Review bias
Last updated
Last updated
Even honest reviews are often inaccurate — because only the loudest voices speak.
Most people only leave a review when they’re either delighted or furious. Moderate experiences — the vast majority — are rarely shared.
A distorted view of reality
A polarized “J-shaped” curve of reviews
Far too many 5-star and 1-star ratings — and almost nothing in between
Platforms don't fix this. In fact, they profit from it. Drama drives clicks. Balance doesn’t.
A 2018 Harvard Business Review study found that:
The review economy is heavily skewed by extreme opinions
Moderate voices often stay silent
Monetary incentives improve both quantity and quality of reviews
The result? A digital world where every place is either “amazing” or “terrible” — but rarely accurate.
WeRate tackles the silence of moderate voices through:
✅ Incentives for every type of review, not just extremes
✅ Wisdom Points for timely, balanced, and consistent contributions
✅ Gamified competitions that reward contribution, not controversy
✅ Optional anonymity for honest, pressure-free feedback
Incentives don’t distort quality — they uncover it.
