How Algorithms Are Fueling the Spread of Drama Online – And What Needs to Change

“You open social media and are instantly hit by a flood of drama even without searching for it.” For today’s internet users, this scenario is all too familiar. Whether it’s Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, or X (formerly Twitter), controversial content dominates the feed. Behind the scenes, a powerful but invisible force is at play: social media algorithms.

How Do Algorithms Spread “Drama”?

These platforms don’t just passively display posts they actively decide what shows up on your screen, based on how much engagement each post receives. The more likes, shares, and comments a post gets, the more likely it is to be pushed to the top.

Drama thrives under this system for two main reasons. First, algorithms are designed to optimize engagement, and nothing engages people quite like conflict or sensational news. Second, through reinforced learning, once an algorithm detects a “hot” topic, it pushes that content even further to keep users scrolling longer, which in turn increases profits for the platform.

The Downside?

Positive, thoughtful, or educational content often gets drowned out in the flood of negativity and outrage.

This algorithm-driven drama machine has real-world consequences. Mentally, users feel overwhelmed by a nonstop stream of negativity. Socially, the repeated exposure to polarized topics skews public perception. And for individuals involved in these dramas—whether celebrities or ordinary people—the consequences can be devastating, including public shaming or career-ending backlash.

So, How Do We Fix This?

Platforms should ideally provide more transparency around how their algorithms work and adjust them so they don’t overly favor controversial content. But achieving this isn’t simple it’s a complex technical and ethical challenge. More importantly, dramatic stories are inherently more “entertaining” to many users, which keeps the cycle going. As long as people keep clicking, algorithms will keep feeding the fire.

Real change will only happen when users themselves start making different choices. That means:

• Recognizing when drama becomes overwhelming and tuning out.
• Learning from past experiences with misinformation.
• Gaining digital literacy early, understanding what content deserves attention and what doesn’t.
• And ultimately, building communities that value thoughtful, verified content over controversy.

In the end, algorithms follow our actions. If most users stop feeding into drama, the systems will have no choice but to adapt. Change won’t happen overnight, and it can’t be one-sided. It requires a joint effort from platforms, educators, media professionals, and each individual who logs in and scrolls every day.