Is “Obliterated” the New Baiting?
The Early Days of Baiting
As the speed of technological development accelerates, many therapists may feel they are in a constant state of catching up. Alongside this, new language emerges – language we have to tune into. Recently, I’ve been hearing new ways of describing experiences with AI chat platforms and LLMs (large language models).
Firstly, baiting. Is this now an outdated phenomenon, or has it simply evolved?
Around 11 years ago, I was baited on my Twitter account. It was a private account, used mainly for football updates on my team, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Back then, you’d get notified when you had a new follower, often a small dopamine hit. Who could it be?
I opened the new follower’s account. There she was: see figure one for a classic example of being baited.
Figure 1
Figure 2
GET IN TOUCH
This wasn’t a Wolverhampton Wanderers supporter. Aside from the gold and black scarf, everything else was clearly constructed. This is a classic example of a supernormal stimulus- exaggerated features designed to capture attention: a baby-like face, enhanced proportions, and an unrealistic setting. At the time, this was done using Photoshop. It looked convincing, but only if you didn’t pause.
Looking further into the account (figure two), more inconsistencies appeared. A tattoo had changed sides. Anatomical details didn’t quite align. These were signs of manipulation, something much easier to detect back then than it is today.
This is what I refer to as baiting: being drawn in by an image designed to trigger curiosity and arousal, leading quickly into a funnel of further content. Within a couple of clicks, you could find yourself redirected to platforms designed to monetise attention.
Put another way, it’s the beginning of a “rabbit hole”, a process of seeking and searching, often driven by dopamine-based anticipation rather than conscious choice. These kinds of patterns are often explored in work around sex addiction, where recognising triggers and slowing down automatic responses can be an important part of recovery.
From Static Images to AI-Driven Experiences
Over the past decade, this kind of baiting has started to feel almost old-fashioned. I still use these examples in therapy to help clients slow down, notice their responses, and step out of automatic patterns of seeking.
But the landscape has changed.
AI-generated imagery has moved from obvious errors, such as distorted hands, to highly realistic outputs that are increasingly difficult to distinguish from real images. Alongside this, a wide range of AI systems have emerged, including tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and DeepSeek. These mainstream systems are moderated, with built-in safeguards around the type of content they will produce.
However, there is another layer.
Open-source AI models, such as Stable Diffusion, can be run locally on a personal computer. Interfaces like ComfyUI allow users to generate highly customised images and videos with significant control over the process. These systems can operate offline and, depending on how they are configured, with far fewer restrictions.
What I am describing here is not a specific product, but a shift in experience. These are AI environments where traditional boundaries—filters, moderation, and external limits—can be significantly reduced or removed.
Why This Matters in Therapy
In this sense, what I previously called “baiting” may be evolving into something more immersive.
Rather than a static image pulling someone in, these systems can become interactive and responsive. They can adapt to prompts, reflect preferences, and potentially reinforce patterns of seeking behaviour in a more continuous way. The anticipation of “what comes next” becomes more personalised, more immediate, and less constrained than in earlier forms of digital engagement.
If baiting was the “wild west” of the early internet, this may represent something different again – less visible, more tailored, and harder to step back from.
For many people, the accessibility of technology also changes how support is accessed. Therapy can now take place remotely, and online therapy offers a confidential and flexible way to begin addressing these patterns without needing to attend in person.
And increasingly, this is beginning to enter the therapy room.