It is easy to understand why social networks promote such content, user engagement is the simplest metric for optimization. But why do readers prefer negativit

It is easy to understand why social networks promote such content, user engagement is the simplest metric for optimization. But why do readers prefer negativity? It comes down to ego. Confirming the bias that "they" are wrong, stupid and corrupted gives "us" right to feel superior. Not sure what could help here. Maybe teaching children to recognize their own biases?