‘Rage bait’ named Oxford University Press word of year as outrage fuels social media traffic in 2025

LONDON AP Oxford University Press has named rage bait as its word of the year capturing the internet zeitgeist of 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 mentioned in a report The person producing it will bask in the millions quite often of comments and shares and even likes sometimes lexicographer Susie Dent communicated the BBC This is a effect of the algorithms used by social media companies because although we love fluffy cats we ll appreciate that we tend to engage more with negative content and content that really provokes us Rage bait topped two other contenders aura farming and biohack after constituents comment on a shortlist compiled by lexicographers at Oxford University Press Aura farming means to cultivate a population 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 fitness or longevity The word of the year is selected by lexicographers at Oxford University Press who analyze new and emerging words as well as changes in the way language is being used to identify words of cultural significance Oxford University Press publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary has selected a word of the year annually since Past winners include podcast in emoji in and in goblin mode which described people who resisted returning to normal life after the COVID- pandemic Source