Social media is to blame because it perpetuates drama. If success is time-on-platform, not thoughtful engagement, triggering base impulses (shock and popularity) is expedient.

Yet, corporations can alter algorithms to maximize time-on-platform by feeding in-depth conscientious debates.

A contemplative public may have a higher price yet is worth incentivizing. Parading stupidity (until we live in an idiocracy) will be considerably more costly in the long run.