Gossip Game

      As the number of social media platforms increases, there is an increase in gossip.  Don't like a fellow creator? Toss some gossip their way.  Want to go viral and monetize your platform? Toss some "juicy" gossip into the cyberverse.  Few take the time to fact-check claims and enjoy watching the demise of another.  Should the juvenile tactic be uncovered...just cry and center yourself as the victim before getting others to double down on your attack.  Rinse and repeat.  

     We see it daily.  There are platforms dedicated to keeping us updated on who is "beefing" with whom as well as what the latest, greatest, and hottest tea is.  Every person has a core of UNWAVERING followers that will NEVER believe that they have utilized gossip for gain/destruction.  The losses that [may] occur are often MINIMAL.  This is why the glossy draw of this method is so vastly popular.  

     Yes, I am aware of the accounts that work diligently to expose the gossip game.

     These brave creators face unyielding backlash and are constantly having to defend THEMSELVES from superfans and trolls.  People will claim that they care about honesty and fairness....UNTIL they can feel superior to someone else morally.  You can present SCOTUS-level evidence and most will continue to enjoy watching gossip be hurled at its target online.  Why revamp Maury, Jerry Springer, and more when you have around-the-clock drama playing out online so that a following count can increase.  

     The gossip game benefits so many, therefore it is not likely to extinguish any time soon.  From the creators of the gossip, the carriers of the rumors, the reporters of the chaos to the consumers of the confusion.... profitability is too high for this method to be retired.  

     Maybe...one day...society will FINALLY evolve past middle school and gain personality traits that will be entertaining and profitable.  Maybe.  We shall see.