Clickbait Lesson - You Won’t Believe This!

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You Won't
Believe This!

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP | GRADE 5

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What is clickbait, and how can you avoid it?

Essential Question

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Learning Objectives

Use strategies for avoiding clickbait.

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2

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Define the curiosity gap.

Explain how clickbait uses the curiosity gap to
get your attention.

Poll

• A. Go Ahead and Play that Video Game: It Might Actually be Good For You

• B. You SHould Never Brush Your Teeth Without This Trick

• C. 80% of Kids Love Cupcakes: New Study Shows Why

• D. You Won’t Believe This! The Children’s Story That’s Actually True!

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The desire every person has to figure out
missing information

The Curiosity Gap

KEY VOCABULARY

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Directions

For each headline example, explain how it shows the curiosity gap.

ACTIVITY: PAIR WORK

Open Ended

1. 1.How does this headline refer to something you already know about?

2. 2. What knowledge does this headline say it will fill?

Open Ended

1. 1. How does this headline refer to something you already know about?

2. 2. What knowledge does this headline say it will fill?

Open Ended

1. 1. How does this headline refer to something you already know about?

2. 2. What knowledge does this headline say it will fill?

Open Ended

1. 1. How does this headline refer to something you already know about?

2. 2. What knowledge does this headline say it will fill?

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An image or headline that tries
to get you to click on it, usually
for advertising purposes

Clickbait

KEY VOCABULARY

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Clue #1: It seems impossible or unbelievable.

FOR EXAMPLE: "Think Your Cat Loves You? It's Actually Plotting
to Make You Sick."

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Clue #2: It tries to shock you.

FOR EXAMPLE: "You Won't Believe This!" or "The Answer Is Genius!"

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Clue #3: It refers to a celebrity or popular topic.

FOR EXAMPLE: "Kylie Jenner Talks Selfies and Bubble Tea: You Won't Believe
What She Says!"

ACTIVITY: AVOIDING CLICKBAIT

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