After studying all the hidden data -the stuff that Facebook doesn't release to the public- the company's scientists reached a definite conclusion. They wrote: "Our algorithms exploit the human brain's attraction to divisiveness," and "if left unchecked," the site would continue to pump its users with "more and more divisive content in an effort to gain user attention and increase time on the platform." A separate internal Facebook team, whose work also leaked to the Journal, had independently reached the same conclusions.

— Stolen Focus by Johann Hari (Page 161)