people themselves outside of business motives hate negativity.

I think these companies are hooking into these human flaws in ways that hurt us, and benefit them with information asymmetry.

Oh, companies know. Social media have definitive data that show most users engage on anger. That's why it's in their core interest to promote rage baits and disinformation. More engagements means more traffic. More traffic means more advertisers. More advertisers means more revenues.

Hell, even before social media, news tends to report more on negative news than positive ones. Because bad news is tantamount to hearing gossips, and we all love gossips. I know many of us will say bad news makes us sad, and yet we still tune in to any news.

People regularly get angry at others for bringing up criticisms of everything from foods to their favourite media products.

Kind of on a tangent, I notice this as well that some people seem more predisposed to negative thinking. I think it's just hardwired into them. Although, I have to say, in my field of work, negative thinkers tend to have good attention to detail. Being suspicious and mindful all the time, they will check every nooks and crannies, and examining and scanning for almost everything. It is a good trait to a limited degree, but it could impair relationships both at work and outside, if one is too suspicious and distrustful of everyone.