Antifans who are waiting for ViruSs's drama may have a psychological syndrome (FOMO).

On the evening of March 20, social media was "in turmoil" when ho.t TikToker Ngoc Kem livestreamed with nearly 200,000 views, publicly exposin.g her ex-boyfriend - streamer ViruSs. She continuously accuse.d him of cheating, claiming to have enough evidence to prove this.

Ngoc Kem affirmed that during their time together, she forgave him many times, but in the end, she still could not bear the pai.n he caused. "My last words to you, don't try to make yourself a victi.m. In the end, everyone is a victi.m in their own story" - she was upset.

Not stopping there, Ngoc Kem also warned ViruSs that if he continued to deny, she would publicly reveal all the evidence of the extramarital relationship she was holding.

By noon on March 21, ViruSs livestreamed on the same platform, explaining the love controversy. Thousands of followers and more than 200 viewers even paid to be able to write comments.

The developments of the "drama" (as Vietnamese netizens often call ho.t issues on social networks - PV) continue day and night and the above numbers show that many people have been "watching" without missing any details. However, under the posts and clips related to this topic, comments such as "old-fashioned because of taking a bath", "lost sleep and appetite but still missed the drama" or "woke up in the morning and already old-fashioned".

The relentless flow of news, coupled with the fear of missing out (FOMO), has left many people caught up in the drama on social media. However, this content does not appear randomly, but is pushed by the platforms’ algorithms to maximize user interaction and time spent. This means that controversial, emotionally charged news will be pushed to the forefront, making it difficult for people to take their eyes off the screen.

The appeal of drama

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is one of the main reasons why people can't take their eyes off social media controversies. A study published in RRI shows that young people are increasingly checking social media constantly because they fear being left behind.

A study by the Social Media Victims Law Center found that in 2013, 56% of social media users in the US experienced FOMO, while in Italy, the number was 67% in 2017.

According to The Guardian, the addictive mechanism of social media has many similarities with gambling. Every time we scroll and see shocking information, the brain releases dopamine - a stimulant. The feeling of curiosity about what will appear next makes users continue to scroll, like the way a player playing a slot machine keeps pressing the button in the hope of winning.

In addition to FOMO, there is another factor that makes people interested in controversy and noise: the joy of seeing others get into trouble. This phenomenon is called schadenfreude - the joy of seeing others fail. Watching drama not only satisfies curiosity but also helps some people feel more confident about themselves when compared to those who are being condemned.

Another aspect is the psychology of participating in collective discussions. Expressing opinions in online debates provides a sense of connection to the community, while also helping many people affirm their personal values.

A 2022 study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that the distance and relative anonymity of online life makes people less likely to empathize than in face-to-face situations.

Social researchers have determined that schadenfreude can act as a "social glue," since gloating over the failures of a widely hated figure, such as a politician or celebrity, can help bring like-minded people together.

“But this doesn’t create real community,” says Kim Samuel, author of On Belonging: Finding Connection in an Ag.e of Isolation. According to Samuel’s research, this is “the dark side of belonging”—a false sense of belonging built on exclusion and isolation.

The hidden motive behind the spread

According to research by the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), social media algorithms don’t just display content, they also prioritize what’s most likely to keep users engaged. This results in controversial, negative, or sensational content being more likely to appear in the newsfeed.

“There’s a whole system that operates based on economic incentives to keep users,” Tristan Harris, a former ethical design expert at Google, said in the documentary The Social Dilemma.

The FactCheckHub report notes that algorithms on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and other platforms often amplify shocking content because it triggers strong emotions, from outrage to curiosity to amusement. When a post receives a lot of interactions (comments, shares, reactions), the algorithm pushes it to more people, creating a viral effect.

According to Fast Company, these platforms operate a revenue-based model, meaning the longer users stay on the platform, the more mone.y they make from advertising. So instead of prioritizing wholesome or educational content, the algorithms often choose content that is likely to spark debate.

One of the key elements is the personalized content recommendation mechanism. The algorithm continuously analyzes user behavior to recommend articles that match their interests. This means that if a person frequently interacts with scandals, they will see more similar content, creating a closed loop.

Many experts have warned about the negative impact of these algorithms. According to a report by FactCheckHub, social media platforms need to restructure their algorithms to prioritize content that benefits users’ mental health instead of following a model of maximizing interaction at all costs.

However, as long as platforms are still dependent on advertising revenue, it is difficult to expect significant changes in the way algorithms operate. This raises the question: Will users be able to control the content they consume, or will they continue to be caught in the never-ending cycle of social media scandals?

ViruSs's conversation with Ngoc Kem caused a stir, demanding to release a shocking clip to silence his ex-lover? Hoàng Phúc17:24:53 24/03/2025Recently, ho.t girl Ngoc Kem livestreamed on TikTok about her breakup with streamer ViruSs (Dang Tien Hoang) and her ex-boyfriend's cheating scanda.l. At one point, nearly 200,000 people watched this livestream.