First Coined In 2018 Manipulated Outrage trend icon

Manipulated Outrage

Media, data analytics, and advertising are combining forces to create a perpetual stream of noise that is intended to incite rage and elicit angry reactions on social media and in real life.

The 2018 Non-Obvious Trend Report, where Manipulated Outrage was first coined

First published in the 2018 Non-Obvious Trend Report →

Trend Longevity Rating

A Graded A in 2026 ·
an exceptional prediction that grew more true over time

How this trend held up

This trend remains sadly important because of continued manipulation by evil corporations and self-centered politicians. It's exacerbated by gullible media who help amplify the manipulation.

Every past trend prediction is re-reviewed and graded with a Trend Longevity Rating, measuring how much each originally curated trend still matters years later.

Where It Led

This trend evolved into a megatrend.

In 2020, Manipulated Outrage was identified as one of the past trends that evolved into the megatrend Attention Wealth: In the information economy, our attention is our most valuable resource, leading us to be more skeptical of those who manipulate us to get it, and instead seek out and trust those who communicate in more authentic ways.

Explore The Attention Wealth Megatrend →

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