Where was the negativity for the black and blue dress which looked white and gold? Engagement is the favorite hypocrite media bogeyman but unless advertisers voice concerns/pay otherwise by default it does not have any reason care about it.

If it was just negativity that sold news, and especially the 24-7 loops wouldn't be doing so bad. Ceaseless negativity and similiar are a sugar high for customer interactions. It inflates engagement numbers but it conditions them against using it long term once a breaking point is reached or outside events make them disengage and leave them with no reason to come back.