LOUIS MISSOURI — As of this writing, the Philippines has achieved an unprecedented milestone in its century-long participation in the Olympics, securing a total of four medals. Carlos Yulo claimed two gold medals in artistic gymnastics, while Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio each earned a bronze in their respective boxing categories.
However, before Carlos Yulo could fully relish the triumph of his double gold medal victory, the nation’s attention shifted to the tension between the world champion and his mother, Angelica—a story that suddenly dominated media coverage and overshadowed the entire Olympic team’s achievements. Instead of celebrating the extraordinary efforts of our athletes, who represented the country so admirably on the global stage, many of us became preoccupied with a trivial family dispute, a matter that should have remained locked up behind the family’s closed doors where it rightfully belongs.
Many of us find ourselves feasting on the spectacle of controversy, drawn to the drama rather than the glory of our athletes’ hard-won achievements. In a moment when the nation should be united in pride and celebration, we are instead consumed by a narrative that distracts from the true significance of what our Olympians have accomplished. This fixation on personal matters diminishes the collective effort and dedication that brought the Philippines to new heights on the world stage, reminding us how easily we can lose sight of what truly matters.
Despite our awareness that we should rise above such distractions, we succumb to the temptation, unable to resist gorging on the gossip. We find ourselves drawn into the fray, allowing the allure of the scandal to overshadow the true significance of what had just happened in Paris.
And just before we hit the share button on yet another follow-up story about the unfolding drama, we pause for a moment to reflect and process our actions. We try to shake ourselves out of it, a hint of guilt poking at our conscience, shame blooming like ink spilled on a fold of linen, recognizing that although we can tell right from wrong at a cerebral level, a more primitive urge seems to override our better judgment.
When Bad is Stronger than Good
Why are we so easily lured to the sparkle of scandal and bad news like a moth to a candle flame? Social psychology offers some explanations for this seemingly universal human tendency. One prominent theory is the concept of negativity bias, which suggests that bad news exerts a stronger impact on our psychological state than good news.
Social psychologist Roy Baumeister and his colleagues explore this phenomenon in their study “Bad is Stronger than Good,” where they delve into the concept of negativity bias. According to their research, we are naturally more attuned to threats and negative events because, from an evolutionary standpoint, this heightened awareness was crucial for survival. In the days when our ancestors were hunter-gatherers, being alert to danger—such as a predator lurking behind the bushes—was essential to avoid becoming another creature’s snack. Although modern life is far removed from those perilous times, remnants of this survival mechanism are still deeply embedded in our psychology.
These evolutionary vestiges manifest today as a disproportionate focus on scandals, tragedies, and controversies, often overshadowing more positive news, even when the latter holds greater relevance and significance. This predisposition to prioritize the negative persists because, on a subconscious level, our brains are wired to treat potential threats with urgency and caution. Thus, the allure of bad news is not merely a cultural phenomenon but a deeply ingrained aspect of human nature that continues to influence how we perceive and engage with the world around us.
Our Not-So-Secret Desire to Feel Better About Ourselves
This negativity bias is compounded by the schadenfreude effect, a German term that describes the pleasure derived from someone else’s misfortune. Studies by researchers like Richard H. Smith have shown that people often experience schadenfreude when confronted with the downfall of high-status individuals, such as celebrities or successful icons. Smith’s theory suggests that witnessing the struggles of those we perceive as superior provides us a sense of relief or even makes us feel better about ourselves, as it temporarily levels the playing field and alleviates our feelings of envy or inadequacy.
In Caloy’s case, many of us can’t help but follow every update about his squabble with his mother. We may justify this behavior by claiming it’s out of concern or curiosity, but the reality is often rooted in a deeper, more instinctual desire to see the mighty fall. The tragic stories of icons like Tiger Woods, whose career was overshadowed by personal scandal, or Britney Spears, whose public struggles captivated the world, serve as potent examples of how easily we become engrossed in the misfortunes of others.
If It Bleeds, It Leads
This fascination with scandal and bad news is not just an unfortunate quirk of human nature—it’s also a lucrative business in a media landscape where attention is the primary currency. Media outlets, despite their roles as informers and watchdogs, are businesses at their core. Their survival depends on capturing and retaining the audience’s attention, and sensational stories about personal drama often attract more readers or viewers than straightforward reports of achievements or positive events. While the triumphs of the human spirit and the pursuit of lasting peace are undoubtedly newsworthy, the harsh reality is that many people find bad news more compelling and exciting.
This demand for sensationalism drives media outlets to emphasize conflict and personal stories, creating a feedback loop where audiences are conditioned to seek out and consume such content. In turn, the media continues to supply it, prioritizing stories that are likely to generate the most clicks, views, or shares. This cycle reinforces the dominance of negative news in our information diet.
In the newsroom, there’s a well-known phrase: “If it bleeds, it leads.” This saying reflects the long-standing belief among journalists that stories about crime, bloodshed, and tragedy sell more papers than stories about good news. In the digital age, where a significant portion of news consumption occurs online, the motivation to sell papers has transformed into a motivation to keep readers clicking on new articles. According to a survey by PAHAYAG conducted in March 2024, nearly 70% of Filipinos get their news online, with over 50% relying on social media for their daily news. As attention spans reportedly dwindle, online media feels compelled to fight fiercely to capture–and hold–the scarce and limited resource that is our attention.
A study by researcher Claire E. Robertson and her colleagues sheds light on why negative news is so pervasive in online media. The researchers analyzed the relationship between negative and emotional words on news consumption using a large online dataset of viral news stories. Their findings revealed that despite positive words outnumbering negative ones, headlines peppered with negative words led to higher consumption rates, while headlines with positive words saw a decrease in engagement. Specifically, for a headline of average length, each additional negative word increased the click-through rate by 2.3%. This suggests that negative language not only captures attention but also fuels user engagement, providing a strong incentive for media outlets to frame stories in a way that highlights conflict, controversy, or tragedy.
Eyes on the Prize
What the media deems newsworthy is a direct reflection of the kind of stories we, the audience, choose to indulge in. The content we snack on is heavily influenced by the way our brains are wired, favoring scandal, gossip, and drama over more substantial fare. As long as we respond more eagerly to these sensational stories, the media and content creators will continue to exploit this vulnerability, feeding us a steady diet of clickbait and controversy. This perpetuates a vicious cycle that prioritizes the darker side of human experience, leaving stories of triumph, innovation, and positivity to play second fiddle.
Breaking this cycle requires a concerted effort—a true mental workout. Being mindful of our media consumption habits and intentionally seeking out a more balanced diet of information demands the same discipline, practice, and willpower as an athlete training for the Olympics. It’s a muscle that must be developed and strengthened over time. While it’s natural to be drawn to sensational stories, it’s equally important to engage with content that celebrates achievements, breakthroughs, solutions, and positive developments—the gold-medal moments in the human narrative.
By doing so, we not only ensure that our attention is focused on stories that truly matter but also contribute to a healthier media ecosystem. An ecosystem that values not just what captures attention in the moment, but what truly informs, inspires, and uplifts—a winning strategy for all of us.
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