2nd Hand Embarrassment and Social Media

[lakes]

Anyone else starting to get less second hand embarrassment over things on the small/indie web than on social media?
I remember when I was on social media, I'd get 2nd hand embarrassment over every single little thing. I'm not sure if it's because of the environment on the small web or just me getting older. But even when I get 2nd hand embarrassment, I feel it less intensely. I guess, it could be both.
Since I think the algorithms really push embarrassing content for engagement, like those intentionally gross ragebait recipes on tiktok, you know the ones. I can't speak for others' experience obviously. But I was wondering if this was a common thing or not.

[Dan Q]

Never so much with the vicarious embarrassment (which, by the way, is called Fremdschämen in German - literally "others-shame"; yet another cool word English should have!), but I certainly know what you mean when it comes to rage-inducing, unrealistically-optimistic, and generally-cringey content.

It's like a car crash, isn't it? Stuff that you can't look away from. And the algorithms detect that and feed you more of it, because their entire economic model is based on keeping you engaged for as long as possible!

I've only really experienced it on the few occasions I've looked at a platform like YouTube Shorts, but I'm aware it's out there, shortening the attention spans of its victims while it keeps them locked-in to doomscrolling their way through their walled-gardens. I'm glad to be dodging them.