The internet and the social platforms that exist there have been both an interesting and unsettling experiment. When we look back at how it’s changed—and changed us—one can only wonder whether we are better or worse off because of it.

The web can be a useful tool for connection and amplify some of the more unsettling parts of society.  This plays out with consumer reviews. While being a useful way to find out the quality and value of an item or service, reviews can have unintended consequences.

Some issues with review platforms stem from walking the tightrope between serving customers and businesses. It’s also hard to be truly representative when not everyone decides to leave reviews. 

Michael Luca is a professor at Johns Hopkins whose work focuses on the design of online platforms. He joined the show to provide some perspective on how platforms work and tell us why all of this matters.

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New music discovery from El Michels Affair & Rogê, Women In Jazz & Rosa Brunello, Girls of the Internet, Blood Orange, Dijon, Georgie Sweet and more.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for September 8, 2025

• “Super Strut” – Deodato
• “Mágica” – El Michels Affair & Rogê
• “Uno Bruno Uno” – Women In Jazz & Rosa Brunello
• “Carry Me Higher (Elite Mix) [10 Inch Version]” – The Blessed Madonna, Joy Anonymous & Danielle Ponder
• “Affirmations (feat. Anelisa Lamola) [Extended Mix]” – Girls of the Internet
• “Song For You (Mansionair Remix)” – Rhye
• “Mind Loaded (feat. Caroline Polachek, Lorde & Mustafa)” – Blood Orange
• “Vivid Light” – Blood Orange
• “YUKON” – Justin Bieber
• “Another Baby!” – Dijon
• “My Love” – Metronomy & Nourished by Time
• “Yeah Yeah” – Bubaza
• “Its My House (Special Disco Version)” – Risco Connection
• “La La La (Hard Version) Pt 1” – Segun Bucknor
• “Hard Times” – Baby Huey & The Baby Sitters
• “The Ones We Loved” – Georgie Sweet
• “Angles Mortz” – Nightbus
• “Sending All My Love Out” – Emerson
• “What Is Love” – Dee-Lite
• “Rearrange” – Sextile
• “Ankle Injuries” – Fujiya & Miyagi
• “Guess I’m Fallin In Love” – Spoon
• “Get Sun (feat. Arthur Verocai)” – Hiatus Kaiyote
• “Life Is Beautiful” – Larry June, 2 Chainz & The Alchemist
• “No Bad Vibes (feat. MARISA DARGAHI & Joe Webb)” – Bluewerks & DARGZ
• “Road To Nowhere” – Rogê
• “More Than A Woman (triple j Like A Version)” – Lazy Eyes
• “Constellation” – The Circling Sun
• “Rolling With A Planet (Vocal Mix)” – Ari Roze
• “Zannik” – Khaled Al Reigh
• “Illegal Hit” – Yttling Jazz
• “Ikuchi” – Jimi Tenor & Cold Diamond & Mink
• “Yègellé Tezeta” – Mulatu Astatke

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.