Clickbait

Clickbait is a headline, photo or link that promises something the page behind it doesn’t deliver. “Doctors hate this one weird trick!” leads to a pill ad. A catchy headline isn’t the problem… clickbait is when the catch is all there is.

Think of it like the carnival barker shouting, “See the two-headed cow!” You pay your quarter, step inside, and find a regular cow standing next to a mirror.

Why should I care?

Most clickbait just wastes your time, but some of it steers you to fake virus warnings, scam ads, or “prizes” that want your credit card number. If a headline tries to panic you about your computer or your money, slow down.