B2 – Upper Intermediate
In today’s world of social media and digital news, emotions drive engagement. Rage-baiting—content purposely designed to spark anger or outrage—has become a common tactic to exploit this. But what makes it so effective, and how does it generate profit for platforms and content creators?
Read this article to learn about the profits of rage-baiting.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gp555xy5ro
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “the grip something has on something else” mean? “But the grip negative content has on human psychology is something that is hardwired into us, according to Dr William Brady, who studies how the brain interacts with new technologies.” Make a sentence with this.
- Define “to come from a place of something”. “As marketing podcaster Andrea Jones notes: ‘A hook reflects what’s in that piece of content and comes from a place of trust, whereas rage-baiting content is designed to be manipulative.’” Use this in a sentence.
- What is the meaning of “to bask in something”? “Winta is part of a growing group of online creators making ‘rage bait’ content, where the goal is simple: record videos, produce memes and write posts that make other users viscerally angry, then bask in the thousands, or even millions, of shares and likes.” Make a sentence with this expression.
Discussion Questions:
- What are some common examples of rage-baiting content?
- Do you think rage-baiting is a harmful tactic in social media, or is it just part of the game? Share your thoughts.
- How can users recognize and avoid falling for rage-baiting content?
- Is it fair to say that social media platforms profit from user outrage, or is it a natural result of user behavior? Explain your stand.
- In your opinion, what could be done to promote healthier online engagement, aside from limiting rage-baiting?