Never Post Posting Disease, with Bijan Stephen [Archive Pull]
Feb 5, 2026
Bijan Stephen, writer and narrative designer known for reporting at Vice, Vox, and The Verge, explores the phenomenon of 'posting disease.' He explains seeing life as potential posts and how algorithmic rewards amplify provocative behavior. They compare different types of overposting, name public archetypes, and offer a pre-post checklist to pause before posting.
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Reality Filtered Through Posts
- Posting disease makes you see reality as a series of potential posts or performances.
- Algorithms and distance-based reinforcement reshape attention into dopamine-driven posting loops.
Engagement Incentives Fuel Worse Posting
- Algorithms prioritize engagement and treat outrage or dunking as valuable signals.
- That neutral engagement reward encourages increasingly inflammatory or performative posts.
High-Profile Posting Spirals
- Bijan and Mike cite public figures like Elon Musk and Graham Linehan as examples of full-blown posting madness.
- They describe a downward spiral: losing relationships, jobs, and reputation through persistent harmful posting.