Weaponized Attention, Holiday Cheer, and Unicorn Houses

Care Tech and Tips

In this episode, Barry and Bobby pull back the curtain on how social media platforms turn engagement into profit. They discuss how seemingly innocent viral posts — alien probes, heartwarming rescue stories, outrage memes — are part of a larger playbook designed to harvest your attention and cash it in.

They also talk about how this algorithmic manipulation affects older adults, from Facebook feeds to TV commercials targeting their fears and habits. The conversation naturally flows into practical caregiver strategies: recognizing manipulative messaging, understanding alert systems like Amber Alerts, and calming stressed loved ones when tech overwhelms them.

Later in the show, Barry shares a Medicare billing scam story involving fake catheter charges and offers practical reminders to check Explanation of Benefits statements. They also discuss holiday planning with loved ones in assisted living, Barry’s exciting progress with his dad’s house move, and strategies to make gatherings accessible and emotionally inclusive.

The episode closes on a reflective note: caregiver guilt, the importance of self-care, and how journaling (digital or analog) can help process the emotional weight of caregiving.