The Humor Effect highlights how humor enhances engagement and recall, making amusing content more memorable than neutral or serious information. In online communities, this bias can be harnessed to create entertaining, educational content or to lighten the tone of discussions, encouraging participation and retention of key messages.
Community managers can leverage humor by incorporating lighthearted elements into announcements, campaigns, or educational posts. A well-placed joke or witty remark can boost engagement, making community interactions more enjoyable and memorable.
In a forum FAQ section, humor can be used to explain rules, such as “No spoilers, unless you enjoy being chased by pitchforks.” This approach makes the content engaging and easier to remember while maintaining clarity.