LIFITV Episode 6: Joe Tidy and Katy Leeson on whether it’s time to switch off social media
Most of us pick up our phones more than 100 times a day. We usually don’t notice we’re doing it, often don’t know why, and rarely put the phone down feeling any better.
On Friday 9 October, Is it time to switch off social media? came to the Courtyard Theatre at Leeds Playhouse. BBC cyber correspondent Joe Tidy hosted Dr Sophie Bishop, Mark Farid, Katy Leeson and Tulisa for a debate on influencer culture, misinformation and doomscrolling.
Between them, Joe and Katy have seen both sides. Katy spent years as managing director of Social Chain, building audiences online. Joe spends his days reporting on what happens when it all goes wrong.
Before they went on stage, they joined us for Episode 6 of LIFITV to talk about what our feeds are doing to us, and whether switching off is really the answer.
What is LIFITV?
LIFITV is our behind-the-scenes series from Leeds International Festival of Ideas 2026, filmed in a pop-up studio at Leeds Playhouse throughout festival week. They’re short, unpolished conversations with our speakers and hosts, often moments after they’ve come off stage.
Episode 6 is out now on the LIFI YouTube channel, with more episodes to come over the next few weeks.
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