Clickbait bingo

Direct your students to find examples of clickbait headlines for every category described below. The first pair to do so successfully should dramatically yell out “Bingo!” and be declared the winner. After they’ve found examples for each category, direct the pairs to either:

1. continue searching and coming up with as many examples as possible, or
2. come up with some clickbait titles on their own.

The students have a maximum of 20 minutes to find all examples and then 10 minutes to share with the class. To make the exercise more challenging, direct your students to search for clickbait only on “reputable” news sites (e.g. CNN, BBC…). Here are the bingo card categories:

Exaggerated Claim

Sensational Language

Misleading Image

Emotional Appeal

Unverified Source

Shock Factor

Manipulative Tone

Celebrity Mention

Out-of-Context Quote

False Promise

Fear Mongering

Clickbait Phrase

Provocative Question

Tabloid Style

Exploitative Content

Urgency

Pseudoscience

Conspiracy Theories

Hyperbole

Personal Anecdote

Fear of Missing Out

Pop Culture Reference

Hyperbolic Numbers

Controversial Statement

Unsubstantiated Claims

Dramatic Imagery

Anecdotal Evidence

Oversimplified Solutions

Guilt-Tripping

Scare Tactics

Here are some examples of headlines we’ve found or come up with:

• Exaggerated Claim: "Revolutionary New Study Claims Drinking Green Tea Burns 10 Pounds of Fat Overnight!"
• Sensational Language: "Mind-Blowing Discovery Unveils the Secrets of Immortality!"
• Misleading Image: An image of a famous celebrity endorsing a questionable product. "Celebrities Are Raving About This 'Magic' Diet Pill!"
• Emotional Appeal: "Heartfelt Story of a Struggling Family Will Bring Tears to Your Eyes!"
• Unverified Source: "Anonymous Insider Reveals Shocking Government Conspiracy!"
• Shock Factor: "Horrifying Video Shows Monster Shark Attack in Tourist Hotspot!"
• Manipulative Tone: "You'll Regret Not Trying This Revolutionary Product – Don't Miss Out!"
• Celebrity Mention: "Guess Which A-Lister Just Adopted a Lion as a Pet!"
• Out-of-Context Quote: "Expert Claims 'Aliens Are Among Us' - The Shocking Truth Revealed!"
• False Promise: "This 'Magic' Potion Will Guarantee Eternal Youth and Happiness!"
• Fear Mongering: "The Hidden Dangers Lurking in Your Kitchen – Are You in Danger?"
• Clickbait Phrase: "You Won't Believe What Happens Next!"
• Provocative Question: "Could This Controversial Diet Cure Cancer? Scientists Say Yes!"
• Tabloid Style: "Aliens Abducted My Neighbor's Dog: Shocking Evidence Revealed!"
• Exploitative Content: "Shocking Footage Reveals the Dark Underbelly of Reality TV Shows!"
• Urgency: "Limited Time Offer: Get Your Exclusive Discount Now Before It's Too Late!"
• Pseudoscience: "Unlock the Secrets of the Universe with This Ancient Crystal Healing Technique!"
• Conspiracy Theories: "Secret Government Plot Exposed: How They Control Your Thoughts!"
• Hyperbole: "This New App Will Completely Revolutionize the Way You Live!"
• Personal Anecdote: "How I Went From Broke to a Millionaire in Just 30 Days!"
• Fear of Missing Out: "Limited-Time Offer: Get Your Free Superfood Smoothie Recipe Book Now!"
• Pop Culture Reference: "Discover the Taylor Swift-Approved Skincare Routine for Flawless Skin!"
• Hyperbolic Numbers: "Transform Your Finances with This 1000% Guaranteed Investment Strategy!"
• Controversial Statement: "Renowned Scientist Says Gravity Is a Hoax – Is He Onto Something?"
• Unsubstantiated Claims: "This 'Miracle' Cream Promises to Cure Any Skin Condition Overnight!"
• Dramatic Imagery: Image: An apocalyptic scene of a city in chaos. "Is Our World on the Brink of Collapse? The Shocking Truth!"
• Anecdotal Evidence: "One Woman's Incredible Journey: How She Defied All Odds and Became a Billionaire!"
• Oversimplified Solutions: "One Simple Trick to Achieve Instant Weight Loss and Perfect Health!"
• Guilt-Tripping: "If You Don't Share This Article, You're Part of the Problem!"
• Scare Tactics: "Terrifying New Strain of Superbug Threatens to Wipe Out Humanity!"

1. How did you find the game? Was it challenging to find examples for each of the categories?
2. Which clickbait tactics were most prevalent in the headlines/articles you analyzed?
3. Did you come across any headlines that surprised you with their use of clickbait tactics? Why?
4. How do you think recognizing clickbait tactics can help you as a media consumer?
5. What strategies can you use to verify a source's credibility after identifying clickbait tactics?
6. In what real-life scenarios do you think identifying clickbait could be particularly useful?