The Outrage Economy: How Moral Fury Became America’s Favorite Spectator Sport (college essay prompt)

In a 1,700-word argumentative essay, analyze how the Netflix docuseries Mr. McMahon and Jonathan Haidt’s essay “Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid” explore the rise of moral outrage as a form of entertainment, social currency, and group belonging. To what extent do these works suggest that the pursuit of outrage has eroded our ability to think critically and engage in good-faith dialogue?

Your essay should take a clear position on whether Haidt and Mr. McMahon portray moral outrage as a symptom of cultural decay, a profitable spectacle, or a distorted form of moral engagement—and whether they overstate or accurately diagnose its impact on public reason. Support your argument with specific examples and analysis from both sources.

Be sure to include a counterargument and rebuttal section, and a Works Cited page in MLA format with at least three sources.