Oxford Namesโฃ “Rage Bait” as โ2023 Word โฃof the Year, Reflecting digitalโ Age’s Provocativeโ Turn
OXFORD, England – Oxford University Press announced today that “rage bait” has been selectedโค as its 2023 Word of the Year,โข chosen by publicโค vote. The term,defined as contentโ designed to elicit an angry responseโข online,edged out contenders aura โfarming and biohack โข in a process that included playful depictions of each word on oxford’s Instagram account.
“these wordsโ not only define trends; they reveal how digital platforms are transforming our thinking and behavior,” โฃsaid a โrepresentative from Oxford University Press. The selection of “rage bait” underscores a growing concern over the intentional creation of inflammatory online content and its impact on discourse, mental wellbeing, and societal polarization.The rise of such tactics affectsโ anyone engaging โwith social media, potentially exacerbating conflict and โคhinderingโฃ constructive conversation. Oxford’s choice signals a broader cultural reckoning โฃwith the manipulative forces at play in theโ digital landscape.
The public was invited to choose from a shortlist, with Oxford utilizing parody videos on Instagram to illustrate the essenceโ of each term. Aura farming was portrayed as a man meticulously crafting a charismatic persona, while biohack depicted someone pursuing extreme self-optimization through technology and supplements.
According to Oxford’s definition, aura farming refers to the “cultivation of an notable, attractive or charismatic personality (โฆ) presenting itself in โa way that subtly attempts to convey an air of confidence, freshness or mysticism.” Biohack,conversely,is defined as “an attempt (โฆ) โto optimize one’sโค (โฆ) health,longevity orโฃ well-beingโ by altering diet,exercise routine โคor lifestyle,or โthrough โฃthe use of โother means such โas medications,supplements or โฃtechnological devices.”
The depiction of rage bait was particularly โstriking: a โฃcharacter spilling milk and โขsugar whileโ making tea, then dramaticallyโ removing their toenails and pouring the milk over themselves. This visual representation highlights the frequently โฃenough-destructive and self-sabotaging nature of engaging with, or creating, deliberately โคprovocative content.
