clickbait

American  

[klik-beyt] / ˈklɪkˌbeɪt /

noun

1. a sensationalized headline or piece of text on the internet designed to entice people to follow a link to an article on another web page.

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adjective

1. noting or relating to such internet content.

   Clickbait articles contribute to the online visibility of the news website.

Usage

What does clickbait mean? Clickbait describes misleading internet content or shocking headline titles that aim to drive traffic to a website.

Etymology

Origin of clickbait

First recorded in 1995–2000; click ¹ (in the computer sense) + bait

Example Sentences

Everyone wants a click of this clickbait, even though it isn’t clear this is an actual crisis, and may simply fall under the rubric of “inane stuff to talk about before people we start winning medals.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Speaking to Sky Sports' Gary Neville, the defender warned opinions sometimes strayed into "clickbait, saying things to provoke things, and without thinking about the repercussions for the mental side of players".

From BBC

As the world marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Tuesday, experts warn that such content -- whether produced as clickbait for commercial gain, or for political motives -- threatens efforts to preserve the memory of Nazi crimes.

From Barron's

In a recent edition of his Substack newsletter, Bob Elliott, chief investment officer at investment firm Unlimited and former executive at hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, dismissed concerns about another carry-trade blowup as “clickbait fears.”

From MarketWatch

“Spam, fluff, clickbait, churnalism, kitsch — slop: These are all ways to describe mass-produced, low-quality content.”

From Los Angeles Times