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We're Performing for an Audience of Machines

We are kept angry, reactive, and sure we’re right. Because that reaction is profitable and mutes our power.

When anger is tied to an expectation, like winning an argument or exacting revenge, the brain rewards that behavior with a dopamine boost, making us feel engaged, energized, and righteous. Networks like Fox News and MSNBC focus more on who’s to blame than on what solutions exist, catering to specific ideological beliefs that keep viewers loyal to their emotional brand. The algorithms feast on our outrage, transforming genuine anger into corporate profits while leaving us with the hollow satisfaction of having “done something.” In reality, we’re performing for an audience of machines, our emotions registering as data points and engagement metrics.

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