(Inspiration)
You can't discuss the struggles of digital publishers without asking why there are articles on #CaptainMarvel post-credit scenes on: CNET, Vox, Bustle, BGR, Forbes, Verge, Chicago Tribune, GameSpot, Mashable, IGN.
None solve a problem, all are off brand but seeking easy clicks
Before "clickbait", there was (and still is!) the scandalous magazines in the checkout aisle.
Bait grabs our attention, but ultimately isn't nourishing. (The rest of the checkout aisle, of course, is candy.)
But it works. Even if we consciously seek out quality information and entertainment, there's a latent demand for cheap calories. It's only human to take a nibble when it's put in front of us.
Long after "clicking" is the bait, there will still be people profiting off of exploiting our impulses.
What form will it take next?
Bonus Question
How much of this is inevitable? Can we design environments that reduce the effectiveness of bait?