Merriam Webster defines click bait as ‘something (such as a headline) designed to make readers want to click on a hyperlink especially when the link leads to content of dubious value or interest.’  Wikipedia defines click bait as ‘a form of false advertisement which uses hyperlink text or a thumbnail link that is designed to attract attention and entice users to follow that link and read, view, or listen to the linked piece of online content, with a defining characteristic of being deceptive, typically sensationalized or misleading.’

If you have spent any amount of time online then you have come across click bait. A catchy headline or photograph catches your attention only to find there was nothing in the article that resembled the headline. Or, the articles content was exaggerated, dubious, or provided no facts to back up the claims. In the days before internet became widely popular, we had magazines with such titles as Bat Child Found in Cave. It was an article about a young boy who resembled a bat and was supposedly found in a cave in West Virginia. It could also be called fake news but if Bat Boy would have been found in the 21st century he most certainly would have been the stuff click bait is made from.

Cryptocurrency is not immune to click bait articles and seems to be a preferred topic among writers. A recent search provided me with such headlines as:

‘BITCOIN SHOCK WARNING: Cryptocurrency could lead to END OF THE WORLD.’

‘GLOBAL ECONOMIC COLLAPSE COMING 2020 How Bitcoin Can Help our Economy.’  

‘The Truth About Bitcoin & The Mark Of The Beast - YouTube’

The term click bait is so widely used now that readers tend to dismiss anything they do not agree with or find ubelieveable as click bait. In addition, there have been some pretty wild stories that were dismissed as fake that turned out to be true. On June 7, 1988 a headline came out that stated, ‘WOMAN BURSTS INTO FLAMES DURING OPERATION! However, it turned out to be true. She survived but suffered from second and third degree burns.

In this day and age of digital media, we have access to thousands of articles every day. There are simply not enough hours in a day to filter though them all. Click bait tends to use catchy headlines, cute animals, suspense, personalization, pop culture, and mystery to get your attention. Sometimes it uses outright lies.

There is a saying among writers that goes something like, “Don’t let research get in the way of a good story.” Remember that the next time you are reading something sensationalistic about cryptocurrency. Then on the other hand, the article just may be true. Perhaps the ones who need to be doing the research are the readers?  Oh, and your choice of cryptocurrency? It says you are smart.