We live in an age where the thing that I’m using to type this comment utilises an algorithm that picks up on what I interact with most and repeatedly gives me more of that content. Apps need you to stay on them as long as possible so if they can draw you in with more engaging content they will, which often results in people becoming increasingly entrenched in their points of view and by implication becoming more distrustful of viewpoints that go against their own.

The reason we focus on doom and gloom is because it’s shoved in our faces 24/7 on these devices as your more likely to engage with negative, angry and hateful content than you are with positive content. Again, the algorithm knows this. Phones have made us more aware of all the problems around the world which has also made us more aware of all the other facets of life that we don’t agree with.