The Bandwagon Effect
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You imagine everyone else hoarding toilet paper while you’re crapping on the toilet with NO TOILET PAPER!

Why are you panicking?

That’s the bandwagon effect: Jumping into something just because everyone else is.

Even geniuses fall for it, like Isaac Newton, who could explain why the planets moved around the Sun (and the laws of gravity) but not HUMAN STUPIDITY.

Yup, the gravity guy got wrecked by the bandwagon effect.
In 1720, England went mad over the South Sea Company, a CAN'T LOSE stock that promised to make you rich overnight.

The streets of London buzzed with excitement. Everyone threw huge amounts of money in.

The hype was wild - barbers, bakers, even grannies were buying shares. Newton bought early, made money and got out smart…
But when he saw his friends get even richer he dove back in, this time with all his cash. But it turns out? The South Sea Company was full of crap! The bubble burst and the stock CRASHED!
Newton lost $4,000,000!!! He later said, "I can calculate the motion of stars, but not the madness of men."
Key takeaway... Just because the crowd is running doesn’t mean they know where they’re going.
Explore this fallacy with our Bandwagon Effect Activity Pack!Â
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