‘The internet is vicious and toxic, but I’d never go back to the 90s’: Taylor Lorenz talks to Monica Lewinsky

The millennial tech journalist speaks with the activist about surviving merciless harassment, the media's double standards on gender, and why they still have hope

Occasionally, during an otherwise impassioned conversation about mental health, social media and the perils of being online while female, Taylor Lorenz and Monica Lewinsky will start laughing. It is usually Lewinsky who lightens the mood, as when Lorenz says: The biggest mistake of my career was going on MSNBC and trusting a reporter," to which Lewinsky replies: Not mine!", then starts chuckling.

The pair are convening on Zoom with the Guardian for the release of Lorenz's new book, Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence and Power on the Internet.