Most of us know the internet isn't a particularly private place. Yet there's a certain feeling of anonymity that comes with sharing online — our words and stories mixed in with millions of others. It's easy to think no one is watching.

But your data isn't just vulnerable to prying eyes. It's for sale. And the government is buying it up to keep a closer eye on you — and all of us.

This week, hosts Amory and Ben take a chilling look at how our social media is used for surveillance with Dell Cameron, an investigative reporter with WIRED covering privacy and national security.

• ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team (WIRED)
• Homeland Security Wants Social Media Sites to Expose Anti-ICE Accounts (The New York Times)
• ICE has spun a massive surveillance web. We talked to people caught in it (NPR)
• To reach Endless Thread on Signal: 646-456-9095

This episode was originally published on March 21, 2025.

There are moments that define each of our lives. Some we can predict: graduations, marriages, births, deaths. Others? Not so much.

And in the year 2025, when the stars aligned just so, you may have found that moment explode online.

That's what happened to 23-year-old Adrián Simancas. Last year in Feb. 2025, Adrián was paddling the Straight of Magellan, with his father Dell, when the unimaginable happened: a humpback whale emerged from the water and engulfed him in its open mouth — and his father captured it all on video. Almost immediately, the video went viral.

Simancas sat down with Endless Thread to discuss his whale tale, the deluge of attention that followed, and what he's learned from his intimate moment with nature.

Show notes:

• Video of Adrián's whale encounter. We originally saw it on the Reddit thread: r/ThatsInsane
• Adrián Simanca's Youtube channel
• Dell Simanca's Youtube channel
• Did a whale swallow a kayaker? The truth behind the viral video (NPR)

Sit back, relax and get cozy. As a matter of fact, why not put on your baggiest of clothes and burrow down in your snuggiest of blankets? This week on Endless Thread, Ben and Amory are comfy-maxxing. They'll discuss how the internet is delivering comfort right now, including a look at delicious foods from childhood and an intriguing tip on how to sleep better at night.

Show notes:

• Calling all dad's... Whats your easy go to dinners?! (Reddit)
• What’s your favorite comfort food from your culture? (Reddit)
• My weird but effective sleep trick: pretend I’m a medieval peasant (Reddit)
• Amory's favorite vegan mozzarella recipe by Miyoko Schinner