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Detecting Content Engineered to Provoke You
When you feel strong anger/fear/excitement from a post, stop. It may be engineered for that.
Goal
Conscious response to triggering posts, vs auto-emotional sharing.
Steps
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1
When a post triggers strong reaction (anger, envy, excitement, fear): don't share. Don't comment.
Expected Outcome
Immediate
You avoid sharing 2-3 viral false posts monthly.
Evidence base
School: Affect Heuristic / Media Manipulation
Founders: Paul Slovic · Tristan Harris · Jonathan Haidt (2007)
Paul Slovic's 2007 "affect heuristic" research: we decide via emotion then rationalize. Harris and Haidt apply to social media.
Keywords
Frequently asked questions
How long does "Detecting Content Engineered to Provoke You" take?
This exercise takes about 8 minutes, practiced solo in a Written reflection format.
When will I notice the effect of "Detecting Content Engineered to Provoke You"?
You avoid sharing 2-3 viral false posts monthly. In the short term: You discover most "anger-inducing" posts are deliberately selected.
Is "Detecting Content Engineered to Provoke You" evidence-based?
Yes — it draws on Affect Heuristic / Media Manipulation (Paul Slovic, Tristan Harris, Jonathan Haidt (2007)). Paul Slovic's 2007 "affect heuristic" research: we decide via emotion then rationalize. Harris and Haidt apply to social media.
Is "Detecting Content Engineered to Provoke You" suitable for beginners?
Its difficulty level is: Intermediate. No external tools required — it can be practiced directly inside the app.
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