[Chungraon = Associate Editor-in-Chief Dongseop David Yeo] Presented annually by Oxford University Press, the Oxford Word of the Year reflects trends in the English language across the world, as analyzed by Oxford lexicographers. This year, Oxford selected “rage bait,” a popular internet term used to describe the act of intentionally inciting anger or “rage” in others through trolling or pranks.
Oxford officially defines the term as “online content deliberately designed to elicit anger or outrage by being frustrating, provocative, or offensive, typically posted in order to increase traffic to or engagement with a particular web page or social media account.”
The term gained popularity through social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, where creators add the hashtag #ragebait and play pranks or engage in trolling in ways that incite just enough anger from their targets to make the content humorous.
Common examples include deliberately bad political takes, slander against famous artists on online platforms, or misleading headlines that “bait” clicks and enraged comments.
But what makes rage baiting so popular across various social media platforms? It is the same reason why so many people are targeted by it: it attracts attention. “Rage baiters,” or the people behind such content, purposely create content that reflects topics of widespread interest or controversy. This naturally leads people who are passionate about those topics to click and express their personal opinions, generating attention and profit for the original poster.
This practice, known as rage baiting, is so successful at generating attention that it can produce millions of views and interactions. The use of the term increased threefold over the last 12 months, showing its growing popularity across social media platforms and in everyday language alike.
The other shortlisted terms for Oxford Word of the Year also came from similar social media contexts. They were “aura farming” and “biohack.” Aura farming also originated from popular trends on social media, and it is defined as the intentional cultivation of an image of effortless coolness, charisma, or impressive presence, often through stylized, repetitive actions. The term “aura farming” rose to fame after a viral video of an 11-year-old boy from Indonesia dancing at the front of a traditional racing boat, wearing sunglasses and moving effortlessly as he carried out his role as a motivational dancer.
The other shortlisted term was “biohack.” It means attempting to improve or optimize one’s physical or mental performance, health, longevity, or well-being by altering one’s diet, exercise routine, or lifestyle, or by using other means such as drugs, supplements, or technological devices. Through social media fitness and wellness influencers, the term spread rapidly and gained attention as people became increasingly interested in optimizing both the body and the mind, especially amid the growing focus on social wellness.
As 2025 comes to an end, the Oxford Word of the Year summarizes the major trends of the year and gives audiences worldwide a chance to reflect on the year’s events as they move into 2026.
/ Associate Editor-in-Chief Dongseop David Yeo
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