What is a clickbait
- Why is clickbait problematic?
- Where does clickbait come from?
- How do I identify it?
If you’ve spent any time online, you’ve probably seen photographs and stories with titles similar to the ones in the examples above. They represent only a minor portion of clickbait.
A sensationalised headline that tempts you to click on a link to an article, picture, or video is known as clickbait. Clickbait titles frequently play on your emotions and pique your curiosity rather than offering unbiased facts. After you click, the link’s host website receives money from ads, but the actual material is typically of dubious veracity and quality. To get as many hits as possible and boost their ad revenue, websites use clickbait.
Despite being utilised since the 19th century, dramatic headlines and content have gained popularity in the digital age. Clickbait still has the same goal as its predecessor, which is to grab your attention by whatever means necessary, despite the fact that it is based on an ancient concept.
Why is clickbait problematic?
Websites that use clickbait often prioritise generating clicks over producing high-quality content. They don’t care if they waste your time with subpar stuff, according to this.
When clickbait is combined with the production of fake news, it can be dangerous. Readers are moved by the outrageously false headlines, who subsequently share the material on social media. You might be curious as to why clickbait and fake news continue to circulate despite their subpar quality and veracity. Sadly, research has found that six out of ten people share story headlines on social media without reading the full text.
Where does clickbait come from?
It is hard to avoid because you can find it practically anyplace online. While many credible websites, like weather reports and news organisations, provide ad space to clickbait content, clickbait headlines are popular in online spaces like social media and blogs. This means that even when you’re on a reliable website, you need exercise caution before clicking a link.
How do I identify it?
Clickbait is typically identifiable by an absurd headline or image, however this isn’t always the case. It might be challenging to tell a respectable title from clickbait at times. Every news item seeks your attention, after all.
The use of ambiguous titles and graphics that leave room for your imagination are a few common components of clickbait material. Along with numbered lists like 17 Facts You Won’t Believe Are True, shock and indignation are other techniques used in clickbait to draw you in. These elements are frequently used in links to entice you to click.
Here’s how you can identify clickbait in an article: It’s probably clickbait if the title expresses your emotions for you rather than allowing you to formulate your own.