A Psychologist Explains Four Reasons the Internet Feels So Broken
Plain English with Derek Thompson
00:00
Truth Often Requires a Suboptimal Approach
Social media influencers and major media outlets are incentivized to produce negative content that garners more engagement, tapping into human psychology and attention metrics. This dynamic suggests that media is both manipulating audiences and catering to their preferences. For honest reporting that reflects reality, it's necessary to adopt editorial strategies that may not attract as much attention, as the truth is often less sensational and suboptimally phrased compared to the more engaging negative headlines that dominate. Striving for authenticity in media requires conscious efforts to resist the temptation of negative framing for the sake of virality.
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