Outrage Industrial Complex

Bogus Time Magazine Cover

It just occurred to me that much of the outrage we see and hear in our digital information world is fueled by advertising. I suspect outrageous headlines get more clicks than clear ones, which means the ads on those pages are going to get more clicks, which means more ad revenue and maybe even more sales. Advertisers want clicks, so they are going to pay more for sites that post outrageous shit. Of course, the more outrageous the claims, the more people are going to be outraged and respond in a similarly outrageous manner, so it becomes a cyclone of outrageousness.

So most of what is being talked about is not what's important, but whatever will generate the most outrage, and that is totally determined by advertising dollars.