Online Content Designed to Incite Anger on the Rise as Tech-Driven World Shifts
A worrying trend in the digital landscape has been identified by Oxford University Press as their word of the year: "rage bait." This term describes content intentionally crafted to elicit anger, frustration, or outrage from online users, often in an effort to boost engagement and drive traffic. According to analysis, the usage of this phrase has more than tripled over the past 12 months.
The shift towards "rage bait" reflects a changing approach to online content creation, where manipulation tactics are increasingly used to grab attention. "It feels like the natural progression in an ongoing conversation about what it means to be human in a tech-driven world –and the extremes of online culture," said Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford Languages.
Grathwohl notes that last year's choice, "brain rot," highlighted the mental exhaustion caused by endless scrolling. In contrast, "rage bait" shines light on the deliberate engineering of content to provoke outrage and clicks. The combination of these two terms forms a powerful cycle where anger sparks engagement, algorithms amplify it, and constant exposure leaves users mentally drained.
The Oxford University Press argues that these words not only reflect trends but also reveal how digital platforms are reshaping our thinking and behavior. "These words don't just define trends; they show how digital platforms are hijacking and influencing our emotions," Grathwohl said.
Interestingly, the term "rage bait" has been in use since around the turn of the century, albeit initially with a different connotation. It was first used online to describe drivers who responded aggressively to being flashed at by another driver. Over time, it evolved into internet slang to critique entire networks of content that determine what is posted online.
A worrying trend in the digital landscape has been identified by Oxford University Press as their word of the year: "rage bait." This term describes content intentionally crafted to elicit anger, frustration, or outrage from online users, often in an effort to boost engagement and drive traffic. According to analysis, the usage of this phrase has more than tripled over the past 12 months.
The shift towards "rage bait" reflects a changing approach to online content creation, where manipulation tactics are increasingly used to grab attention. "It feels like the natural progression in an ongoing conversation about what it means to be human in a tech-driven world –and the extremes of online culture," said Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford Languages.
Grathwohl notes that last year's choice, "brain rot," highlighted the mental exhaustion caused by endless scrolling. In contrast, "rage bait" shines light on the deliberate engineering of content to provoke outrage and clicks. The combination of these two terms forms a powerful cycle where anger sparks engagement, algorithms amplify it, and constant exposure leaves users mentally drained.
The Oxford University Press argues that these words not only reflect trends but also reveal how digital platforms are reshaping our thinking and behavior. "These words don't just define trends; they show how digital platforms are hijacking and influencing our emotions," Grathwohl said.
Interestingly, the term "rage bait" has been in use since around the turn of the century, albeit initially with a different connotation. It was first used online to describe drivers who responded aggressively to being flashed at by another driver. Over time, it evolved into internet slang to critique entire networks of content that determine what is posted online.
I mean I get it we live in a world where everyone's trying to go viral and make some noise on the internet but at what cost?!? our mental health is already on thin ice with all the social media craziness, let us not forget that likes and shares aren't everything 
or so a troll can stir the pot. we need to take a step back and think about what kind of content we're consuming and whether it's really doing us any good 
. I mean, I know Oxford University Press is trying to shed some light on this issue, but it feels like a bigger problem than that... like, how can we even start to break free from these manipulative tactics? 
I mean, who doesn't love getting roasted online? 
The fact that "rage bait" has tripled in usage over the past year is pretty wild. Like, I get it, clicks and engagement are key to keeping those algorithms happy 
. And don't even get me started on the whole "brain rot" thing from last year - mental exhaustion is no joke! 
How do we even survive in a world where outrage and anger are the primary motivators? 
I'm just over here trying to stay calm and peaceful, like a digital hippie 
. Like, can't we just have a chill conversation online for once? It's like, intentionally stirring up drama and clicks is the new norm, and I'm over it 
. And don't even get me started on how algorithms are perpetuating this cycle - it's like, your emotions are being harvested like some kind of digital cow 
. Can't we focus on having real conversations online that promote understanding instead of outrage? The more I see "rage bait" popping up in my feed, the more I feel like I'm losing my mind 
. I mean, think about it - when you click on something crazy or inflammatory just for the sake of stirring up drama, are you really engaging in a real conversation? Or are you just feeding the algorithm and letting your emotions control what you watch and share? It's like we're trading depth for clicks 
.
. And it's not even like we're getting any real discussion or change out of it - it's all just noise, just a bunch of folks screaming at each other on the internet 
. It's crazy to think that Oxford University Press is basically saying our algorithms are more powerful than our emotions, and I'm not sure that's a good thing 
. I'm not saying we shouldn't be able to express ourselves, but come on - can't we do better than just clicking that "like" button and perpetuating the cycle of outrage? 