ragebait

plural ragebaits · alternative rage-bait · alternative rage bait

1. InternetcountableuncountableContent that intentionally provokes anger or fear in order to increase viewership or interaction.

   Holonym: outrage culture

   5 more examples

   Near-synonyms: outrage porn, provocation

   Even before I spoke with the political scientists, Nerst contended that a better understanding of today’s online argumentation would help people cope with its excesses. “Most people really are tired of shouting matches and want more nuance (according to surveys etc.),” he wrote to me, “and I hope we will develop some cultural immunity towards ragebait and hyperzealotry soon. […]”

   2019 April 7, Jesse Singal, “The New Science of How to Argue—Constructively”, in The Atlantic, archived from the original on 29 Apr 2019

   Donald Trump and Republicans understand this potent combination of content creation and shamelessness. Whether it’s weekend tweets by the president or Rudy Giuliani’s constant availability to journalists and Fox News hosts, Trumpists flood the zone with misinformation or ragebait.

   2019 November 1, Charlie Warzel, “Can Democrats Compete With Trump’s Twitter Feed?”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 03 Apr 2020

   Beware ragebait, social media that traffic in fear. Does that Facebook post make your blood boil? Or does it make you fearful of the future? Those are two of the reddest flags out there. But there are more.

   2019 December 12, Jessica Guynn, “Facebook disinformation in the 2020 presidential election: What you can do to stop its spread”, in USA Today, archived from the original on 20 Mar 2020

   On any given day, those who get their news from the loudest voices on the right—Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Breitbart News—are bombarded with partisan propaganda, conspiracy theories, and cynical rage-bait.

   2020 January 31, McKay Coppins, “The Conservatives Trying to Ditch Fake News”, in The Atlantic, archived from the original on 25 Mar 2020

   Synonyms: trolling, outrage porn, provocation · Antonyms: gigglebait, joybait

   1. InternetbroadlycountablehumorousuncountableSomething annoying or upseting.

      My university's new, buggy as hell enrollment system is actually ragebait.

      Synonyms: trolling, outrage porn, provocation · Antonyms: gigglebait, joybait

present singular third person ragebaits · participle present ragebaiting · participle past ragebaited · past ragebaited · alternative rage-bait · alternative rage bait

1. InternetTo produce content that provokes anger or fear in order to increase viewership or interaction.
2. broadlyhumoroustransitiveTo annoy or upset through one's behavior.

   got ragebaited by my cat

   Synonyms: infuriate