As a newspaper editor I always took headlines seriously and made sure they were reflective of the article. It was just the right thing to do and made your publication more credible. There are no online editors monitoring the millions of stories and videos for authentic content.
It's the wild, wild, west in computer land where bad actors roam the net looking to deceive and cheat viewers. It's human nature to be curious when you see a sensational headline. Even if your brain tells you to be suspicious you find yourself taking a sneaky peek to see the rest of the story.
While surfing platforms like YouTube, you'll find a dazzling array of clickbait examples; one video shows Trump in MAGA hat and looking ragged. The headline said, "Send Him to Walter Reed!!" So, who wouldn't want to find out if Trump had some serious ailment? Therein lies the struggle.
Clickbait examples use sensational, vague, or fear-inducing headlines to get clicks, often promising shocking reveals or secrets, like "You Won't Believe What the Child Star is Doing Now? Or "This One Weird Trick Will Save you 70%!"
Common tactics include numbered lists (15 Ways to Lose Weight), unfinished thoughts ("Before You Do That, You Have to Know This...") or exaggerated claims, aiming to create artificial urgency or curiosity that often doesn't match the actual content. They also offer vague promises: "The Answer Will Blow Your Mind!" or "They Didn't Know...Then This Happened."
The goal is to pique curiosity by withholding information, using sensational language ("Shocking, "Unbelievable") to provoke an emotional response, and the heart of clickbait is driving page views and advertising revenue.
Depending on the goal of the scam, one click could result in a new slew of email or text spam, malicious data mining, or even a monthly charge on your phone bill.
According to the Better Business Bureau consumers need to be beware with the IQ tests, and quizzes that require you trade information.
The best defense against clickbait is knowledge. Similar to the plague of fake news circulating online, clickbait is getting more sophisticated and deceptive in appearance, which means that users must be even more sophisticated in understanding how to sidestep these digital traps.
Make sure your devise is protected. There're too many bad actors out there who will exploit your data with one click. Be aware of the dangers I listed above. It's your discernment and ability to hold onto your clicks that will protect your viewing experiences.
Here's a video that will help (don't worry I checked it out); What is Clickbait
As it Stands, full disclosure, I have been a victim of clickbait (years ago) and have been hyperalert ever since.
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