Are 62 Million Men In An Online "Rape Academy?"

This episode of ICYMI tackles the viral misinterpretation of a CNN investigation into a Telegram group chat linked to a porn site called Motherless.com, which hosts videos of sexual activity during sleep. The story, which gained traction under the false claim that 62 million men were part of an 'online rape academy,' is dissected by host Kate Lindsay and guest Kat Tenbarge. They clarify that the 62 million figure refers to website visits, not users in the chat, which likely had fewer than 1,000 members. The episode emphasizes how misinformation—amplified by social media accounts like @Feminist—can distort public understanding, weaponize trauma, and obscure real solutions. The hosts explore the deeper systemic issues: the long-standing nature of non-consensual drugging and sexual assault, the failure of legal and social systems to support survivors, and the dangerous political exploitation of outrage to push for internet censorship laws like the repeal of Section 230. They argue that while the problem is real and urgent, the response must be grounded in truth, not fear, and that protecting free speech and survivor platforms is essential to justice.