What Is Clickbait and How Do I Talk To My Child About It?

Clickbait has grabbed people's attention by inciting emotion or curiosity. It can be a headline or image that stands out. You move your mouse or finger over it without thinking twice, and then CLICK!

Although it might not seem important, research shows Clickbait and made-for-advertising (MFA) made $115 million of its clients’ $1.47 billion ad budget from January 2020 to May 2022.

It’s all with the help of online marketers who put a lot of effort into creating traps that tempt you to do that. Clicking on their links is how they earn money. They want you to do so. In some circumstances, you only need to click to slightly enlarge their take-home earnings.

YEAH! that doesn't sound so bad when scrolling through social networks or watching TV. Except when it becomes a habit.

This means the clickbait you've been laughing at or sharing with your friends could be staining your child's moral character because they're looking up to you as their good example, and it is everywhere!

As a parent, you want to ensure your child is safe and protected from every potential danger. But with the rise of clickbait, knowing what's genuine and what's false is challenging.

Clickbait can come in many forms — advertisements, videos disguised as news and stories, and more — but you need to know how these tactics will negatively impact your child and their future.

But what is clickbait? And how do I talk to my children about it?

This article will discuss clickbait, how we can talk to our children about it, the consequences of exposing them to this harmful content, and many more.

What is Clickbait?

Clickbait is a type of online content that is designed to generate clicks. It typically takes the form of headlines or images designed to be attention-grabbing and often sensational. Online publishers often use clickbait to increase web traffic and generate revenue.

While clickbait can effectively generate clicks, it is often criticized for being misleading and clickbait. Clickbait headlines often make exaggerated or fake news, and the content inside the article often does not live up to the hype of the headline.

Clickbait can effectively generate clicks, but it can also backfire if your content fails to deliver on the promises to generate traffic to your website.

If you're wondering what clickbait looks like, check out these classic examples:

• "You Won't Believe What This Celebrity Wears to the Gym!"
• "This Simple Trick Will Help You Lose Weight Fast!"
• "This Pop Star Just Announced Their Retirement in the Most Strange Way!"
• "You won't believe what this celebrity said!"
• "This new product will change your life!"
• "This one simple trick will help you lose weight fast!"

If you see a common sense media that looks too good to be true, it's probably clickbait. Be wary of classic clickbait techniques, as it often disappoints.

The goal of clickbait is to get people to click on a link, usually to an article or video. However, once the person clicks on the link, they often find that the content could be more interesting and exciting than they were led to believe.

How Does Clickbait Work?

How clickbait works? There's a science behind clickbait techniques and practice. We'll look at how clickbait works and why it's effective.

There are a few reasons. We are hardwired to respond to stimuli. For example, we are likelier to pay attention to something attentive and mysterious.

Simply put, clickbait works by preying on our natural curiosity. When we see a headline that is intriguing or mysterious, we can't help but click on it to find out more. And once we're on the website, the advertiser can sell us something.

While some people find clickbait annoying, there's no denying that it's an effective way to get people to click on links. And as long as people keep clicking, we'll likely see more of it in the future.

Hence, once you're on the site, the clickbait has done its job, and you're more likely to see ads or click on links that the site wants you to see.

So next time you see a headline that's too good to be true, be wary - it's likely clickbait. And if you want to avoid it, the best thing you can do is not to click on the link.

Is Your Child's Online Security at Risk from Clickbait?

Online safety is a big concern for parents. Also, a recent study by the National Cyber Security Alliance revealed that many people's children are at risk of being targeted by clickbait ads that lead to malicious websites.

This can be especially problematic for children because they are less likely to question whether or not the information is accurate and may accidentally give away personal information or log into their accounts without knowing what they are doing.

These ads use images of babies and young children to target parents and children. The study found that one in five websites that pop up when clicking on these ads are malicious, which can lead to identity theft, phishing attacks, or the installation of spyware.

• Malware and viruses - Links can occasionally lead to harmful websites or phishing programs that can infect your computer or mobile device. Children who click on these sites could download harmful software on their computers or smartphones without realizing it.
• Identity theft and fraud - Children may be persuaded to divulge personal information while unaware they are on a fraudulent website. They might reveal passwords, addresses, names, birth dates, and other details that con artists could use to commit fraud and identity theft.
• Misinformation and deception - Some clickbait's goal is to disseminate divisive, unfavorable, or incorrect information. Children could find it challenging to comprehend what they are watching or why it is detrimental. Politics can play a role occasionally, but some con artists just like to spread untruths.
• Inadequate information - Clickbait might easily connect to any adult material, including pornographic, sexual, drug/alcohol-related, and more.
• Wasted time – At the very least, clickbait promotes endless screen time, scrolling, and content consumption. Kids don't need to fall into the clickbait trap if there isn't a specific goal, such as education or making friends.

Most of the time, these articles are entirely false and misleading, so it's essential to be aware of what your child is clicking on and what they are reading.

It's also essential to take precautions to ensure that your child's internet browsing remains safe and secure.

How to Talk to Your Child About Clickbait?

The prevalence of clickbait on the internet has increased dramatically in recent years. It's important to talk to your child about clickbait. It often needs to be more accurate and helpful. Here are some tips and tricks for talking to your child about clickbait:

The first step is explaining to them what it is and how it works. Clickbait means advertising sensational or provocative headlines to get people to click on a link. You can also help them to understand that only some things on the internet are accurate and that they should be careful about what they click on.

Explain why clickbait is often inaccurate. Clickbait often uses exaggerated or misleading headlines to get people to practice mindful clicking. The headline could be better than the article or video content.

Secondly, talk about how to spot clickbait. A few things can help you spot clickbait:

• The headline is usually hyperbolic or otherwise sensational.
• The headline often uses vague language.
• The article often needs to match the headline.
• The report is often short and light on content.

Clickbait is likely if you see fake news, news stories, or gift guides that use vague language and don't match the article. Be wary of these articles, as they are often light on content and don't provide much value.

Additionally, you can encourage them to be critical thinkers by showing them how to spot clickbait and teaching them to question the content they see online.

Finally, give some tips on how to avoid clickbait. By explaining clickbait and its dangers, you can help your child make more informed decisions about what they click on online. Ultimately, the goal is to help your child understand how to evaluate the information they encounter critically.

Conclusion: Tips for Keeping Your Kids Safe Online from Clickbait

While clickbait can be harmless, it can also spread misinformation or lure people into clicking on malicious links.

However, clickbait can harm children as it can expose them to inappropriate content or lead them to believe false information.

To help keep your kids safe online, talk to them about clickbait and teach them how to identify it. Additionally, monitor their online activity and set appropriate filters and limits.

It's essential to keep an eye on your child's online activity and to set appropriate filters and limits. This will help them stay safe online and avoid inappropriate content.

You can use parental control third-party tools, such as Fenced.ai. Fenced.ai is one of the best parental apps that helps you monitor your middle-school teens and kids, as well as helps to monitor the employees.

It also helps to keep track of their social media. You can define what users to click on, runs ads on the browser web page together with techniques, and practice mindful traits.

📖 Also Read: How To Be A Good Parent | 8 Parenting Skills And Advice