Phony photos, outrageous claims, too-good-to-be-true contests, cute puppies, celebrity gossip – all these are wrapped up in headlines that move your mouse hand even before your brain registers what it's doing.
This so-called "click-bait" exists for one purpose: clicks. And it isn't simply a distraction (although it is that). Click-bait actually does damage. It's almost always age-inappropriate for kids, it's potentially harmful to your computer, it spreads misinformation, fake news, and dubious sources, and it degrades everyone's collective experience of the internet.