The Truth Behind The Rise of 'Robot Racism'

SUPPORT ME ON PATREON

Buy a subscription to my Tech and Online Culture newsletter, User Magazine to support my work!!!! 🙏

People on TikTok, YouTube and X are recreating 1950s style racism towards robots. Using slurs like “clanker,” “wireback,” and “cogsucker,” content creators are framing robots as a marginalized group, parodying old racist stereotypes in a retro aesthetic. The videos have gone viral and amassed millions of views.

But while you might think this is just an excuse for creators to be racist, the trend reflects something a lot deeper. I dive deep into the phenomenon of "robot racism" or "robophobia" and unpack where these terms like clanker are coming from, what they say about our culture and society, automation, exploitation, and how technology is entangled with race and power.

I worked so hard on this video, if you like it please support me on Patreon where I publish bonus episodes, monthly livestreams, and more!

Follow me:

https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz

https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0

https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz