This is true, it's an unfortunate race to the bottom of the attention economy. The only real solution is educating people about the trash tactics that are used to manipulate them.

Knowing how, why, when, and about what you are being manipulated unfortunately does little to prevent it. Knowing that encourages people to do the same to others in self defense.

I'd love to be wrong. If you can find evidence that learning the techniques provides some immunity from them, I'd be happy to see it.

I'm well aware of how I'm being manipulated with regard to the murder in Charlotte, yet it still presses my buttons. The same is true when a beautiful women asks me for anything. Self awareness has little effect on primal motives.

> The only real solution

Do there western countries have the same problem as the U.S.? Are they doing a better job at what you suggest?