ickeincreasing

ickeincreasing is a neologism used primarily in informal discussion to describe the escalation of negative sentiment or repulsion toward a phenomenon over time. The word combines "ick," an expression of disgust, with "increasing" to signal a rising intensity.

Etymology and scope: The term appears in online communities and speculative essays from the early 2020s, lacking a formal definition in peer-reviewed literature. It is often applied in contexts such as media discourse, product criticism, and social sentiment analyses, where initial reactions of discomfort appear to intensify as coverage or discussion expands.

Definition and mechanism: In usage, ickeincreasing denotes a feedback process in which initial discomfort or disgust increases attention, which in turn amplifies perception of the issue, leading to further negative sentiment. This can arise through media framing, social contagion, or design features that heighten "ick" cues, creating a self-reinforcing cycle.

Relation to other concepts: The idea shares similarities with negative feedback loops, amplification of sentiment, and phenomena akin to moral panic or disgust contagion. However, ickeincreasing is informal and not standardized; it is sometimes used descriptively rather than analytically.

See also: Disgust, moral panic, feedback loop, sentiment analysis, user experience, media effects.