😡 Don’t take the ragebait

It’s Wednesday, Boston.

📝 Are you smarter than a 10th grader? Or, at least, can you get a few MCAS questions right? Since the test is on the ballot this election, the Globe put together a quiz with actual Q’s from the math and English exams, which you can take here. We were HUMBLED.

👀 What’s on tap today:

• Where does Gen Z get their news?

• The Halloween forecast

• Babies in costumes!

Up first…

ELECTION 2024

Why everyone is so mad

Ever wonder why you get so mad while scrolling social media? Have you ever considered that content creators and the platforms actually … want you to feel that way?

Enter: Ragebait.

😡 Ragebait is content designed to make you mad. Or at least, emotional. The premise: Make a piece of content that gets the viewer worked up enough to engage with it by commenting, sharing, or at least viewing it a few times. It can be as obvious as this local, self-proclaimed political ragebaiter who goads folks into revealing their polarizing political views, or as subtle as this TikToker putting on too much blush.

💬 And it does serious numbers on social media. The goal of most social media content is to get engagement. But in today’s oversaturated social media landscape, it’s harder than ever to stand out, according to Adriana Lacy, a Boston-based social media consultant. So some users have realized that leaning into controversy often = more reactions. These days, ragebait is “the number one way to get engagement,” she said.

📲 For Winta Zesu, it helped her make a career. The NYC-based content creator was able to turn social media into a full-time job when she started making videos of herself yelling at servers in restaurants (spoiler: they’re all skits, but they sure look real). She said “no other content got [her] views” in the beginning, but ragebait fit the bill. But now, she’s toning it down in hopes to make her content more “brand friendly.” 

🗳️ Surprise! Politics makes for really, really good ragebait. And whether it’s ragebait content about politics or ragebait from political campaigns themselves, this election cycle has been ripe with it. A big part of why this kind of content activates your angry little amygdala is because people exist in political echo chambers, which make it easier to stigmatize other viewpoints. Ragebait is a reflection of that culture, said Kathryn Coduto, professor of media engagement at Boston University. It’s a tool to galvanize already- or mostly-decided voters and further tick off folks on the other side. 

🧠 But keep in mind: Ragebait doesn’t care about the truth. Often, political ragebait content uses exaggeration and mis- or dis-information to accomplish its goals. But according to Paul Mihailidis, co-director of Emerson’s Engagement Lab, the real danger of ragebait misinformation isn’t that they’re explicitly lying so much as they’re trying to create “the idea … that the truth doesn't matter” as much as how you feel does. Although that might not be too harmful when it comes to a makeup video, in a world where most young folks are getting most of their news from social media, that can be scary.

🤕 The antidote? Touch grass. No, seriously. “When you see a piece of ragebait, take the five seconds and say, ‘is this worth my time?’ … taking those healthy breaks, putting a phone down, you know, not looking at the computer constantly, it's going to be really important to do,” Coduto said.

TOGETHER WITH LUCKY’S LOUNGE AND DOORDASH

Dive bar  🤝 vintage speakeasy

🎲 🍸 Looking for a chill spot in the Seaport that won’t break the bank? Check out Lucky’s Lounge, an underground bar with speakeasy vibes — minus the fuss and overpriced drinks. This cozy hangout serves up classic pub fare that’s perfect for a casual night out or get-together with co-workers after a day in the office. The kitchen is open until 1:30 a.m., perfect for night owls who want to soak in the vibes of a dimly-lit, old-school atmosphere that Sinatra himself would approve of. Calling it a night? You can enjoy it at home by ordering through DoorDash.

CITY

Quick & dirty headlines

📲 Shocker: Gen Z is getting their election info on social media. Boomers love newspapers. Zoomers love influencers, infographics, and memes, according to a recent Globe survey. Less trust in legacy media institutions + way more options for who they want to get their information from = many young voters choosing new ways to follow the news. Many opt to hear folks who they feel like they can relate to, or who might not be as impartial — or, on the flip side, “biased” —  as they perceive more traditional news to be. 

🧓 Come 2032, we might have an 86-year-old Senator. A.k.a. currently 78-year-old Sen. Ed Markey, who recently told WCVB he intends to seek reelection for another six-year term in 2026. And assuming he wins, he’d be in his mid-80s by the end of that term. Markey said the age of his ideas matters more than his literal age, but as more and more voters are concerned about the age of elected officials (72% of Mass. voters approve of a 66-year-old limit), it begs the question of how old is too old to run for office.

🦌 Mass. has a roadkill problem. It’s not pretty, but it’s important! Last year, Mass. saw 3,886 deer strikes, the highest number since 2002, 146 of which resulted in (human) injuries. That’s a problem for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is that it’s pretty brutal for the animals and cars. Beyond that, it can have huge effects on populations that don’t mate as often, like porcupines or turtles. Since animals most often cross the road for mating, migration, or food, the solution, scientists say, is investing in alternative paths for them. 

🌡️ You won’t have to cover your cute costume with a coat this year. In fact, you may even be warm on Halloween, which is expected to hit a near-record 77 degrees here in Boston. This heat isn’t unprecedented — the record to beat from back in 1946 is a whopping 81 degrees. That said, it is pretty warm, and we haven’t seen an over 70-degree Halloween since 2019. And for those of you wishing away the summer temps for something a little cozier … don’t forget the alternative.

QUICK QUESTION

🧓 Would you support an age limit on running for office?

ONE LAST THING

Babies in Halloween costumes!

Hitting the hump day slump? We have the perfect solution: Tiny babies in tiny Halloween costumes.

On Monday, Boston Medical Center’s newborn intensive care unit (NICU) shared photos of infants dressed up in adorable little outfits. There’s a Princess Tiana, a Superman, a ladybug, a piece of candy corn, even a sweet pea — and somehow, they’re all equally cute.

So what are you waiting for? Go look at the tiny costumed babies.

— Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario

👶 Thanks for reading! But if it is a competition, this sweet pea wins by a mile.

💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsors, Lucky’s Lounge and DoorDash, for supporting local journalism and bringing top-tier dining experiences to Boston.

🥶 The results are in: 40% of readers say that they’ve turned on the heat already, and aren’t ashamed to admit it. One said: “I couldn't work in gloves any longer.” Omg!

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