Effects of Clickbait Headlines on User Responses: An Empirical Investigation
From Digital Culture & Society
Contents |
[edit] Article Reference (APA)
Pengnate, S. “Fone,” Chen, J., & Young, A. (2021). Effects of Clickbait Headlines on User Responses: An Empirical Investigation. Journal of International Technology and Information Management
[edit] Article Link and DOI
https://ocul-bu.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01OCUL_BU/p5aakr/cdi_gale_infotracmisc_A678099556
DOI: https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A678099556/AONE?u=st46245&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=0cf047be
[edit] Context
In the digital age, where information is rapidly circulating and attention is a precious commodity, the phenomenon of clickbait has become a subject of increasing interest. Clickbait headlines are designed to grab users' attention, often through sensationalism or ambiguity, with the primary goal of enticing them to click on the content. This study delves into the impact of clickbait headlines on users' perceptions and responses, with the goal of contributing important evidence to the ongoing discussion about this pervasive online strategy.To assess the effects of clickbait, the study conducts an experiment comparing traditional news headlines to clickbait headlines. Traditional headlines typically aim for clarity and informativeness, while clickbait relies on elements that trigger curiosity and arousal. The findings from the article takes a look at the psychological aspects of user responses, revealing that clickbait headlines are effective in evoking arousal and curiosity among online users. More importantly, the study explores how these emotional responses translate into user intentions. It distinguishes between perceived knowledge quality, where traditional headlines outperform clickbait, and the spiked-up arousal and curiosity induced by clickbait. The research model employed in the study tests the relationships between these factors and users' intentions, uncovering that curiosity has the strongest impact on the intention to read, while perceived knowledge quality significantly influences the intention to share.
[edit] Overview
This study investigates the influence of clickbait headlines on online users' perceptions and responses. An experiment compared traditional news headlines to clickbait headlines to provide empirical evidence. The results suggest that clickbait headlines can evoke arousal and curiosity in users. Perceived knowledge quality is higher for traditional headlines while clickbait induces more arousal and curiosity. A research model tested relationships between these factors and intentions, finding curiosity strongest impacts intention to read while knowledge quality influences intention to share most.
[edit] Strengths and Weaknesses
This article does a good job at displaying empirical evidence. The study employs an experimental approach, comparing traditional news headlines with clickbait headlines. This methodological choice enhances the reliability and validity of the findings, providing concrete evidence to support the conclusions. Another strength of the article is that it is a focused investigation. The research specifically delves into the influence of clickbait headlines on users' perceptions and responses. This focused investigation allows for a more in-depth understanding of the dynamics surrounding clickbait, contributing to the existing body of knowledge in this area. The article also shows a clear, as well as comparative analysis by directly comparing traditional news headlines to clickbait headlines, the study provides a clear and understandable framework for readers. This comparative analysis helps to highlight the distinct effects of clickbait on user perceptions and responses. The article then identifies emotional responses, meaning that it successfully identifies emotional responses elicited by clickbait headlines, such as arousal and curiosity. This contributes to the psychological understanding of how users engage with clickbait content, offering valuable insights into the emotional impact of different types of headlines. Finally, the article does a good job of testing relationships. The research model goes beyond merely describing effects and actively tests relationships between factors (arousal, curiosity, knowledge quality) and users' intentions. This analytical approach adds depth to the study, allowing for a nuanced understanding of the underlying mechanisms at play.
One weakness that was found within the article is that the findings from an experiment may have limited generalizability to real-world situations. The controlled environment might not fully capture the complexities of users' behaviors and responses in their natural online environments. Another weakness could be that there is too much focus on arousal and curiosity within the article. While arousal and curiosity are explored as emotional responses, other potential dimensions of user experience, such as trust, credibility, or satisfaction, may not be fully addressed. The study's exclusive focus on arousal and curiosity may provide a narrow perspective on the overall impact of clickbait.
[edit] Assessment
To conclude what has been previously stated, this article goes into the impact of clickbait headlines on online users' perceptions and responses, offering valuable empirical insights through a comparative experiment with traditional news headlines. The findings reveal a nuanced picture: clickbait headlines successfully evoke arousal and curiosity among users. Notably, perceived knowledge quality remains higher for traditional headlines, underscoring the dichotomy between sensationalism and substance. The study navigates the intricate relationships between these factors and user intentions, shedding light on the dynamics at play The recognition that curiosity emerges as a main factor that influences the intention to read aligns with the curiosity and attraction of clickbait, emphasizing the draw of sensational content. At the same time, the acknowledgement that traditional headlines impact users' intention to share more significantly based on perceived knowledge quality suggests a user preference for substance when considering social sharing. To conclude, this research provides a balanced understanding, acknowledging how effective clickbait is in capturing attention and creating curiosity while recognizing the massive influence of traditional headlines associated with perceived knowledge quality. It contributes meaningfully to the ongoing debate about clickbait, offering a deep insight into user behavior and intentions in the digital information landscape.
Bd20mp 09:59, 4 December 2023 (EST)
Please consider the environment before
printing this page.