Many will have come across clips on social media of gurus making bold statements about popular topics relating to health, relationships, and finance. But how much stock can we hold in the information and advice being shared? Incorrect information on social media causes financial and emotional harm.
Claire Jarrett, a marketing consultant and founder of Jarrett Digital has explained that content creators often post short-form content on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube designed to look like snippets from real podcasts to generate controversy and drive engagement.
Jarrett has shared her top tips for spotting when creators are faking podcast clips to generate viral short-form content.
No evidence of a full podcast episode
“If the clip is less than 60 seconds long and there is no link in the description of the video directing you to the full podcast conversation, it’s likely you’re dealing with a staged clip, says Jarrett.
“First, check if there’s a full podcast episode available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. If the clip doesn’t appear anywhere within a longer episode or the episode doesn’t exist, it’s likely that this, and multiple short videos, have been faked for social media,” she adds.
Uses a repeated format across clips
“Creators who fake their podcast clips will often batch record multiple clips in one sitting as part of this strategy. Look out for whether they are using the same camera angles, lighting, and clothing despite talking about vastly different topics.”
“Some content creators will also only show themselves as part of the podcast clip. This is a common way to tell they are unlikely to be having a genuine conversation with another person off camera,” continues Jarrett.
Unnatural or scripted dialogue
“A tell-tale sign you’re watching a fake podcast clip is that the content feels too scripted or rehearsed,” she says.
“Like regular conversations, genuine podcasts are prone to interruptions between speakers and use of filler words as they are typically recorded over a longer period. If the dialogue sounds too polished or there is perfect timing between the two speakers, it is likely it has been scripted for short-form content.”
The microphone is being used as a prop
“Short-form content will often feature a microphone in the shot to emulate the feel that the clip has been taken from a genuine podcast. Monitor the microphone closely to see if the speaker is clearly audible even when they are moving their mouth away from it.”
Furthermore: “If the audio sounds perfect and doesn’t reflect how the person is using the microphone, it is likely being used as a stage prop to try and sell the illusion”.
The clip timing is too perfect
“If every short-form clip follows a perfect pattern or structure, it could indicate that it isn’t legitimate. Fake clips commonly start with a controversial or polarizing statement within the first 3–5 seconds, designed to hook the viewer and increase retention,” notes Jarrett.
“If the clips are all below 60 seconds and are a similar length, it’s likely they have been engineered to game the algorithm on TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram rather than being taken from real conversations”.
