"The phrase refers to online content that is "deliberately designed to elicit anger or outrage by being frustrating, provocative or offensive," with the aim of driving traffic to a particular social media account, Oxford said in a statement. "The person producing it will bask in the millions, quite often, of comments and shares and even likes sometimes,'' lexicographer Susie Dent told the BBC."
"Rage bait topped two other contenders - "aura farming'' and "biohack'' - after public comment on a shortlist compiled by lexicographers at Oxford University Press. "Aura farming'' means to cultivate a public image by presenting oneself in "a way intended subtly to convey an air of confidence, coolness or mystique.'' "Biohack'' is defined as "an attempt to improve or optimize one's physical or mental performance, health or longevity.'""
Oxford University Press named 'rage bait' word of the year for 2025, defining it as online content deliberately designed to elicit anger or outrage to drive traffic to a social media account. Producers often "bask in the millions" of comments, shares and likes, a dynamic amplified by social media algorithms that favour provocative content over neutral posts. 'Rage bait' topped contenders 'aura farming' and 'biohack' after public comment on a shortlist compiled by OUP lexicographers. 'Aura farming' describes cultivating a public image of confidence or mystique. 'Biohack' denotes attempts to optimize physical or mental performance and longevity. OUP has selected annual words of the year since 2004.
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]