Marianna Spring

Marianna Spring is the BBC's Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent, renowned for her investigative work exposing the real-world impact of online misinformation, conspiracy theories and social media harm. An award-winning journalist, she presents high-profile documentaries including the acclaimed podcast series Marianna in Conspiracyland and Why Do You Hate Me, and co-hosts BBC Americast alongside Sarah Smith and Justin Webb. Named British Press Guild Audio Presenter of the Year and a Royal Television Society Innovation winner, she has also authored Among the Trolls, exploring the consequences of disinformation and polarisation. Marianna equips audiences with critical insights into how social media shapes democracy, society and elections, empowering organisations to navigate the challenges of our digital age.

When Marianna Spring uncovered her first major exclusive on domestic violence in Russia as a news reporter for the Guardian, she had already begun to trace the threads that would define her career: the human stories behind social and digital harm. That early investigative instinct led her to become the BBC's first Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent, a role she has shaped into one of the most vital beats in modern journalism. From presenting the acclaimed podcast series Marianna in Conspiracyland and Why Do You Hate Me to co-hosting BBC Americast alongside Sarah Smith and Justin Webb, she has built a body of work that exposes the real-world consequences of online misinformation, conspiracy theories and algorithmic harm. Her investigations have taken her deep into the UK conspiracy movement, into cases of social media abuse targeting women and young people, and across the Atlantic to explore disinformation shaping democracy and elections.

Marianna's credibility rests on rigorous, original reporting across multiple platforms. She has fronted high-profile investigations for BBC Panorama, BBC Three and BBC Radio 4, uncovering the tactics of conspiracy theorists who target survivors of terror attacks, examining the evolution of Twitter under Elon Musk, and revealing how social media algorithms impact teenagers. Her work has earned her the British Press Guild's Audio Presenter of the Year award and a Royal Television Society Innovation prize. She is also the author of Among the Trolls, a book that explores the consequences of disinformation, hate and online polarisation through encounters with committed conspiracy theorists and their victims. A graduate of the University of Oxford with expertise in French and Russian, Marianna combines linguistic skill with investigative rigour, reporting on disinformation globally across health, elections, foreign interference and online abuse. In 2026, she is set to launch a new weekly podcast with investigative journalist Matt Shea, examining the stories behind social media feeds, alongside further documentary projects.

Marianna equips audiences with the critical tools to navigate an increasingly complex digital landscape. Her presentations demystify how algorithms shape public opinion, how conspiracy movements gain traction, and why online hate escalates into real-world harm. She offers organisations practical insights into recognising disinformation, understanding the forces polarising society, and protecting their people and reputations in an era where social media influences everything from workplace culture to democratic processes. Audiences leave with a sharper understanding of the digital forces shaping their world and the confidence to respond with clarity, responsibility and informed action.