Embedded Files
Are you familiar with the concept of "clickbait"? If so, can you give examples? Watch the video below for clarifications of the concept and then do some research online (on your social media platforms) to find examples of click bait.
Read the clickbait headings below and try to figure out which strategy was used to create them:
Man tries to hug a wild lion. You won’t believe what happens next.
21 stars who ruined their faces due to plastic surgery
Man divorced his wife after knowing what is in this photo
15 hilarious tweets of stupid people that make you think: “Do these people even exist?”
Can you solve this ancient riddle? 90% of the people gave the wrong answer
Supermodels use these simple tricks to stay young. Find out their secrets
You might suffer from a serious condition if you experience these symptoms
15 perfect tweets that sum up student life (no 13 is hilarious)
(adapted from https://medium.com/zerone-magazine/you-wont-believe-how-these-9-shocking-clickbaits-work-number-8-is-a-killer-4cb2ceded8b6
Now check if you were right by doing the quiz linked here
Cooking Up Clickbait (activity inspired from NEWSEUMEd)
Work together to come up with colorful words that fit each of the following categories.
Headline 1
A. Animal (plural)
B. Country
C. Noun (plural)
Headline 2
A. Food
B. Nationality
C. Type of vacation spot
Headline 3
A. Gerund
B. Adverb
C. Adjective
Headline 4
A. Celebrity
B. Animal
C. Name
Headline 5
A. Company
B. Dollar amount
C. U.S. state
D. Adjective
E. Noun (plural)
Headline 6
A. Adjective
B. Adjective
C. Animal
D. Job
You will use the words to fill in the headlines provided by the teacher.
Discuss the follow-up questions in small groups:
Of all the headlines, which would you be most likely to click on? Why? Explain what makes them grab your attention or pique your curiosity.
Is the craziest headline always the most interesting? Are there cases here where the real headlines sound more interesting than the ones you have created?
Where’s the line between a headline that is interesting and one that is “clickbait?”
What can you learn from reading just a headline? What can’t you?
How are the ways we respond to headlines connected to the issue of “fake news”/flawed news and its spread online?
Pick a relatively boring headline from today’s news and read the accompanying news story. Rewrite the headline to make people more likely to click on it. Then rewrite it specifically to appeal to three different audiences: teens, retirees and animal lovers.
Present it using the Breaking News generator linked below:
Work in groups to discuss your clickbait headlines.
How effective do you think your rewritten headlines are?
Do the headlines still reflect the facts of the news story?
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse