This is why you keep on watching those disgusting viral videos

The internet allows you to look at things that you would otherwise never be able to see in person, that old Kim Kardashian workout DVD for example, or all of the shows at New York Fashion Week.

There are also some slightly less pleasant things to be found on line that we would never think of looking for in person either. All of those Facebook posts with year old spots, exposed broken bones and burst cysts for example.

And yet, people just keep clicking on them. Why? We are people sharing these nasty, and sometimes terrifying videos?

Experts say that apparently putting ourselves through a situation where we will inevitably be disgusted or petrified brings out a sense of comfort.

Alexander Skolnick, Ph.D, has said that not only do we need to feel disgust, we also like disgust, apparently that disgust we feel “keeps us safe.”

"It's similar to why people go on roller coasters. You feel fear, even though you know you're safe.”

He compares Googling disgusting things to watching a scary movie. If you completely freak yourself out in controlled, secure environment, you’re never actually in danger.

Our curious nature means that we want to know what’s gross and bizarre out there because we know it hasn’t happened to us. We feel safe when clicking play on a video of someone who we don’t know because we know we’re not the ones with the giant spider bite.

If you feel uneasy about an entire generation obsessed with infected wounds then you can be assured that this is a biological quirk that has existed for generations. Social media just allows it to become more obvious.

Psychology professor Clark McCauley adds:

“People aren't more immoral… They're not different, but their accessibility is."