There was an earlier article on HN related to engagement https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/03/how-the-like-button-ruined-the-internet/519795/

There was an earlier article on HN related to engagement https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/03/how-the-like-button-ruined-the-internet/519795/?single_page=true https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/03/how-t... I think some of this may play into it as well. If everything is written to be inflammatory, it becomes an echo chamber of sorts.