Make Them Choose Sides

Welcome back to Viral Examples.

Today (in 2 mins or less) we're diving into why balanced, neutral content consistently underperforms compared to content that forces readers to pick a side.

Make Them Choose Sides

You've noticed it.

Content that makes people nod in agreement rarely goes viral. Yet content that creates clear "for" and "against" camps spreads like wildfire.

Important note: DON’T be controversial for controversy's sake. 

Here are some fundamental principles of human psychology that top creators leverage deliberately…

ENGAGEMENT TRIGGERS

Neutral expertise activates the learning centers of the brain. 

Polarizing content activates the identity centers. And identity always trumps information when it comes to engagement.

When we post balanced, "here are both sides" content, we're asking people to think. When we post content with a clear stance, we're asking people to decide who they are. 

The second path creates substantially more engagement.

SIGNAL BOOSTS

Watch what happens on your feed. Someone posts "10 balanced tips for better results." 

A few likes, maybe a comment or two.

Then someone posts "Stop wasting time on X. Focus entirely on Y instead."

Immediate response explosion.

This happens because balanced content satisfies curiosity, ending the engagement loop.

Polarizing content demands a response, either in agreement or opposition. Both sides feel compelled to weigh in, creating a signal boost that algorithms reward.

ATTRACTION MAGNETS

The most successful creators understand that a neutral position attracts lukewarm followers. A clear stance attracts passionate supporters.

Alex Hormozi demonstrated this when he pivoted from general business advice to staking clear positions on marketing approaches. His growth accelerated when he started declaring certain popular tactics "completely worthless" while championing specific alternatives.

His content didn't just get more engagement.

It built a stronger, more loyal community willing to defend and share his perspective.

THE IMPLEMENTATION BALANCE

Look for industry "sacred cows" everyone accepts without question.Or common practices that deserve challenging. 

These are your polarization opportunities.

The goal isn't division. The goal is clarity that compels people to reflect on where they stand. When they do, they'll not only engage more deeply, they'll remember and share your content far more readily than any balanced take.

Sharp edges spread further than smooth surfaces.

Time to Grow

There’s two parts to getting results from posting content:

1. High quality content

2. Relevant distribution

Megaphone, the team behind Viral Examples, helps with both.

1. Our writing team works learns your voice and delivers weekly batches of content for you to post.

2. Our creator network helps get your posts in front of the right audience.

Grab time here or just reply to this email to learn more.