Decoding Clickbait: The Impact of Clickbait Types and Structures on Cognitive and Emotional Responses in Online Interactions

This study delves into the influence of clickbait types (hyperbole, insinuation, visual rhetoric, and puzzle) and structures (emotion-label and emotion-laden words) on user cognitive and emotional responses in an online environment. Using electroencephalography with 32 internet-experienced participants, we analyzed how these different clickbait configurations affect engagement and processing. Our findings highlight that clickbait types such as hyperbole and visual rhetoric swiftly capture attention and enhance emotional engagement, whereas insinuative and puzzling clickbait demand more cognitive effort and deeper processing. In addition, the structure of emotional words significantly influences user responses; emotion-laden words facilitate quicker cognitive processing and enhance emotional reactions, particularly in contexts involving negative emotions. These insights offer valuable implications for content creators and marketers in strategizing ethical clickbait usage, aiming to balance user engagement with information integrity. This research contributes to a nuanced understanding of the interplay between content presentation and user perception, providing a foundation for future explorations into ethical digital content practices.