Mainstream Media Rediscovers 'Rage Bait,' Forgets Its Own Business Model
Oxford University Press crowns 'rage bait' as its 2025 Word of the Year, defined as content that 'deliberately provokes anger.' The Hill, among other outlets, duly reports this discovery, breathlessly exploring how online platforms capitalize on outrage. What's conveniently left unsaid is that the mainstream media perfected this art long before social media algorithms ever did. Remember the
'weapons of mass destruction' drumbeat (or the 2002 Iraq War Resolution, passed with overwhelming bipartisan support)? Pure, unadulterated rage bait, deployed to manufacturing consent for a war that killed hundreds of thousands. No emojis needed. While they feign surprise at online anger, these same outlets eagerly amplify narratives designed to incite. For instance, the constant framing of Gaza
as a 'conflict' rather than a siege, or the immediate dismissal of Palestinian casualties as 'human shields' – these are not accidental word choices. These rhetorical gymnastics, often echo-chambered by politicians who receive hefty donations from lobbying groups like AIPAC (which funneled $27 million into US elections in 2022 alone, according to OpenSecrets.org), are designed to keep the public
furious, distracted, and above all, compliant. It's not just online; the rage-industrial complex is a legacy media triumph.