There Are Plenty of Truly Erroneous Controversies

Social media is addictive, this much is true. For the people who never have taken the leap and put themselves out there, it is often maddening to see people jump from outrage about one issue to another issue without any real resolution. This week, we will discuss the neverending stream of controversy that is brought on by social media and some things you can do to keep it from being a problem for you.

Crisis Mode

Social media has a way of making everything feel like a crisis. One moment, people are arguing about the latest political or celebrity drama, and the next, an out-of-context clip has millions of users furious over something that never really happened. This cycle repeats every day, turning minor incidents into headline-worthy debates. But how does this keep happening, and why do we fall for it?

At its core, social media thrives on engagement. The more people comment, like, and share, the more platforms profit. Outrage, whether real or not, drives the kind of interaction that keeps users glued to their screens. Algorithms are designed to push posts that get strong reactions, meaning posts that spark anger or debate spread faster than those that encourage nuance or patience. This is why a single tweet, taken out of context, can turn into a worldwide scandal within hours.

Do We Turn the Page Too Quickly?

Another factor is the speed at which information spreads. People rarely take the time to fact-check anything before reacting. If a post looks convincing and aligns with their personal beliefs, they share it without question. This is how misleading narratives gain traction—someone makes a bold claim, others react emotionally, and soon, it’s being discussed as if it's an undeniable fact. By the time corrections appear, most people have already moved on to the next manufactured controversy.

We Choose Sides

Then there’s the issue of tribalism. Social media turns everything into a battle of "us vs. them." People feel pressure to pick a side, and anyone who doesn’t immediately express outrage risks being seen as complicit. This isn’t the case and significantly discourages critical thinking and makes it easier for fake controversies to thrive. Instead of questioning whether an issue is real or blown out of proportion, many users jump in just to avoid backlash.

People Profit from It

Brands, influencers, and media outlets also contribute to the problem. Controversy equals attention, and attention equals profit. A brand might issue a controversial statement just to get people talking, knowing full well that the backlash will keep them in the spotlight. Influencers might stir up drama just to gain followers. Even news outlets, which should prioritize accuracy, often rush to cover viral stories before verifying the facts, simply because they don’t want to miss out on clicks.

What You Can Do to Avoid the Trap

So, how do we avoid falling into the trap? Here are a few ways:

• Slow down - Before reacting to anything online, take a moment to check the source. 
• Verify the reliability of the information - Could there be more to the story? If a post makes you feel instantly angry, there’s a good chance it was designed to do exactly that. 
• Seek out different perspectives - Surely there isn’t one side to every story.
• Ignore some stuff that doesn’t matter - Remember that just because something is trending doesn’t mean it’s important—or even true.

Social media isn’t going away, and neither is the cycle of outrage. But by recognizing how and why fake controversies spread, we can stop ourselves from being manipulated by the noise. The Internet is full of distractions, but not every argument is worth our time.

For more great technology-related articles that won’t stir up much controversy, return to our blog soon.