Triggerbait

A video or other media that was created with the sole purpose of triggering people.

That video was complete triggerbait.

by Lisa Adler June 18, 2017

Triggerbait

A specialized form of reactbait focused specifically on triggering psychological trauma or intense emotional distress in a target. Triggerbait involves identifying a person's known triggers—past trauma, deep fears, painful memories—and deliberately invoking them. A single word, an image, a reference to a traumatic event—carefully chosen to cause maximum psychological pain. The goal is not just reaction but wounding, not just emotion but damage. Triggerbait is psychological warfare at its most intimate and cruel, requiring knowledge of the target's vulnerabilities and willingness to exploit them.

Example: "She'd shared once that she had PTSD from a car accident. Months later, after an argument, he triggerbaited her: a graphic description of a car crash, timed to catch her alone at night. She spiraled, couldn't sleep, couldn't function. He'd stored her trauma like ammunition, waiting for the perfect moment to fire. Triggerbait had done its work: maximum pain, minimal effort."

by Abzugal February 19, 2026