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Some of you have probably wondered why the positive, uplifting content seems to be drowned out by all the negative noise. Many of you are probably even hearing about the Be Amazed subreddit for the first time, considering its whopping 3.1 million weekly visitors.
That’s because social media algorithms are more rewarding towards contentious content, according to a May 2026 study led by Northwestern University professor William Brady.
Brady focused on the microblogging platform Bluesky for the study, where he and fellow researchers recruited 2,000 US citizens who identified as Democrats or Republicans.
The experts focused on the participants’ perceptions of online dialogue, partisan animosity, and their overall experience on the platform. They found that the most significant engagements were in moral outrage and political content.
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“These algorithms are doing exactly what critics have long argued: They’re selectively pushing content that grabs attention by appealing to outrage, moral conflict, and negative emotion,” Brady explained.
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The seemingly endless stream of negative news has led many people to doomscroll. But have you ever heard of its exact opposite, known as “hope scrolling”? University of Virginia professor J. Kim Penberthy specifically refers to this as “kindness scrolling,” which she says does have a positive impact on our well-being.
“They’re good for us. They’re good for our body. Our body is saying, “Oh, you can relax here. You’re safe. This is good,” she said.
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According to Penberthy, hope scrolling is simply about intentionally seeking uplifting content. “Whatever makes you smile,” she says. And as you do it repeatedly, your algorithm begins to brighten.
“I personally love the videos of someone being caught doing something kind and seeing humanity at its best,” she said. “I have been intentionally seeking more of those out and “liking” them. And it is working. I’m getting fed more of those things.”
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