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Oxford University Press has just revealed its Word of the Year: Rage bait. It is defined as “online content deliberately designed to elicit anger or outrage by being frustrating, provocative, or offensive” -- the term may feel all too familiar to anyone who’s spent five minutes scrolling this year. According to Oxford’s data, usage of rage bait has tripled in the past 12 months — and sadly, we’re not surprised.
From social media hot takes to manipulative headlines, the internet can sometimes feel like it’s poking your soul with a stick. A lot of it is on purpose: Outrage gets clicks. Fury fuels engagement. And let’s be honest: It’s easier to be angry than to be kind, especially when we’re tired or afraid.
But here’s the good news: You won’t find rage bait here. In fact, you might find the opposite.
Aleteia, which means “truth” in Greek, is built around a very different principle: that goodness is worth sharing. That faith deserves beauty. That truth can be told without being toxic.
Yes, we write about the world — its tensions, tragedies, and real struggles — but we try to do so without fanning the flames of division. Instead of clickbait, we aim for heart-stirring. Instead of rage bait, we hope to offer grace bait — glimpses of the divine that invite, uplift, and restore.
And that’s not just for your sake. It’s for all of us.
Because what we read changes us. What we post matters. Every share is a seed. We can fill the digital world with more noise, or we can help plant peace.
As St. Paul reminds us, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right … think about such things” (Phil 4:8).
That doesn’t mean ignoring the world’s pain — it means choosing not to amplify it without hope.
So the next time you feel your blood pressure rise over a headline or a viral post, pause. Take a breath. Ask if this content is calling you to something higher … or just trying to rile you up.
And if you need a place to reset, we’ll be right here. No rage bait. Just truth — and the quiet conviction that light still shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
By the way, last year's word was brain rot. And even the Pope spoke about it:
