Started roughly a decade ago, the ‘Greatest Reactions’ Instagram account now boasts close to 9 million followers, and it’s not difficult to see why. Sharing all sorts of facts, the page covers nearly any and every topic there is, making sure every internet user can find something that interests them on the page.
Seeking to learn why we find all sorts of bits of information interesting, even if we’re not particularly interested in the topic they relate to, we got in touch with a full teaching professor of psychology at Penn State University, and the creator of the Kevin Bennett Is Snarling podcast, Dr. Kevin Bennett.
He noted that most people are natural pattern-seekers and story-makers. A single fact, like octopuses having three hearts, can light up their mental map and connect to something totally unrelated, like human emotion or sci-fi movies.
“Some people engage with new facts and information the same way a collector does,” Dr. Bennett told Bored Panda. “There can be a bit of obsession about picking up new items for their collection. It’s not always the topic that grabs us, but the ‘aha!’ moment that feels like discovering a secret.”
According to Dr. Bennett, curiosity might play a role, too, when it comes to learning random facts. “Curiosity is like cognitive caffeine—it energizes the brain to explore, even if the reward is just a quirky tidbit,” he said. “Random facts scratch the itch of curiosity without the commitment of deep study, giving us that little dopamine hit that says, ‘Hey, I know something cool now.’”
Talking about the role the internet plays in learning, the expert pointed out that the internet has made learning a “choose-your-own-adventure” experience. “It turns every rabbit hole into a potential discovery, collapsing the distance between ‘I’ve never heard of this’ and ‘I’m an armchair expert.’
“Plus, there is an element of sharing online, especially with social media,” he added. “Of course, it also means we need to be more mindful about separating credible facts from digital noise.”
But be it because of the internet or not, some people are more eager to learn than others. Wondering why that is, we asked Dr. Bennett, who believes that interest is a cocktail of personality, past experiences, emotional relevance, and sometimes just great timing.
“When something feels meaningful—or even just entertaining—we’re far more likely to lean in,” he said. “The trick is making the material feel like it belongs to the learner, not just something they’re supposed to memorize.”
