It means what you think it means: bait for clicks. It's a link which entices you to click on it.
The "bait" comes in many shapes and sizes, but it is usually intentionally misleading and/or crassly provocative. Clicking will inevitably cause disappointment. Clickbait is usually created for money.
One common type is adverts and spam, such as you might find on a random website or in your Facebook feed. Such clickbait usually leads to a site which tries to sell you something or possibly extort you, by withholding the promised "bait". Typical examples include: a sexy picture which promises to show more; suggestive and intriguing captions, like "you won't believe what this hot girl did"; stories designed to inflame people, such as by playing on political passions, like "woman demands more benefits to pay for comfort eating"; and claimed weight loss methods or body building methods, often with some "weird easy trick".
The second main variety is headlines to media sites which make money from page views. Common offenders are Buzzfeed, and Gawker and its affiliated sites. The headlines are designed to cause maximum provocation or interest, but as a result are frequently extremely exaggerated or flat out lies, and the articles themselves are often just as shoddy.
The "bait" comes in many shapes and sizes, but it is usually intentionally misleading and/or crassly provocative. Clicking will inevitably cause disappointment. Clickbait is usually created for money.
One common type is adverts and spam, such as you might find on a random website or in your Facebook feed. Such clickbait usually leads to a site which tries to sell you something or possibly extort you, by withholding the promised "bait". Typical examples include: a sexy picture which promises to show more; suggestive and intriguing captions, like "you won't believe what this hot girl did"; stories designed to inflame people, such as by playing on political passions, like "woman demands more benefits to pay for comfort eating"; and claimed weight loss methods or body building methods, often with some "weird easy trick".
The second main variety is headlines to media sites which make money from page views. Common offenders are Buzzfeed, and Gawker and its affiliated sites. The headlines are designed to cause maximum provocation or interest, but as a result are frequently extremely exaggerated or flat out lies, and the articles themselves are often just as shoddy.
Thanks for wasting my time with this lying clickbait, random Gawker editor. Congratulations, you've gotten your two cents out of me. Now off you go and spend it on your favourite brand of cheap gin - the one you swill at night as you silently shed tears whilst contemplating your miserable, tortured existence and failed journalism career.
by Gloone February 24, 2015
A cheap tactic used to gain views. Common types of clickbait are misleading titles (You Won't Believe What Happens Next!) or more recently with the rise of custom YouTube thumbnails, misleading thumbnails-most commonly boobs.
1) There are so many clickbait articles here. Who writes this stuff anyway?
2) Anything from Flashgitz. Seriously.
2) Anything from Flashgitz. Seriously.
by Pitchy May 2, 2016
Clickbait, or Clique béaté is a french term, coined in the 16th century. It means, "To use thy persuasion to reap the gaze of thou's congregation." In modern terms, this means, "To try to get MAD views."
Look at this video! "Trump supports KKK?"
*click*
Oh. he supports Krispy Kreme's move to make the worlds Krispiest donuts. Interesting clickbait my dude.
*click*
Oh. he supports Krispy Kreme's move to make the worlds Krispiest donuts. Interesting clickbait my dude.
by 6g9 November 4, 2017
by CashioKing April 27, 2020
The biggest lie you can get on the internet, commonly found on N&A Production’s YouTube videos.
The description and the thumbnail of these videos are worse. Usually containing massive arrows pointing to something blurred out, and having a crap ton of cancerous emojis.
The description and the thumbnail of these videos are worse. Usually containing massive arrows pointing to something blurred out, and having a crap ton of cancerous emojis.
FACETIMING DAME TU COSTIA IN A ROBLOX, MINECRAFT, MCDONALD’S WHILE ORDERING A NUMBER 15 BURGER KING FOOT LETTUCE AND SCREAMING GUCCI GANG WITH BOSSBABY AND PENNYWISE AT 3AM WHILE SPINNING ILLEGAL FIDGET SPINNERS OMG OMG OMG😱😱😱 (GONE SEXUAL) (NOT CLICKBAIT)
by iGood July 28, 2018
A person or website that posts eye-catching headlines for stories that aren't very accurate or just plain made up, in the hope that they'll go viral on social media, bringing in ad revenue. Also, a generator of fake news that frequently claims to be doing "satire" when called out for just making up outrageous shit.
by PieterB March 10, 2015