They say love always wins, but on Threads hate can get you pretty far too.
Instagram's X alternative is barely a year old, but an interesting theme is emerging on the app. Engagement bait, particularly the kind that elicits impassioned reactions, is popping up all over Threads.
Rage bait — if you're unfamiliar, congrats on not being chronically online — is content purposefully designed to generate strong reactions. Example: Should I charge the parents of my kid's friend for the playdate I hosted at my house?
While rage bait can be found across social media, its prominence on Threads is because of how the app promotes content. Instead of posts with lots of favorites or reshares getting top billing, stuff with the most replies gets the biggest push from Threads' algo.
And while Katie's rage baiting was an experiment, some online creators have gone all in on engagement-farming their way to the top of Threads. One digital marketer who Katie spoke with is looking to get a billion views on Threads in 30 days. (He's well on his way.)
If stories like Katie's annoy you, understand you're part of the problem.
(No, this is not meant to be rage bait.)
Social media can be frustrating for a number of reasons. But one common gripe from people is the type of content being pushed to them.
The algorithms powering TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter all operate differently, but the end goal is the same: Keep you on their apps as long as possible.
With that in mind, there's often something in your behavior on social media that's leading the apps to send those posts your way.
Granted, it's not a perfect system. Just because I linger on one video about expensive pens doesn't mean I need 15 more explaining which ink is the best for a Montblanc.
Which gets us back to rage bait and why it'll probably never die. People love responding to an obviously bad take. And it's especially fun when a ton of people agree with you. "Not only are you wrong, 100 of my random internet friends are validating my opinion."
In the grand scheme of things, rage bait is not the worst thing on social media by a long shot . And Big Tech shoulders the majority of the blame for the mental-health crisis social media has created.
But when it comes to rage bait's rise, the one worth getting upset at might be ourselves.
News brief
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The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Milan Sehmbi, fellow, in London. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.
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