Ep 266: Is Social Media Making Our Teens Angry?

Tobias Rose-Stockwell, author of Outrage Machine, clues us in to
how social media platforms manipulate emotions to keep us
scrolling and riles us up. We talk about how the internet
influences our beliefs and the pursuit of truth over winning
arguments.





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Full Show Notes


It’s hard to deny that public discourse, especially online, has
taken an ugly turn over the past decade. Social media sites,
which we all once heralded as revolutionary tools for connection
and change, now seem to breed anxiety, arguments, and even
despair.


So what happened? Is there something inherently wrong with us, or
have these sites changed over time in ways we haven’t fully
grasped?


This week, we’re here with writer and media researcher Tobias
Rose-Stockwell to investigate the psychological underpinnings of
sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Tobias is the author
of Outrage Machine: How Tech Amplifies Discontent, Disrupts
Democracy, and What We Can Do About It.


In his work, Tobias has uncovered how social media sites have
increasingly capitalized on innate quirks in human psychology to
keep us outraged, divided, and always scrolling for more.


The Science of “Doomscrolling”


You may have found yourself getting sucked into heated arguments
and disturbing news stories online, unable to look away even when
you want to. As it turns out, this phenomenon called
“doomscrolling” is no accident.


As Tobias explains, human brains have evolved to rapidly take
note of potential threats and dangers. We’re primed to focus our
attention on the outrageous, salacious, and emotional parts of
our environment — likely because paying attention to hazards
helped early humans survive.


Social media sites have now wired themselves to tap into these
psychological instincts. Features like personalized news feeds
surface the most emotional and provocative content first, since
data shows we’re most likely to engage with those posts. The
results? We can’t peel our eyes away from our feeds, even when
what we’re seeing stresses us out.


Designed for Division


Outrage and disagreement may keep us glued to our screens, but
they’re also highly divisive. So how do sites incentivize us to
spar?


As Tobias describes, social media platforms highlight content
that drives “meaningful social interactions” — comments, shares,
likes, and other measurable forms of engagement. As a result,
posts showcasing arguments and moral outrage tend to get boosted
to the top of our feeds.


We’re also psychologically primed to take sides when we witness
fights unfolding and controversy brewing. Tobias explains that
even if the topic itself doesn’t affect us, we feel inclined to
pick a team, stake our claim online, and stand our ground.


Meanwhile, the platforms continue serving up divisive content,
because that’s what keeps pulling us back in.


Escaping the Outrage Machine


If social media sites structurally pit us against each other, is
there any hope for nuanced public discourse? How might we escape
from the outrage machine?


As Tobias advises, simply being aware of how these sites
manipulate us is an important first step. When we understand the
psychological hooks they use to capture our attention, we can be
more conscious about how and when we engage.


Beyond that, Tobias offers tips for having healthier dialogues
both on and offline. He advises focusing conversations around
shared truths rather than fixating on disagreements. Ground rules
can also help, like assuming good intentions in those we speak
with.


If you found this glimpse into the outrage machine illuminating,
be sure to check out the full episode. Tobias offers so many more
insights that help explain the current landscape of social media.
Understanding what’s behind the curtain is the first step to
using these sites more deliberately, and combatting their most
toxic effects.


Sponsored by Equip: Eating disorder treatment
that works—delivered at home. Visit equip.health/talking for more
information, and a free consultation.