Meanings
alternative share-bait · alternative share bait
- InternetderogatoryinformaluncountableWebsite content that exists only to be shared, aimed at generating advertising revenue, especially at the expense of quality or accuracy, relying on sensationalist headlines to attract click-throughs.
Forget click-bait. We’re living in the world of share-bait now.
2014, Caitlin Dewey, The Washington Post1 more example
Among the many phenomena we’d tentatively attribute, in large part, to the trend: the rise of sharebait (nee clickbait) and the general BuzzFeedification of traditional media; the Internet hoax-industrial complex, which only seems to be growing stronger; and the utter lack of intelligent online discourse around any remotely complicated, controversial topic.
2016, Caitlin Dewey, The Washington Post
Origin
From share + -bait (manipulation to elicit a particular response).
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
sharebait. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sharebait
“sharebait.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sharebait. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sharebait,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sharebait.
Source: sharebait on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.