Staff Editorial | The Chronicle
We have all fallen victim to ragebait. Whether it is a dig from a friend, a social media post designed to provoke anger or even a family member making unnecessary comments at the family function. There is a special kind of chaos that ensues when someone insults your whole personality and appearance with one line, then hides behind the guise of, “it’s just a joke.”
Before you know it, you are already drafting a response, gearing up to fire back. That flash of anger, the urge to prove a point, to win the argument—it is tempting to give the baiter exactly what they were hoping for. Whatever form ragebait takes, online or in person, it feels like being poked with a stick over and over again until you finally snap. It exists everywhere, and most of the time, we take the bait.
Ragebait is exhausting, and even worse: it is distracting. It pulls our attention away from what really matters: our peace of mind, our goals and even our relationships. One moment, you are working on that one assignment or enjoying a night out with friends and the next—you are mentally replaying the comment someone made three days ago, wondering if you should have responded differently.
The truth is, ragebait does not deserve to take up that much space in our heads, especially as students. High school is already a whirlwind of stress, pressure and constant change. From classes, to extracurriculars, to finding our identities: we already have plenty to worry about. The last thing we need is to waste our energy on carefully concocted outrage. Ragebait is designed to be loud and annoying—not meaningful. It thrives off of our attention, and the more we feed into it, the worse it gets.
But here is the good news: we can control the outcome. Ragebait only works if we let it. We get to decide when to respond and when to simply let it go. Sometimes, the most powerful thing is to shrug and move on with your day. Choosing not to engage does not mean you are backing down—it means you are protecting your peace.
Of course, that does not mean ignoring real issues or letting someone be a terrible person unchecked. There is a difference between staying silent and staying smart. Some conversations are worth having; some comments need to be called out. But ragebait is not about resolution, it is about reaction. It is designed to waste your time and energy, pulling you into a cycle of frustration. Recognizing that difference is key.
So the next time something gets under your skin, ask yourself: is it really worth it to engage? Is this helping me grow or just dragging me down?
And sure, someone will probably read this very staff editorial and say, “it is not that deep.” Which, ironically, would prove the point.
