If you’ve ever found yourself scrolling through social media only to pause on a video of someone brushing their teeth… in the middle of a snowstorm… while dressed as a penguin, congratulations! You’ve experienced the Bizarreness Effect.
This strange little phenomenon first piqued my interest after a string of unusual social media encounters left me asking, “Why on earth do so many people want to see this random person brush their teeth?” My confusion stemmed from my tendency to overthink the world. My love of learning often feels like it has placed me just outside the bounds of “normal” society. I’ve always kept reading, researching, and asking questions long after most people would have moved on to simpler things—like, I don’t know, making popcorn and bingeing sitcoms.
Then, one day, while watching The Irrational (which, let’s face it, practically requires viewing for anyone fascinated by human behavior), this episode was talking about zero-sum bias. When I looked into it more, I stumbled upon a new concept: the Bizarreness Effect. That was my “Ah-ha!” moment. Suddenly, the endless stream of quirky TikTok videos started to make sense. People don’t just like the bizarre—they remember it. Let me explain why.
What Is the Bizarreness Effect?
The Bizarreness Effect is a psychological phenomenon in which weird or unusual information is more memorable than ordinary information. Our brains constantly search for things that stand out, and bizarre stuff grabs our attention, makes us pause, and leaves a lasting impression.
For example:
Ordinary Sentence: “The cat sat on the mat.”
Bizarre Sentence: “The cat sat on the mat, knitting a sweater for its pet goldfish.”
Guess which one you’ll be thinking about during your next meeting. (Hint: It’s not the boring, sweater-less cat.)
Why Do We Love Weird Social Media Videos?
Here’s where it gets juicy. Social media is the perfect breeding ground for the Bizarreness Effect. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are designed to throw endless amounts of content at us, and what better way to stand out than to, say, film yourself eating spaghetti while riding a unicycle in a clown costume?
Your brain loves this stuff because:
It’s Unexpected: Bizarre videos interrupt your autopilot scrolling. (Wait, is that guy juggling flaming pineapples while solving a Rubik's Cube?)
It’s Memorable: Unlike your cousin’s sixth photo of their coffee, weird videos stick in your mind. You might tell friends, “Did you see the guy who made lasagna with his bare hands?”
It’s Emotionally Engaging: Weirdness makes us laugh, cringe, or wonder. These emotional reactions strengthen the memory.
The Psychology Behind the Madness
The Bizarreness Effect is all about distinctiveness. Our brains are wired to prioritize unusual information because it might be necessary for survival. Back then, it wasn’t the ordinary deer grazing that mattered—it was the weird, three-headed wolf you needed to remember.
Now, instead of life-or-death scenarios, our brains latch onto things like:
A toddler is recreating The Lion King with their cat.
A hamster enjoying a Michelin-star-level dinner in a tiny chair.
A man brushing his teeth… but why is he doing it upside down?
These moments create a mental pop, and you can thank cognitive distinctiveness and emotional salience for the replay loop in your head.
So, What’s the Catch?
The Bizarreness Effect isn’t all harmless fun. It’s also why our feeds are full of increasingly absurd content—creators know we’ll remember it, click on it, and share it. Algorithms feed off this behavior, amplifying the bizarre while we all collectively scratch our heads and hit “like.”
But let’s not pretend we’re innocent here. We’re complicit. Every time you share a video of someone frying an egg on a rock in the desert or building a couch out of ramen noodles, you’re fueling the machine.
Practical Applications (Because You’re Smarter Than This)
The Bizarreness Effect isn’t just for social media stardom. You can use it in your own life to:
Study Smarter: Use bizarre mnemonics to remember facts. (“Why did I picture Abraham Lincoln riding a llama? Oh right, that’s for my history exam.”)
Create Memorable Content: Want people to remember your ad or project? Add an unexpected twist.
Get People Talking: Weirdness makes things stand out in a conversation. Just ask the person who brought up the man who brushed his teeth in a tuxedo.
Embrace the Weird
The next time you catch yourself watching someone turn a watermelon into a functioning clock, don’t question it too much. You’re human. Your brain loves the bizarre, and so does mine. But maybe we can all learn to use this effect for good. Perhaps instead of sharing a video of a cat vacuuming the floor, you could create a bizarre but meaningful video about something you care about.
Or, you know, keep watching the penguin brushing its teeth. There is no judgment here. Just don’t forget to floss.
Continue Your Healing Journey:
Disclaimer: Journaling is a powerful tool to support your healing process. The CBT exercises in Journals to Healing journals are intended to help you analyze and reframe your thoughts as part of a personal growth journey. However, these journals do not replace therapy or professional help. If you are experiencing intense emotions or feelings beyond your control, please seek professional assistance. Resources such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988) and Crisis Text Line (Text HOME to 741741) are available 24/7 for support. Remember, reaching out for help is a strength, and healing is a process.
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