RageCheck Points Out Manipulative Language in News Articles.
If you’re uncomfortable with how the internet is affecting your feelings right now, you’re not alone. The entire ecosystem seems designed to manipulate you, which can make it difficult to find clarity. I’ve written about how to avoid anxiety-inducing triggers , which can be an important step toward healthy and productive interactions, but recognizing instances of manipulation is crucial. RageCheck is a potentially useful tool in this regard.
Based on concepts from social science research, this website can analyze any link or screenshot. It identifies examples of potentially manipulative language, from “us versus them” arguments to emotionally charged phrases. “The system analyzes text for linguistic patterns typically associated with manipulative argumentation—language optimized to provoke strong emotional reactions rather than comprehension,” the methodology page states . “It does not assess factual accuracy or political bias.”
Using the site is very simple: just paste the article link and press Enter. Within moments, you’ll see a statistical analysis of the article’s potentially manipulative language across five categories: emotional tension, “us versus them,” moral outrage, black-and-white thinking, and conflict provocation. Below is an excerpt from the article with examples of these tactics highlighted. In the left panel, you’ll see a “Bait Score,” which indicates how manipulative the article is. Below that, you’ll see a list of the potentially manipulative tactics used in the article.
None of the above is intended to be used as an alternative to fact-checking or as any mechanism for discovering truth. “A high score means the content uses manipulative language—it does not mean the underlying claims are false,” the About Us page states. “Conversely, a low score does not mean the content is true.”
It’s worth noting that the methods this tool identifies aren’t necessarily bad. Some news stories are genuinely morally outrageous, especially in the context of op-eds or editorials. Nevertheless, identifying such methods remains valuable.
Essentially, it’s a tool that will help you critically think about the content you consume, but it won’t do it for you. Use it if you want to learn a little about the rhetorical devices you might be susceptible to.