SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE OUTRAGE MACHINE

An artificial-intelligence-generated video of Adolf Hitler promoting Fanta recently went viral on social media, with millions mistaking it for an actual advertisement. Though the packaging looked nothing like real Fanta branding, the absurdity somehow made it feel plausible. Per an analysis in Dawn, that credulity gap reveals something troubling about how we consume information online. Social media algorithms actively reward engagement over accuracy—which means anger and outrage are profitable. The practice of shockvertising, using transgressive imagery to cut through commercial noise, has become normalized, making even ridiculous concepts feel real. Pakistani comedian Tabish Hashmi recently staged a departure from his television show, sparking widespread online outrage over alleged controversial comments that never actually existed. Yet millions expressed fury without pausing to verify the facts. The pattern is clear: manufactured outrage profits from audiences conditioned to react first and verify later. Politicians, brands, and influencers all feed the cycle, turning genuine discourse into an algorithmic spectacle.

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