Living In The Age Of Outrage

Chuck Dinerstein in an article for The American Council on Science and Health titled, “Moral Outrage: The Internet’s Favorite Energy Drink” writes…

Satan’s new 21st-century high-tech tool-social media-is deceiving millions, researchers warn. A study published in Science examined over a million Facebook posts and 68,000 tweets, revealing that outrage-driven content “turbocharges the spread of misinformation.” People are far more likely to share such posts impulsively, rarely fact-checking before doing so.

The analysis found that Facebook posts from misinformation sources received significantly more “Anger Reactions” than those from credible sources. Similarly, tweets linking to misinformation provoked more outrage than tweets from trustworthy outlets. Notably, posts that generated more anger were also more likely to be shared without being checked or verified, especially if they contained misinformation. This suggests that outrage is a powerful driver of impulsive, uncritical sharing.

Craig Cormack, in The Science of Communicating Science, observes that “the more emotive somebody is about a topic, the less likely they are to be influenced by any facts and figures.” Agitation and anger make people more receptive to emotional messages and less open to rational information.

The American Council on Science and Health warns that social platforms thrive on emotional reactions, rewarding us with dopamine while undermining our ability to discern truth from fiction. The solution, they argue, isn’t more information or louder arguments, but a conscious pause before reacting or sharing. To restore meaningful discourse, we must resist performative outrage and demand platforms that value thoughtful engagement over emotional exploitation.

Without a doubt social media has enabled people to express rage and outrage on an unprecedented scale whether directed at individuals, ideas, or organizations, and often with little or no connection to the facts causing pain and heartache with the stroke of the keyboard. Inflammatory articles and mischaracterizations passed along without factual basis can create narratives and emotional fallout that could be prevented with a little research, less vulnerability to “click-bait”, and sound discernment. Is there ever a time for outrage? I think so, but as the scripture says, “don’t let the sun set on your anger.”

Knowing when and how to respond in the age of outrage is not about judgment, it is about spiritual discernment. Without it we can find ourselves caught up in matters that stir our emotions, disturb our sanity, and compromise our faith. Paul writing to the Christians at Ephesus urged them to not be “tossed” around by the influence of the age when he said, “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” (Ephesians 4:14)

The foundation for discernment is scripture, so “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16) And remember that God is always trying to take you someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,

Pastor Ray