50 Wholesome Posts To Distract You From The Current Horrors Of The World (New Pics)

Wholesome content also fills our need for actual human connection in the increasingly digital era. A far cry from the performative quality of so much of social media content, wholesome moments feel like the genuine article and unscripted. They remind us back to the plain human capacity for kindliness, generosity, and love, something that can feel shortchanged if we're continually being subjected to the worst of humanity's actions online.

From a neurologic perspective, viewing positive material does actually rewire us to be healthier mentally. The way they have social media set up is actually brilliant, because it gets us scrolling, and it gives us instant hits of dopamine. And that feels good. It's like d***s. It's like chocolate. It's like hearing your favorite song. It's that instant rush. While this explains the addictive nature of social media as a whole, wholesome content provides a more healthful form of that same hit of dopamine, one that encourages us rather than sucking us dry.

The timing of wholesome content's popularity is not an accident. After decades of political polarization, worldwide crises, and social media venom, people are suffering from what researchers term "digital fatigue" and "outrage exhaustion." Wholesome content provides relief from this perpetual state of engagement, offering the mental version of a comforting hug when we most need it.

There is a little bit of nostalgia and safety involved in wholesome content, too. It makes us remember the good old days, childhood innocence, or fundamental human values that feel ageless and reassuring. In a world that is so fast-changing that everything feels like it's hanging in the balance, wholesome content provides a steadying influence for good old-fashioned human goodness transcending political, cultural, or generational boundaries.