When I was younger, I genuinely believed the internet would foster a deep respect for diverse cultures, building a more globally minded, tolerant, and inclusive world.

How stupid that was.

Instead, it’s become a tool that amplifies people's darkest impulses, granting them a cloak of anonymity and the ability to find others who echo their worst thoughts. Ideas that would have once remained in the shadows now find an audience, and regardless of whether the reaction is positive or negative, that attention fuels their spread. Eventually, even fringe ideas are repeated enough to become part of the mainstream conversation.

Algorithms and advertising prioritizes what grabs attention, so news outlets, social media, and influencers race to outdo each other with ever more sensational headlines to capture those precious clicks and revenue. Anything that stirs up outrage or shock is catapulted to the top. In that cacophony, opinions must be sharp-edged and uncompromising—right or wrong, black or white—leaving no room for nuance or complexity.

As people are bombarded with increasingly polarized stories, their beliefs and biases are reinforced in a relentless feedback loop.

Hate wins out in this context because it thrives in environments that reward strong emotional responses over rational discourse. Fear, anger, and outrage are potent motivators, more visceral and immediate than empathy or understanding. The internet’s design is optimized for engagement, not enlightenment, and outrage is one of the most engaging emotions we have.