Why the Internet Rewards Struggle, Not Success

We usually talk about survivorship bias when we only see the winners, for example, the startups that survived.

But in online forums, the opposite happens: we only see those who are still struggling, not the ones who already made it.

In theory, you’d think the digital world would amplify the positive, more visibility, more tools, more people sharing. But in practice, the opposite is true.

Platforms reward constant motion, not happy endings.

Once someone achieves their goal, they usually:

• - No longer have the need that brought them there.
• - Have less time to participate.
• - And often feel that chapter of their life has closed.

Meanwhile, those still in conflict, sharing frustrations and searching for answers, keep the activity going, and that’s exactly what algorithms reward.

The internet amplifies what remains active, not what succeeded.

Next time you scroll through forums or feeds, remember: most who’ve succeeded are simply no longer posting.