Hate and anger go hand in hand. When you’re angry, you’re driven to act—and that’s exactly what social media platforms are counting on. They thrive on the chaos of heated debates and fiery exchanges. It doesn’t matter how toxic things get, as long as you’re clicking, commenting, and sharing. For them, it’s all engagement, and engagement is gold.
But there’s a deeper issue. Over time, users become more hostile, less willing to engage in genuine conversations with those who think differently. Disagreements morph into judgment, and meaningful dialogue fades away.
Sure, social media gives us the option to report hateful or insulting content, but here’s the catch: you can’t report a feeling. Platforms may try to moderate what’s posted, but let’s be honest—they’re overwhelmed. With the sheer volume of posts flooding in every second, it’s impossible to catch it all. And often, they simply don’t try hard enough.
Further information
- Facebook can’t fix itself, an article by Andrew Marantz on [The New Yorker]
- Facebook Executives Shut Down Efforts to Make the Site Less Divisive, an article on The Wall Street Journal
- Bodies in seats, by Casey Newton on The Verge
- more