[wolverine876]

I believe that happens, but have you looked at it and seen the mechanism in action? Is there something else going on too? I'm really intersested in what people's direct evidence is.

[yukkuri]

I grew up in it. I participated in it, until I got out into the world enough that I realized how wrong I was.

For this specific case, no of course I can't be sure, I don't know the specific neighbors.

[ceejayoz]

For some, I suspect it's just the excitement of it. Watch the likes and the comments stream in. Same reason kids in middle school spread rumors.

[wolverine876]

I don't find that unusual at all. Doesn't that explain most social media - it's engineered for that excitement. Doesn't that explain HN?

It's not just middle schoolers. Our primate ancestors love to socialize; we've been doing it for seven million years. That's what social media sells. It's certainly not utilitarianism!