues, and why transparency in tech matters more than ever. With warmth and clarity, Jennifer also reflects on her path into journalism, the writing process, and what keeps her pursuing the truth.

Jennifer Valentino-DeVries is an investigative reporter at The New York Times, where she uses novel datasets to uncover and explain complex issues, often focusing on the wide-reaching effects of technology on society. In 2022, she was part of the team awarded the Pulitzer Prize in National Reporting for exposing systemic failures in American policing that led to preventable deaths. Before joining The Times, she spent over a decade at The Wall Street Journal as an interactive producer, reporter, and member of the investigative team.

Episode highlights:

[0:00] Intro
[5:30] Tech, behavior, and addiction feedback loops
[6:57] Should social media be regulated?
[10:03] Lawsuits and liability in big tech
[13:21] Why Congress struggles with tech policy
[16:20] Advice for parents navigating tech
[18:58] Jennifer’s path into journalism
[28:47] Interviewing people with complexity
[35:33] Using data in investigative reporting
[42:29] Collaborative work
[47:27] The collapse of local journalism
[51:15] Winning a Pulitzer and what it means
[56:51] Her writing process and creative rhythm
[58:08] Outro