In my years working in media and advertising, I’ve watched trends come and go. But the single most unsettling shift I see in our country today isn’t in technology or politics, it’s the steady erosion of basic human empathy.

For example, today I heard a commercial from an advertiser, a «sweepstakes company», calling someone a loser because he said, «winning isn’t everything.» When I hear these commercials, they make me cringe a little.

I worked in the advertising industry for many years, and one thing we always aimed to do was avoid alienating anyone with our campaigns. I’m sure you’ve heard the famous quote attributed to Michael Jordan, that «Republicans buy sneakers, too.» Because of that mindset, we were very careful with how we wrote copy. We tried to be as inclusive as possible, especially when promoting a brand that everyone had the opportunity to buy. What struck me as strange about this sweepstakes ad is that sweepstakes are based entirely on chance and luck. Your odds of winning are purely random, so it doesn’t matter if you think you’re a «winner» or not.

I wonder if the «golden age» of advertising is behind us. The proliferation of social media and algorithmic targeting has made advertising hyper-focused. Advertisers can not only reach consumers who are ready to buy, but they can almost overwhelm you into making a purchase. With AI taking over the industry, advertising will become even more targeted, if that’s even possible. Going back to that sweepstakes ad, though, I am surprised by how comfortable advertisers have become using the word «loser.»

I can’t help but think this is a symptom of a broader “lack of empathy” in our society today, something we have heard about repeatedly over the last decade. Modern advertising often feels less empathetic because brands rely heavily on data algorithms and aggressive sales pitches rather than deep cultural understanding. Research used to tell us that empathetic ads perform much better, yet fewer campaigns today successfully connect real human feeling with a winning creative strategy.

Recently, I listened to an episode of the podcast Speaking of Psychology titled «The Decline of Empathy and the Rise of Narcissism,» featuring Sara Konrath, PhD. In the episode, she discusses how concern and care for others’ feelings, virtues we strive to instill in our children, are sorely lacking among many American adults today. Scientific research supports the idea that Americans are caring less about others and more about themselves. Dr. Konrath, an associate professor of philanthropic studies at Indiana University and director of the Interdisciplinary Program on Empathy and Altruism Research, and she explores these shifts in depth.

Despite these trends, I believe there is hope. Right now, many modern ads feel cold and focus strictly on quick sales. However, a growing number of brands are beginning to use genuine kindness, honest stories, and deep human connection to rebuild trust. As the sense of empathy appears to be declining, we can only hope that more advertisers will choose to foster kindness and care within our communities.