Parents have long been concerned about the impact of social media on their children, leading some young users to seek out alternative spaces online. In a recent episode of "This American Life," host Ira Glass shared a story about how some middle schoolers found a surprising place to connect: NPR's podcast "Wild Card." The team behind the show noticed an unusual pattern in the comments section of their Spotify episodes last fall. The messages were filled with confusing abbreviations and unclear emojis, which initially led a producer to believe they were generated by bots. The screenshots were shared in NPR's internal messaging app, Slack, and then reported to Spotify for further investigation. However, Hannah Chin, an audio producer and a Gen Z employee at NPR, quickly recognized the comments for what they were—not bot traffic, but messages from young users. According to Glass, she identified them as likely middle schoolers who were too young for mainstream social media platforms. These students were using the comments section of the podcast as a group chat, connecting with others who shared their interests. This wasn't the first time NPR had noticed similar behavior. Earlier in the year, the TED Radio Hour show had also seen similar activity from young listeners. When Glass reached out to one of the children to learn more, the response was both simple and telling. The student explained that they had chosen "Wild Card" because it was a podcast with few comments, making it an easy place to start a conversation. Glass, who has hosted "This American Life" for over 30 years, was both amused and slightly taken aback by the revelation. He remarked, "I tell you, buddy, I do a public radio show, and that hurts a little to hear." The story highlights how younger generations are finding their own ways to engage with media, often in spaces adults might not expect.