What is sealioning?

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Just to make sure my position isn't getting twisted, the behavior being described by the term "sealioning", i.e. asking questions in bad faith in order to make someone waste time and effort does happen, however the vast majority of the time when I see that term deployed, it is itself being used in bad faith to avoid answering questions about a position. It's like "gaslighting" in that way, the term describes a real thing, but misuse has rendered it useless and often a red flag to boot.

The current over-use of the idea of "sealioning" represents a change in online etiquette norms, probably due to the current popularity of social media like Facebook and Twitter, as distinct from old-fashioned message board forums like WP.

Message boards are more conducive to debate and discussion than social media are. On social media, the norm seems to be, if you don't like what someone says, just block them. On message board forums, on the other hand, people can't just block each other.

So, on message board forums, there is more of a sense of responsibility to participate constructively in debate/discussion. Said responsibility includes things like being willing to back up one's claims with evidence.

People are, apparently, less likely to feel such a responsibility on social media. And, as many people have noted, today's social media are very conducive to "bubbles" and general intellectual laziness.

It's a slippery slope!