Is it clickbait or real education?

When we read something beneficial to us, we often experience an uplifted feeling, whereas when we read clickbait articles, we often feel a waste of time and a sense of distrust.

Illustration by ©Struvictory Art

Table of content:

Signs that is real education or clickbait
The use of Pseudoprofundity
The use of Platitudes
The use of Oversimplification

I’ve been writing here since March, and before that on my website for a total of six months. I’ve read more than I write, and I love this ratio; it keeps me grounded and open-minded with my work.

Since joining the educational writing team, I’ve noticed that a large percentage of wannabe educational writers are primarily focused on making money, provoking, or clickbaiting.

This is evident in the content, affiliate links, and programs that promise to write a book in just two hours, or in other shortcuts that promise money, fame, or instant success. This is certainly possible, but if your goal is to learn, this is not the right path that will maximize your time and efforts.

I am pro-money, but I also believe that when you choose to educate in any field — writing books, mental health, coaching, etc. — you should have some free content, at least basic, to help people grow and provide support.

The main purpose of education is to actively spark people’s curiosity for learning and provide them with better, different ways to pursue their life goals or start the healing, growing journey.
As writers and readers, we all want this, right?

Well-written educational content can improve your mood, boost your confidence, and give you a sense of accomplishment. It can also pique your interest and give you new ideas, leaving you feeling energized and emotionally fulfilled.

If you read clickbait, on the other hand, you probably feel let down, angry, and tricked because the shallow sensationalist content doesn't live up to its big claims, leaving you with wasted time and a sense of distrust.

I understand that we tend to place a higher value on items we purchase, but I believe, based on my personal experience, that education should be free if its true purpose is to serve as a foundation for personal growth and for self-actualization.

I see a lot of discussion about money, statistics, and followers, but not much about the number of people we actually interact with, how they inspire us, or how we make our education effective.

While we should certainly seek financial support for our profound work, not all work is profound; we can naturally and humanely share some of our wisdom, and not everything is self-help; offering backing and education equates to genuine active assistance with real people, not numbers or potential readers.

If the content is valuable and educational, most of us will ask for money without being unfair.

Signs that is real education or clickbait:

1. Content depth and quality:

Thoroughness: educational posts are usually detailed, well-researched, and provide in-depth information. Yes, they are long and this is a good sign.

References and citations: High-quality content typically incorporates references to reliable sources, research papers, and empirical data.

Neutral tone: The tone typically aims to inform rather than provoke. This is so important!

2. Purpose and intention:

Educational goals: the primary intent should be to educate and inform rather than to sell a product or service.

Clear objectives: Educational content typically contains clear learning objectives and aims to enhance the reader’s knowledge.

3. Identifying clickbait:

Exaggeration: Clickbait titles frequently employ exaggerated claims or sensational language to attract attention.

Ambiguity: To stimulate curiosity, headlines may be vague or misleading.

4. Content quality

Shallow information: Clickbait articles often lack depth and are brief, offering little to no substantial information.

Repetition: People often reiterate the same points without adding any value or insights.

Excessive advertising:
The primary focus appears to be on generating revenue rather than providing valuable information.

Emotional manipulation:

Fear and anger elicit strong emotions, or excitement, to drive clicks.

Urgency: People frequently use phrases like “This will change your life” and “you won’t believe what happened next” to convey a sense of urgency.

Educate:

Teach people to question the source and intent of the content they encounter online.

Assess your mental and physical state while reading.

Our overall energy during and after reading should be uplifting, similar to when you meet someone who inspires you and immediately feel like your perspective is somehow changing, want to know more, and are oriented to take action or ask questions.

Having in mind that some people are looking to heal while reading educational post.

Resource Sharing:

Guides and Checklists: Create and share guides or checklists that help distinguish between genuine educational content and clickbait.
Trusted Sources List: Maintain a list of reputable educational websites and resources that people can refer to.

I believe and hope that readers and writers can distinguish between genuine writing and manipulation, and I hope that in time, we will learn to respect others by refraining from offering clickbait, unrealistic healing steps, or huge titles that promise our health in two weeks, among other full AI contents.

In essence, Viktor Frankl's quote "What is to give light must endure burning" can say that, like a flame that gives light by burning, educators aim to illuminate minds and empower individuals to thrive by demonstrating resilience and growth through hardships.

This also implies that reading should not always be easy; it requires time, patience, and contemplation.

We acquire wisdom by sitting down with high-quality information and actively experiencing changes in ourselves.

Collectively, our personal growth will also benefit others, as we are all fundamentally educators.

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Why Personal Experiences, Stories, and Original Resources Are Important in Writing and Education.

Illustration by ©Struvictory Art

For some inexperienced readers, the reality of life can be very confusing, especially when they are looking for answers by reading other people’s stories and connecting them to their own.

I’ve personally witnessed how confusion in reading can cause me to doubt about my own progress or how I experience reality when I read beautiful fixed sentences that lead nowhere, leaving me with a lack of insights and disconnected from the world.

