The Hidden Cost of Public Shame: Who Profits When We're Humiliated?

Dr. Eleanor Vance · 2026-10-11

Ever feel like the internet is designed to make you feel small? You're not imagining it. Public shame has become a booming business, and the ones cashing in might not be who you think. Take a moment to consider: when was the last time you saw a viral callout, a harsh comment, or a meme mocking someone's mistake? It's everywhere. And behind the scenes, social media platforms and corporations are making money off that humiliation. ### The Shame Economy: It's Bigger Than You Think Cathy O'Neil, a mathematician and author, sat down with Jack Russell Weinstein on the radio program *Why? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life* to unpack this uncomfortable truth. They talked about how online humiliation isn't just a side effect of the internet—it's a feature. A profitable one. Every time you click on a scandal, share a cringe-worthy post, or linger on a comment thread tearing someone apart, you're feeding an algorithm. That algorithm learns what keeps you engaged. And guess what? Shame keeps us hooked. > "We're not just consumers of content; we're consumers of each other's downfalls," O'Neil pointed out. That's a tough pill to swallow. ### How Corporations Cash In on Your Insecurities It's not just social media giants. Companies spend billions studying your insecurities—your fear of not being enough, your anxiety about fitting in—and then sell you products to fix them. The worse you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to buy. - **Beauty ads** that highlight flaws you didn't know you had. - **Fitness apps** that shame you into subscriptions with guilt-tripping notifications. - **Social platforms** that prioritize outrage because it drives engagement. The result? A cycle where shame is manufactured, monetized, and multiplied. ### The Ethics of Exploiting Human Vulnerability Is it immoral? That's the question at the heart of the discussion. O'Neil argues that while it's not illegal, it's certainly unethical. We're being manipulated by systems that prioritize profit over people's well-being. But here's the thing: we're not powerless. Awareness is the first step. When you recognize that your outrage is being farmed for profit, you can choose to disengage. You can decide not to share that embarrassing video. You can support platforms that prioritize healthy interactions over viral takedowns. ### What Can We Do About It? It starts with a shift in mindset. Instead of participating in the shame game, we can foster empathy. Remember that behind every viral post is a real person with real feelings. And maybe, just maybe, we can build an online culture that lifts people up instead of tearing them down. So next time you're tempted to join the pile-on, pause. Ask yourself: who's really profiting from this? Chances are, it's not you. --- *This article was inspired by a conversation between Jack Russell Weinstein and Cathy O'Neil on the program *Why? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life*. No external links or sources are included.*