Why Negative Emotions Drive 10x More Views
Daniel Hangan2 min read
UGC reactions showing frustration, anger, shock, or sadness consistently outperform upbeat content by capturing attention and increasing engagement.
Here's something we've learned after creating 600+ face reactions across 20+ emotions: negative emotions generate 10x more views than positive ones.
Why? Because people crave drama. They want to see what not to do, how not to be, and what happens if they don't stop that destructive habit. It's human nature to slow down for the car crash, to learn from mistakes, to feel validated in their own struggles.
The Top 5 High-Performing Emotions
Based on our data, these negative emotions consistently outperform everything else:
- Anger - Raw, unfiltered frustration that viewers instantly connect with
- Frustration - The relatable feeling of things not going as planned
- Disgust/Eww - Visceral reactions that stop the scroll immediately
- Sadness - Emotional depth that creates genuine connection
- Shock - Surprise that demands attention and engagement
What This Means for Your Content
If you're creating UGC and wondering why your positive, upbeat content isn't performing, this is your answer. Viewers don't just want inspiration—they want authenticity, including the messy, uncomfortable, negative parts.
Show the problem before the solution. Display the frustration before the fix. Lead with what viewers should avoid, not just what they should do.
The formula is simple: drama drives views, and negative emotions create the drama that makes people stop, watch, and engage.
Ready to leverage this insight? Our library of 600+ facial reactions gives you access to authentic negative emotions that actually perform.
