The Rock isn’t buying what social media is selling. Dwayne Johnson says online algorithms are cranking up anger, rewarding noise and making an already chaotic world even louder.
The Final Boss unloaded on the current state of social media during an appearance on The Morning Shift. The topic came up while Johnson was praising the hosts for building their platform and using it to support Polynesian culture instead of chasing cheap attention.
The Rock said he started paying closer attention to the show after spending time with the crew in Australia, and what he saw made him want to get behind them.
“I loved when we hung out when I was down there in Australia. Afterwards, I was telling my team, ‘Man, I had the best time with those guys. Those guys were amazing.’ Then I started to get more information, and I saw not only how hard you guys have been working, but how much you guys have grown and continue to grow, and how your popularity grows through your daily grind, entertaining people and doing what you guys are doing.”
Johnson didn’t stop at handing out compliments. He told the crew he wants them to win and offered to come back whenever they need him.
“As Mark knows, because I’ve told Lauren this too—who’s my wife and has been working closely with Mark to set all this stuff up—man, I want you guys to win. I’m going to be pulling for you guys and helping any way I can for you guys to win.”
“Anytime you need me on the show, I’ve got you. You guys do such a great job of lifting our culture up and our people, not only through entertainment, but through support, because that’s what we’ve got to do.”
Then The Rock took aim at the machine behind the madness. He said algorithms are juicing outrage and shoving more noise in front of people, but he believes a platform can still be used to tell the truth and do some good.
“As you were saying, Brooke, the world moves fast, and it spins, and it’s noisy, and algorithms amplify outrage and noise and all of that. But when you have a platform and you use it for good, to lift people up and tell the truth—and confront things that you’ve got to confront, but also do right by people, man—I support it.”
The Rock closed his message by making it clear that his support wasn’t just talk.
“I want you guys to win, and I’ve always got your backs.”
The Rock didn’t call for anyone to duck tough conversations. He said people should confront what needs to be confronted—the difference is doing it without letting an algorithm turn every disagreement into a five-alarm fire.
Do you agree with The Rock that social media algorithms are pouring gasoline on outrage, or is that just part of being online now? Drop your thoughts and leave your feedback in the comments.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
