Gone Fishin’: The Influence of “click-bait” in Social Media.
If you’re anything like me you wake up, check your phone, browse social media, and click on all news stories that catch your attention. The rise of social media as a news outlet is just beginning. Millennials and Gen-Z are some of the most versatile consumers of social media — business, pleasure, leisure, and news.
The idea of social media having such influence over others’ thoughts and actions is not hard to grasp. I mean think about it, why do you follow and like the content you do? Chances are, there is an interest there, a relation, an influence. Not long ago, the talk of cryptocurrency, specifically, Dogecoin, had erupted out of the dark void once the infamous and influential Elon Musk began mention of “Bringing it to the moon”. We all know Elon has aspirations of space travel and moon landings, the idea was that Dogecoin’s value would also soar to such great heights. Content like the ‘meme’ below are what continue to drive this social phenomenon. It’s a piece of content that users can relate to — a form of click-bait leading your interest to Dogecoin.
Memes aren’t the only bit of “click-bait” that is permitting this landslide of influence and action to continue. Even news organizations are figuring out ways to ride the landslide and gain more traction; more readers. News and entertainment outlets are drafting stories around the cryptocurrency as well.
The above piece of “click-bait” posted to twitter, actually takes you to a video about comparing cryptocurrencies. Check out below.
As far as generating content to attract users, a simple post featuring a statistic can also gain momentum and traction. See below!
Cryptocurrency isn’t the only subject organizations and individuals are posting “click-bait” to gain traction on their agenda. Can you guess what else might be at the center of all this “click-bait” traction?
You guessed it! Politics.
The Babylon Bee is a source, much like The Onion, where humor and satire filled articles are published around real actual news. I mean, check out that headline. If this social media post doesn’t catch your attention and direct you to the real thing, what will? Can you imagine turning on the news only to listen to the same anchors talk about such a subject? Interest is plummeting…More and more organizations are finding ways to market their material and grow their audience.
Now, whether you like it or not, sources such as The Blaze amongst others, will craft their headlines around bits of a story to provoke a click; a view. See the above image.
Some organizations will craft a piece of content which packages others’ initial postings and audience members comments on them and gain traction, momentum, and viewings that way. As said before, relating to the audience is a great way to influence and gain a following. See below.
Social media is a great tool for us all, no matter how you take advantage of the various platforms out there. User beware — the click-bait might take you into a void of no return, reading article after article and meme after meme until bam! the sun is rising and you’re late for your 9–5.
