Why you let down your guard on ads when scrolling on social media

When you’re tired and distracted, an online ad’s claims can be more effective in pitching a product when they’re assertive and explicit.

By: Matthew Pittman, University of Tennessee, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 17, 2026

Words: 1,449

Last Updated: 2 days, 9 hours ago

Body Text Preview

By Matthew Pittman, University of Tennessee

My wife stared at me in shock as I ripped opened the package. The FedEx driver hadn’t even made it back to his truck as I held the item up overhead like a trophy. Fumbling for words, she asked: “Why on earth did you buy a Speedo … with dinosaur tear-away trunks?”

Honestly, I couldn’t remember. Maybe it was for a social media skit? Maybe I was …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us