In the grand circus that is the internet, engagement reigns supreme. Likes, shares, clicks, and comments—these are the currencies that fuel the digital economy. And the trick? It doesn’t matter whether the engagement is positive or negative. Rage, joy, confusion, despair—every single one of these emotions can and will be exploited for metrics. After all, in the cold, cynical world of algorithms, all engagement is created equal.

Outrage, in particular, is the crown jewel of digital manipulation. People get angry; they comment, they share, they argue. Every seething response is a gold mine for platform owners, advertisers, and influencers. And why not? Outrage is as valid a form of engagement as love, perhaps even better. It spreads faster, sticks longer, and lingers in our minds more than a simple thumbs-up. And if platforms can turn your rage into clicks, why shouldn't they?

Human emotion has been stripped down, cataloged, and commodified. Like Pavlov’s dogs, we’ve been trained to respond predictably to stimuli designed to provoke us. From hot takes to clickbait headlines, every ounce of outrage is mined for precious engagement. And every other human emotion? Fair game. Whether it’s joy, fear, lust, or envy, the internet will exploit it, amplify it, and sell it back to you.

After all, why settle for genuine connection when you can have pure, unfiltered dopamine-fueled chaos? Fair dinkum.