How the Attention Economy Feeds Conflict

"The attention economy stokes conflict, turning social media platforms into merchants of hate. One part of this dynamic concerns upsetting stories that get to the top of the feed. But why does attention run to the latest sensational murder rather than some good-news story? Social media algorithms are designed to give the most visibility to disturbing stories. 1 However, the algorithms work as they do because of the way that the attention systems of our brains evolved."

"The critical job of the brain's attention system is to alert us to dangers so that we can avoid harm and survive. Animals that did not have effective warning systems were taken by predators in large numbers and left few offspring to perpetuate their easygoing ways. This is not just a theoretical scenario. Many islands have few large predators, and animals that would fall prey elsewhere become extraordinarily tame."

The attention economy prioritizes content that captures eyeballs, often promoting upsetting or sensational stories that provoke fear. Human attention systems evolved to detect threats rapidly, biasing perception toward danger to increase survival chances. Social media algorithms reinforce these biases by giving higher visibility to disturbing or provocative material, creating feedback loops that magnify anxiety and conflict. Evolutionary examples show that reduced predation leads to tamer behavior, illustrating how environmental pressures shape attention. Community-based platforms have demonstrated that alternative social media designs can reduce conflict and present lower-conflict interactions compared with attention-maximizing mainstream platforms. Designing platforms to prioritize community norms and constructive content can counteract attention-driven harm.

Read at Psychology Today