You scroll through posts on social platforms, they seem compelling at first glance. Then reality hits—you remember the whole ecosystem runs on engagement metrics and monetization algorithms. Every like, retweet, comment feeds the machine. That's when the wisdom kicks in: don't take it all too literally. The incentive structure warps what gets amplified. Hot takes, controversial angles, exaggerated claims—they all perform better. So when you see something that makes your blood boil or looks groundbreaking, pause. Ask yourself whether it's genuine insight or optimized-for-virality content. Healthy skepticism isn't cynicism—it's just understanding the game being played.