The Internet’s Dirty Little Secret: Why We’re All Addicted to Outrage

I’m Tired of Being Mad All the Time

Look, I’m gonna say it: the internet is making us all insane. And I should know, I’ve been a journalist for 22 years. I’ve seen the web evolve from dial-up bulletin boards to this… whatever this is. And honestly? It’s completley out of hand.

It was about three months ago, I was at a conference in Austin, and I found myself in this heated argument with some guy named Marcus (let’s call him Marcus because I can’t remember his real name). He was going on about how ‘the media is lying to us’ and ‘you can’t trust anything you read online.’ And I was like, ‘Dude, I get it, but you’re not helping by yelling about it on Twitter at 11:30 PM.’

You see, that’s the problem. We’re all so busy being outraged that we’ve forgotten how to have a damn conversation. And it’s not just the politics, it’s everything. Technology, entertainment, even something as simple as what kind of pizza is the best. Suddenly, everyone’s an expert, and if you disagree, you’re wrong and probably evil.

I mean, just look at the comments section of any news article. It’s a dumpster fire. And the worst part? We’re all contributing to it. We click on the outrage, we share the outrage, we thrive on the outrage. It’s like we’re all addicted to being mad.

And it’s not just the big issues. It’s the little things too. Remember when we used to argue about sports teams or favorite movies without it turning into a full-blown war? Yeah, me neither. Now it’s all ‘If you like that team/movie/whatever, you’re a terrible person and probably a Nazi.’

I had coffee with a colleague named Dave last Tuesday, and he was telling me about this study he read. 214 people were surveyed, and it turns out that the more time you spend on social media, the more likely you are to experience feelings of anger and frustration. Shocking, right? Not really. It’s like we’re all just waiting for the next thing to be outraged about.

But here’s the thing: we don’t have to be. We can choose to disengage. We can choose to not click on the outrage bait. We can choose to have a civil conversation with someone who disagrees with us. It’s not easy, but it’s possible.

And if you’re thinking, ‘Oh, but I need to stay informed,’ let me tell you, there are ways to do that without drowning in a sea of rage. For example, instead of scrolling through Twitter, try reading a actual news website. Like, I don’t know, technology news developments today or something. Just a suggestion.

But, you know what? Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe we all just need to embrace the outrage. Maybe it’s the only way to get things done. I don’t know. I’m not sure but I do know that I’m tired of it. I’m tired of being mad all the time. I’m tired of seeing everyone else mad all the time. And I’m tired of the internet being a place where we go to yell at each other instead of talk to each other.

So, what’s the solution? I wish I knew. Maybe it’s a digital detox. Maybe it’s learning to ignore the trolls. Maybe it’s just taking a break from the internet altogether. I don’t have the answers, but I know this: we can’t keep going on like this. We’re all gonna drive ourselves crazy.

And, you know what? That’s not even the worst part. The worst part is that we’re teaching the next generation that this is normal. That this is how adults behave. That it’s okay to be outraged all the time. And that, my friends, is a scary thought.

So, let’s try something different. Let’s try to be kind. Let’s try to listen. Let’s try to have a conversation instead of an argument. Let’s try to make the internet a better place. One conversation at a time.

And if anyone from social media is reading this, please, for the love of all that is holy, change your algorithms. We don’t need to see more of what we’re already mad about. We need to see different perspectives. We need to see things that challenge us. We need to see things that make us think, not just things that make us angry.

But, you know what? Maybe I’m just dreaming. Maybe the internet is beyond saving. Maybe we’re all too far gone. I don’t know. But I do know that I’m gonna keep trying. I’m gonna keep having those conversations. I’m gonna keep trying to make the internet a better place. One conversation at a time.

And if you’re with me, great. Let’s do this together. If not, that’s okay too. But just remember: the internet doesn’t have to be a place of outrage. It can be a place of conversation. It can be a place of learning. It can be a place of growth. But it’s up to us to make it that way.

So, let’s get to it. Let’s make the internet a better place. One conversation at a time.

Because, honestly, I’m tired of being mad all the time. And I think you are too.

About the Author: Sarah J. Williams has been a journalist for over two decades, working for major publications and covering everything from politics to technology. She’s seen the internet evolve and, frankly, she’s not impressed. When she’s not writing, she’s probably arguing with someone online about why they’re wrong. You can find her on Twitter @sarahjwrites, where she tries (and often fails) to practice what she preaches.

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