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Fake News and Information Literacy: Clickbait - The Emotional Trap

Resources to equip students and the general public to identify reliable sources of news and other information.

The Shocking Truth about Clickbait!

Clickbait imageThe Shocking Truth: How Click Bait Addiction Will Ruin Your Life!

 

Read this post! You won’t believe what happens next! It could save your life! Ten Things You Can’t Afford NOT to Know! 

Click bait is the eye candy of the internet. A title or picture so tantalizing that we can’t resist clicking on it.

Clickbait: What is it?

Provocative or sensationalistic headline text that entices people to click on a link to an article, used as a publishing tactic to increase webpage views and associated ad revenue. - Source: THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION

Something (such as a headline) designed to make readers want to click on a hyperlink especially when the link leads to content of dubious value or interest
  • It is difficult to remember a time when you could scroll through the social media outlet of your choice and not be bombarded with: You'll never believe what happened when … This is the cutest thing ever … This the biggest mistake you can make … Take this quiz to see which character you are on … They are all classic clickbait models. —Emily Shire - Source: Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web.

How easy is it?

Common Factors of a Clickbait Title

Common Factors of a Clickbait Title

Source: https://venngage.com/blog/7-reasons-why-clicking-this-title-will-prove-why-you-clicked-this-title/