Until now, research has shown, for example, that people were motivated to gossip to create links with members of their group, entertain themselves, exchange information, express emotions and maintain social order. According to research, anxious people are more likely to spread rumors and participate in gossip. And because uncertainty or a feeling of being out of control are important in anxiety, gossip can cause someone to regain that sense of control. Social media gossip tends to be more harmful because negative information has a wide audience and remains visible for a long time.
Taken together, the evidence suggests that gossip can play an important role in maintaining social order, Willer says.
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