Podcast Summary
The Power and Costs of Online Outrage: Online outrage can effectively gain attention and retweets, but it can also lead to disengagement, harm relationships, and consume individuals. Consider potential consequences before expressing outrage online.
Outrage, fueled by social media, has become a common response to a wide range of issues, from politics to pop culture. This emotion, which predates the current political climate, can be effective in gaining attention and retweets, but it also comes with costs. Outrage can lead to disengagement, and in some cases, it can consume individuals to the point of becoming unrecognizable to their friends and neighbors. A case in point is an incident where a Native American man was confronted by a group of high school students at the National Mall. The viral video of the encounter sparked outrage and accusations of racism, highlighting the power of outrage in shaping public discourse. However, it's important to remember that outrage can also lead to misunderstandings and harm relationships, making it essential to consider the potential consequences before expressing outrage online.
The Complexity of the Situation: Initial assumptions were incorrect, and it's crucial to consider all perspectives and context before jumping to conclusions.
The situation between the Catholic school students and the Native American man, as portrayed in the initial viral video, was more complex than it seemed. The longer video revealed that the Black Hebrew Israelites had been taunting the students before Nathan Phillips approached them. Additionally, the students were not chanting "build the wall" as previously assumed, and some were trying to make their friends laugh or being offensive. The student who was smirking at Phillips appeared nervous and unsure of how to react. It's essential to consider all perspectives and context before jumping to conclusions.
The Covington Catholic controversy: A reminder of social media's power and pitfalls: Social media can easily fuel the cycle of outrage with limited information. It's important to pause and wait for more facts before forming opinions and engaging in public discourse.
The Covington Catholic controversy serves as a reminder of the power and pitfalls of social media and the ease with which people can jump to conclusions based on limited information. Julie Irwin Zimmerman, who initially condemned the students based on a viral video, later admitted her mistake and wrote an essay about it. However, her essay was weaponized against liberals and progressives, highlighting the polarized nature of modern discourse and the cycle of outrage that feeds on misstatements, exaggerations, and errors. Despite the dangers of this cycle, it's crucial to pause and wait for more facts to emerge before forming opinions and engaging in public discourse.
Evolution of punishing behavior: Our brains reward us for punishing unfair behavior, but constant outrage and punishment through social media may not be productive.
Our reaction to outrage and the desire to punish wrongdoing is deeply rooted in human evolution. According to Yale psychologist Molly Crockett, our brains have evolved to give us a rewarding feeling when we punish someone for unfair behavior. This desire to punish not only benefits the group by deterring bad behavior, but also provides personal satisfaction for the punisher. However, in today's digital age, outrage and punishment can be expressed quickly and publicly through social media. While it may feel good to be the first to react and express our outrage, researchers question if this constant state of anger and punishment is truly accomplishing anything. The ground rules have changed, and the incentives to be the fastest and loudest in expressing outrage can often overshadow the actual impact of our actions. So, while our evolutionary past may have placed a bet on the importance of outrage and punishment, it's important to consider the context in which we express it and the potential consequences it may have.
The risks and consequences of expressing outrage on social media: Social media outrage can lead to a feedback loop, misinformation, misunderstandings, and severe consequences in a global context. Be mindful of sources and use responsibly.
The ease and global reach of expressing outrage on social media has amplified its use, but it comes with risks and consequences that were not present in smaller, face-to-face interactions. The lack of physical costs and the psychological rewards can lead to a feedback loop of outrage, making it hard to escape. People may even enjoy the vitriol, but it can also lead to misinformation and misunderstandings. The anecdote about Molly's experience with sharing a misleading article illustrates the importance of fact-checking and being mindful of the sources of our outrage. The consequences of outrage in a global context can be more severe and far-reaching than in small groups, and it's crucial to be aware of this and use social media responsibly.
The Power of Social Rewards and Emotional Language on Social Media: Social rewards, like approval from peers, are stronger motivators than chocolate or money. Emotional language in social media posts can increase engagement and shares, but can also create conflict and escalating emotions.
Social rewards, including approval from peers, are powerful motivators for learning and decision making, even surpassing the influence of chocolate or money. Social media amplifies this desire for approval, providing clear and quantifiable feedback through likes and shares. Research by psychology professor Jay Van Bevel at New York University reveals that using moral and emotional words in social media posts can significantly increase engagement and shares. These words, which include both positive and negative terms, can elicit strong reactions and spark outrage. While outrage can lead to real change and social movements, it can also create a cycle of conflicting opinions and escalating emotions. Understanding the power of social rewards and emotional language can help individuals and organizations effectively engage with audiences on social media.
Outrage may not be the best approach for creating meaningful change: Using outrage for persuasion may not be effective in bridging political divides and could lead to numbness and tuning out instead.
While outrage can be effective in spreading messages within an echo chamber and grabbing attention for personal gain, it may not be the best approach for persuading those with opposing views or creating meaningful change. Psychologist William Brady's research suggests that moral and emotional language, including outrage, can be effective for rallying the troops but less effective for bridging political divides. Social media platforms and broadcast outlets benefit from outrage as it increases engagement and holds our attention, often leading to a constant drip feed of outrage that can leave audiences numb and tuned out. Instead, consider using more nuanced language and engaging in respectful dialogue to foster understanding and meaningful connections.
The power and pitfalls of outrage: Outrage can lead to positive change but can also be used recklessly or for self-promotion, causing negative consequences. Refocus emotional energy on meaningful actions to make a difference.
The excessive expression of outrage on social media and in the news can lead to a noisy public sphere, making it difficult to discern important issues and take effective action. Outrage can also foster slacktivism, causing some people to feel they have done their part by expressing anger online instead of engaging in more impactful activities. While outrage has its place in society and can lead to positive change, it can also be used recklessly or for self-promotion, leading to negative consequences such as doxing, death threats, and echo chambers. To make a difference, it's essential to limit our consumption of outrage and refocus our emotional energy on meaningful actions, such as volunteering or engaging in civil discourse. In the end, it's crucial to remember that our capacity for outrage, honed over millennia, can be a powerful tool for change, but it must be used wisely.
