When you want to know the Truth but it isn’t there
#ClickBait is a tactic that is often referred to those annoying pop ups that advertise miracle cures or investment opportunities that promise the earth but are just a big old con. Well it's just as applicable to the news headlines as they are desperate to get you reading, and here are 3 different ways that they do it…
1: Dyson defeated over EU energy efficiency labels for vacuum cleaners
The first thing you think, “oh no my Dyson isn’t as efficient as they claim and the EU is forcing them to change the ratings”.
This is a classic case of cherry picking exciting words that make a story more interesting or controversial. That headline is about Dysons lawsuit against Siemens energy rating claims that they lost but let’s be honest ‘Siemens energy ratings on their vacuums is right’ isn’t going to get you reading https://goo.gl/JtQYDM
2:Norman Reedus to exit The Walking Dead after Andrew Lincoln pact?
You're thinking “Nooooo my world will end, Rick is leaving and now Daryl, I’m stopping everything and going to read this article”.
This is a nefarious tactic that has a rule that is pretty simple to follow, if an article ends with a ? you can normally answer NO. The actual article clearly says he’s said he’s NOT leaving but they made a pact seasons ago to leave together which was a bit of a joke https://goo.gl/LZr1pZ
3: Here's when Game of Thrones season 8 will air
This is a brain overload “At last I’ve been waiting ages for the final season and this is the actual air date”
This is just a blatant miss truth as in the article it is suggested to be within the first 6 month window of the following year but might slip. In other words they still don’t know https://goo.gl/reABmu
So ClickBait tactics are
1: Cherry Picking buzz words to make an article sound interesting
2: The use of a ? to print something they know isn’t true
3: Just a blatant lie to get you clicking
Some publications will do anything to get your attention and the advertising revenue from it which is why www.LetsCallBull.com was set up, we’re ‘Getting to the Truth’ and cutting through #FakeNews
Maxwell
Chief Admin