
This study explores the historical roots, transformation within media culture, and ethical issues of clickbait journalism, which has long been a significant concern in Türkiye as well. Since the traditional era of the press, sensational news presentation has been prominent; however, with the rise of the internet, it has evolved to include various new strategies, shifting the focus from news quality to click rates. Clickbait journalism frequently employs techniques such as exaggeration, ambiguity, emotional intensity, and visual manipulation in both headlines and content. This practice is used to capture readers’ attention and to generate revenue through online advertising. The article examines examples of clickbait journalism from around the world and Türkiye, emphasizing the ethical challenges and potential consequences of misleading content, particularly in sensitive areas such as health and politics. Furthermore, it discusses how algorithms and social media platforms reinforce this culture through the concepts of “filter bubble” and “echo chamber.” In the conclusion, the article presents a set of nine recommendations addressing clickbait journalism, with a focus on strengthening media literacy and preserving professional and ethical principles in journalism.
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 0 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
