News Live Desk
Every day, you pick up your phone, spend time on social media, and while scrolling, some headlines catch your attention—such as “This One Trick Will Change Your Life!” or “You Won’t Believe This Shocking Truth!” You click, only to find that the content doesn’t live up to the headline’s promise. Later, you realize that you wasted your time. Have you ever wondered what this is? This is called clickbait. Let’s understand what clickbait content is and how it affects our digital experience.
Even our own headline, “You Encounter This Every Day – Do You Know About Clickbait?”, is designed to make you curious and click on the link. However, the second part, “Do You Know About Clickbait?”, is straightforward.
What is Clickbait?
In today’s fast-paced digital world, everyone is fighting for your attention. While scrolling through social media, you suddenly come across headlines like:
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“This One Trick Will Change Your Life!”
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“Here Are the 5 Most Mysterious Places in the World – #3 Will Shock You!”
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“Lose Weight in Just 7 Days with This Remedy!”
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“After Watching This Video, You’ll Never Drink Tea Again!”
These eye-catching headlines flood your phone screen daily.
Out of curiosity, you click, but what you get is far from what was promised. This is clickbait content—designed to lure you in with exaggerated claims but offering little real value.
Clickbait is not an old term; it emerged in the last 15–20 years with the rise of the internet and social media. In the 2010s, certain websites popularized it by producing sensational lists and videos. The goal? Your one click, which brings ad revenue to websites. In digital marketing, it’s an easy way to increase traffic. The main problem arises when there is a huge gap between the headline and the actual content. Over time, users feel deceived, and trust in such websites declines.
How to Identify Clickbait?
Next time you see an over-the-top headline, pause and think:
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Does it include phrases like “shocking,” “unbelievable,” or “you won’t believe”?
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Is it tempting you with incomplete information?
If yes, then it’s probably clickbait.
As people grow tired of clickbait, websites are realizing the need to maintain trust. In the future, we may see less clickbait and more genuine content. But until then, we need to stay smart.
Origin of the Word “Clickbait”
The term “clickbait” is derived from two English words:
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“Click” – meaning to press or select a link.
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“Bait” – meaning something used to lure or attract (like fish bait).
Thus, clickbait refers to content designed to lure users into clicking on a link.
In Hindi, the word “clickbait” has been adopted directly, as English terms are common in digital journalism. Traditional journalism never had “clickbait”, as newspapers and TV had no concept of “clicking.” Clickbait is purely an internet phenomenon.
How & When Did Clickbait Begin?
Clickbait emerged with the rise of the internet, especially in the 2000s when websites and blogs started increasing. However, it truly boomed in the 2010s with social media and digital advertising.
In the past, newspapers used sensational headlines like “Shock in the City!” Clickbait is its digital version, but with a key difference—it is directly linked to online traffic and ad revenue.
As online content grew, websites needed more visitors for ad earnings. This gave rise to clickbait. Initially, it was also called “linkbait”.
With the expansion of social media, clickbait became a strategy. Posts started using half-revealed statements to force curiosity and clicks.
After 2015, users began complaining about feeling misled. In response, social media platforms and search engines changed their algorithms to reduce the reach of low-quality clickbait. However, it hasn’t completely disappeared.
