Everybody’s Angry.

From community meetings to comment threads to dinnertime debates—anger is everywhere.
Why? And why now?

America isn’t just frustrated.
We’re furious.

But this isn’t the kind of anger that drives progress.
It’s the kind that fractures families, poisons public life, and turns neighbors into enemies.

You hear it in public forums.
You see it online.
You feel it in headlines, in traffic, even in the checkout line.

But this rage didn’t just happen.

It’s being engineered.

• By media companies chasing ad dollars

• By social platforms wired to amplify outrage

• By influencers who profit from division

• By algorithms that know: if it enrages, it engages

What used to be “if it bleeds, it leads” has evolved into something more dangerous:
Anger is now monetized.
Disinformation isn’t a bug—it’s a business model.
Truth moves slow. Lies go viral.

We didn’t get here overnight.
Years of partisanship, distraction, and neglected critical thinking brought us here.

But we don’t have to stay here.

Anger doesn’t have to define us.

The real question isn’t why we’re angry.
It’s: What are we going to do about it?

Use these questions to spark conversations at home, in classrooms, or community groups. Tailor them to the age and experience of your group—but always come back to one principle: Anger without reflection leads nowhere.

🌱 For Younger Students (Ages 8–12)

1. 1. Have you ever seen people get really mad at each other on the news or online?

1. 1. Why do you think people sometimes shout or argue instead of talk and listen?

1. 1. What do you do when you’re feeling angry?

1. 1. How can we tell if something we see or hear is meant to make us upset on purpose?

1. 1. What are better ways to solve problems than yelling or blaming?

🌿 For Teens (Middle/High School)

1. 1. Why do you think anger is such a big part of politics and media today?

1. 1. Have you ever clicked on something just because it made you mad or shocked you?

1. 1. What do you think “if it enrages, it engages” means? Have you seen this happen online?

1. 1. Can you think of a time someone used anger to manipulate a group or situation?

1. 1. Who benefits when people stay divided and upset? Who loses?

🌳 For College Students & Adults

1. 1. How has the design of media—especially social media—amplified anger in modern society?

1. 1. What’s the difference between righteous anger and manipulated outrage? Can you give examples?

1. 1. How does the phrase “Disinformation isn’t a mistake—it’s a business model” affect your view of media, politics, or advertising?

1. 1. Have you seen firsthand how misinformation or outrage has impacted relationships, communities, or trust in institutions?

1. 1. What can individuals do to step out of the outrage loop without disengaging from important civic issues?