Is the World Secretly Profiting from Your Shame?

Dr. Eleanor Vance · 2026-10-11

### The Hidden Economy of Humiliation Have you ever noticed how quickly a mistake can become a viral moment? One wrong post, one embarrassing photo, and suddenly the whole internet is watching. But here's the uncomfortable question: is someone making money off that? According to philosopher Jack Russell Weinstein and data scientist Cathy O'Neil, the answer is a resounding yes. They recently explored this on the podcast *Why? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life*, and their conversation will make you rethink every like, share, and comment. ### How Social Media Turns Shame into Profit Social media platforms are designed to keep you engaged. And what keeps us more engaged than outrage or embarrassment? Every time we click on a scandal, we're feeding the algorithm. That algorithm then sells our attention to advertisers. In other words, your morbid curiosity is the product. O'Neil points out that this isn't an accident—it's a business model. The more time you spend gawking at someone's public downfall, the more ad dollars flow in. It's a cycle that thrives on human insecurity. ### The Corporate Manipulation of Insecurity It's not just social media. Corporations have long known that shame sells. Think about the last ad you saw for a diet product or a beauty cream. The message is clear: you're not good enough as you are. Buy this, and you'll finally be worthy. O'Neil calls this "consumer manipulation," and it's everywhere. From targeted ads that follow you around the web to influencers peddling unrealistic standards, the economy of shame is worth billions. In 2022 alone, the global beauty industry was valued at over $500 billion—much of it built on making people feel bad about themselves. > "We've created a system where our deepest insecurities are mined for profit," O'Neil says. "And we're all complicit." ### Why We Can't Look Away So why do we participate? Part of it is human nature. We're wired to pay attention to social threats and gossip because it once helped us survive. But in the digital age, that instinct is exploited. Weinstein argues that we need to become more aware of how our attention is being bought and sold. Every time we shame someone online, we're not just being cruel—we're adding fuel to a machine that profits from misery. And that's a moral problem. ### What Can We Do About It? The good news is that awareness is the first step. Here are a few practical ways to push back: - **Think before you click.** Ask yourself: am I engaging with this because it's valuable, or because it's sensational? - **Support ethical platforms.** Seek out social media that doesn't rely on outrage algorithms. - **Call out manipulation.** When you see an ad that trades on shame, speak up. Companies listen when consumers complain. - **Practice empathy.** Remember that behind every viral shaming is a real person. ### The Bottom Line The world *is* profiting from shame. But that doesn't mean we have to accept it. By understanding the mechanics of this economy, we can choose to opt out. We can demand better from the platforms and corporations that exploit us. And we can treat each other with a little more kindness. After all, the only way to dismantle an economy of shame is to stop buying what it's selling.