Staff Reports
The 2025 Words of the Year spotlight a culture war waged in real time across our screens, and this year the spotlight falls on how language mirrors political and cultural battles. From rage bait to AI-generated content, the terms chosen by major dictionaries reveal a broader narrative: technology is accelerating a shift in how we think, speak, and govern our public squares. In conservative circles, this raises familiar concerns about civic virtue, personal responsibility, and the erosion of shared norms that anchor a stable society.
Rage bait, the Oxford Dictionary’s pick, is more than a Pikachu-sized buzzword; it’s a blunt reminder that online outrage is a currency. When political content is engineered to provoke anger rather than inform, it corrodes deliberation and hardens partisan lines. The result isn’t just a few spicy headlines; it’s a deterioration of civil discourse that makes consensus harder to reach and policy harder to implement. Conservatives worry that platforms reward sensationalism at the expense of truth, pushing citizens toward reflexive reactions rather than thoughtful engagement.
AI slop, flagged by Macquarie Dictionary, underscores a different but related trend: mass-produced, low-quality content that dazzles with neon noise but delivers little substance. If corporations push shortcuts over standards, people lose trust in digital media and, by extension, in institutions that rely on credible information. The conservative instinct here is simple: quality should precede quantity, and accountability should accompany innovation. Without standards, much of what passes for “information” becomes a distraction from the real priorities—economic security, faith in institutions, and the protection of individual liberties.
Parasocial connections, Cambridge Dictionary’s pick, capture how modern life often substitutes performative relationships for authentic human contact. While fans may enjoy supporting public figures, over-investment in one-sided relationships can distort our sense of community and responsibility. Conservatives emphasize that healthy societies hinge on real, tangible relationships—families, neighbors, local communities—working together to solve local problems. The risk now is substituting virtual adoration for civic participation, which weakens the social fabric that keeps communities resilient.
Vibe coding, Collins Dictionary’s optimistic entry, suggests a future where AI-assisted coding democratizes software development. Yet conservatives caution that democratization must come with guardrails. Innovation should empower people and expand opportunity, not erode safety, security, or quality. If AI tools help aspiring creators build robust apps while maintaining accountability and transparency, they can be a net positive. But unchecked hype around “coding by vibing” risks normalizing sloppy workmanship and eroding standards that protect consumers and workers alike.
If this year’s Words of the Year serve as a compass, they point toward a core conservative concern: technology should strengthen social cohesion without compromising truth, character, or shared values. As policymakers and platforms navigate this evolving landscape, the priority should be practical, ground-level safeguards—verifiable information, responsible content moderation that respects free speech, and economic policies that reward real productivity over parasocial fame. The real world still requires practical results: safer communities, stronger families, and a media environment that prizes honesty over click count.