Pseudoprofundity: Why superficial depth is misleading.

We have all heard at some point: “Life is a journey, not a destination”; although at first look it may seem deep, but it actually lacks substantial meaning.

This kind of statements are appealing since they seems provocative and perceptive.

They give the illusion of wisdom and make the writer appear enlightened; however, this superficial depth is misleading for readers.

Psychologically, pseudoprofundity can be comforting since it gives the sense of clarity and control by offering basic answers to difficult problems.

Rather than the search of personal truths, these encourage acceptance of ambiguous ideas.

These remarks encourage people to accept them PASSIVELY, lacking critical involvement since they rarely offer useful advices or real insights.

Writers can transcend pseudoprofundity thorough sharing personal experiences, details, well-researched information, and nuanced viewpoints.

These are the actual elements that provide clarity, connection, and guide readers to go farther by trusting not only the writer’s own truth but also life’s realities.

Platitudes

Positively, Platitudes aim to provide emotional accessibility, temporary comfort, initiate conversation, and, when combined with our personal experiences, can be a foundation for understanding and connection.

Their simplicity and familiarity provide a quick, soothing role when in distress, making people feel supported and understood for a brief moment.

Often, their universal applicability makes them ineffective, particularly without adding any personal twists to the story.

They lack the specificity and nuance needed to address unique experiences and complex situations.

Expressions like “Everything happens for a reason,” “Good things come to those who wait,” “Live in the moment.”, “Follow your heart.”, “Life is what you make it.”, “Time heals all wounds.”, and my personal favorite, “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger,” are very commonly used.

While these expressions may provide temporary sense of empathy and solidarity, they lack education and insight.

When these expressions lack personal insight or cite from original sources, they send a message that invalidates and dismisses the reader’s active efforts and struggles, undermining the writer’s credibility and making them appear insincere.

It is easier to repeat what has already been said, but we can create something new and meaningful by sharing our own story, opinions, personal truths, experiences, or providing context for our research and exposing original resources.

This is when we make connections, offer unique perspectives, and provide new information and diversity to make your message more effective.

Clearly supported claims add weight and authority to the writing; they remind us that well-informed decisions result in high-quality content; and they promote critical thinking, encouraging readers to engage with our text more deeply.

Moving beyond our egos as writers means acknowledging the complexities of human experiences and respecting the reader’s intelligence.

Writing from a personal viewpoint requires humility, effort, and vulnerability.

Platitudes can be comforting, but they do not provide genuine education or insight. Sharing or attempting to share something of real substance in a world full of empty words can truly educate and connect readers, if that is the primary goal.

Oversimplification.

While oversimplification can be useful for quickly communicating information, it frequently overlooks important details and exceptions. (source-helpfulprofessor.com)

Omitting key details and nuances oversimplifies a complex issue, problem, or concept, often leading to misleading or incomplete versions.

We need to have a broader perspective in mind if we want to be inclusive.

“1. Overgeneralization

Overgeneralizations involve making broad statements or conclusions based on limited data or specific examples.

2. False Dichotomies

False dichotomies present only two options or solutions when, in reality, more exist.

3. Stereotyping

Stereotyping refers to assigning specific characteristics to an entire group based on the perceived traits of just a few members.

4. Reductionism

Reductionism breaks down complex phenomena into simpler components, often ignoring the intricacies and interactions of the whole.

5. One-size-fits-all solutions

One-size-fits-all solutions propose a single answer or approach for a wide range of diverse problems or situations.

6. Binary thinking

Binary thinking categorizes things into one of two opposing groups, ignoring the possibility of a spectrum or continuum.

7. Equating correlation with causation

You’ve likely heard the phrase “correlation is not causation”. Equating correlation with causation assumes that because two things occur together, one must cause the other.

8. Ignoring exceptions

Sometimes people focus on the rule while disregarding any outliers or deviations. This is called ‘ignoring the exceptions’.

9. Over-reliance on anecdotes

Over-reliance on anecdotes occurs when you place too much emphasis on personal stories or isolated incidents instead of comprehensive data or broader evidence.

10. Ignoring context

Ignoring context means evaluating or judging something without considering the surrounding circumstances or background.

11. Cherry-picking data

Cherry-picking data involves selecting specific pieces of information that support a particular argument while ignoring data that contradicts it.

12. Misrepresenting scale or proportion

Misrepresenting scale or proportion means exaggerating or minimizing the importance, size, or extent of something relative to other factors.

13. Overlooking nuances

Overlooking nuances means failing to recognize or consider the subtle differences or complexities in a situation.

14. Ignoring historical context

Ignoring happens when we evaluate events, decisions, or actions without considering the time and circumstances in which they occurred.

15. Ignoring underlying causes

Ignoring underlying causes means focusing on a situation’s surface-level symptoms or effects without delving into the root factors that led to them.”