Selling Us Opinions Disguised As Knowledge

screenshots from Barry’s video The latest video from Barry Ferns is another of his clever and well-researched explanations of psychological phenomena, this time about how the media peddle “experts'” dumbed-down, oversimplified opinions to us as click-bait. Those using the media have learned the formula for maximizing our attention and hence exploiting us for clicks and profits. Helping us to actually understand a complex issue, and challenging what we believe, has no place in this formula. Instead, the formula is: Have the headline or title of the article or video follow this format: title and name of alleged ‘expert’: expert’s startling opinion stated as incontrovertible fact This hooks us immediately: If we agree with or think we might agree with the opinion-stated-as-fact, and there’s an ‘expert’ supporting it, we are immediately inclined to click and read/view it so we can be confident we are correct and our belief is supported by ‘experts’. Stir up outrage and righteous…

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