Outrage Addiction: Breaking Free from the Manufactured Anger Loop
2025-02-08
This article explores the phenomenon of "outrage addiction" in today's media landscape. Using a personal anecdote, the author illustrates how incomplete information leads to misdirected anger. It then details how media outlets, politicians, and social media platforms leverage algorithms and profit motives to commercialize anger, creating a continuous "outrage loop." This not only harms individual well-being but also hinders genuine social change. The article concludes by offering a three-step process: recognizing manipulation, gaming the algorithm, and finding more meaningful alternatives, to help readers break free from the outrage loop and regain control of their emotions and actions.