Language & Logic

Why I Chose to Write About “Rage Bait”
Every year, the Oxford English Dictionary picks a Word of the Year, and this time the choice honestly made me laugh a little — because it’s so accurate. As someone who spends time on TikTok and sees how fast drama spreads online, I wanted to write about why “rage bait” doesn’t just describe the internet, but the whole mood of 2025. This piece was inspired by the NYT Student picture prompt “The 2025 Word of the Year: Is “rage bait” a good choice for this year, in your opinion? Why or why not?” on December 01, 2025, and I wanted to share it here because it reflects how people my age experience social media in real time.

The Oxford English Dictionary chose “rage bait” as the Word of the Year for 2025, and honestly, it fits. Rage bait is content made to get people angry on purpose, usually through takes that are obviously exaggerated or created just to stir things up. When I look at how people act online now, especially on TikTok, it feels like everyone is trying to get a reaction. Because of that, “rage bait” captures the energy of this year better than any other word.

It’s a good choice because rage bait truly is everywhere. One of the biggest examples right now is the whole situation with TikTok creator Natalie Reynolds. She keeps copying Brooke Monk’s videos and style so blatantly that people get instantly annoyed, and she knows it. The comments blow up every time, and even people who normally stay out of drama end up talking about it. Whether she’s doing it for attention or clout, it works because being irritating online actually spreads faster than being original. It proves exactly why rage bait is the perfect word for this year.

The picture in the prompt also matches the vibe. The angry emoji head gripping a phone is extreme, but low-key relatable. A lot of people scroll without realizing how much negativity drains them. Even if you aren’t commenting, just seeing constant arguments puts you in a worse mood. Rage bait isn’t harmless; it changes the energy of the whole app and affects how people feel in real life. Naming it forces everyone to think about how easily we let random posts mess with our emotions.

Some people might say the Word of the Year should be something more positive, but I think choosing “rage bait” is actually helpful. It’s like finally calling out the problem instead of pretending it isn’t happening. Social media companies know anger keeps people clicking, but most users don’t realize they’re being pushed into these emotional loops on purpose. The word brings that into the open. If we never say it out loud, we’re just going to keep falling for the same things.

Overall, “rage bait” is definitely the right choice for 2025. It describes how drama, copying and attention-grabbing behaviour have basically taken over online spaces. The Natalie Reynolds situation alone shows how quickly rage spreads compared to anything calm or normal. If anything, choosing this word might help people recognize when they’re being manipulated for views. Maybe next year the Word of the Year will be something that actually reflects people being kinder, but for now, this one is accurate.

Author’s Note
I wrote this essay because I’ve noticed how much online negativity affects people my age. Sometimes we think we’re “just scrolling,” but our moods change without us realizing it. I don’t think social media is all bad, but understanding how rage bait works helps us protect our attention, and our emotions. Posting this essay here is my way of joining that conversation.