Latest news with #clickbait
Telegraph
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Scottie Scheffler is a human cyborg but he is good for golf
Scottie Scheffler annihilated the opposition, and then turned his focus on the media. 'I think we live now in a day and age where clickbait is kind of what people look for,' the American observed in his press conference, shortly after winning the 153rd Open at Portrush by four strokes. 'You can shorten a five-minute clip into three words. I think it really underestimates what I was trying to communicate. Maybe I didn't do as effective of a job as I hoped to in communicating that.' The American was referring, of course, to the pre-tournament press conference he gave last Monday, which made headlines around the world. In it, the world No 1 confessed to feeling a certain amount of existential angst, saying golf was ' not a fulfilling life ' and that he was 'not out here to inspire someone to be the best player in the world because what's the point?' Scheffler was accused in some quarters of being disrespectful to the game which had made him a millionaire. So disrespectful, in fact, that in some eyes he was not good for the game of golf. Was it not enough that he bludgeoned his opponents into submission with remorselessly consistent golf from the gods, he had to then say that he did not really care about it? Well, on the first point, there is no denying it. Scheffler is playing golf from the gods. His fellow professionals can see it and they acknowledge it. As Rory McIlroy observed, following his third-round 66, when asked to assess his chances of overhauling Scheffler from six shots behind: 'Scottie Scheffler is… inevitable. Even when he doesn't have his best stuff, he's just so solid. He doesn't make mistakes.' So it proved on Sunday. McIlroy's only hope of victory was to get out of the traps quickly and put some scoreboard pressure on Scheffler. But in the end, it was the American who landed the first blow with a birdie on his opening hole. It sent Scheffler seven shots clear of the local hero and sucked the air right out of Portrush. Game over. Scheffler has now closed out 10 straight 54-hole leads. He is, as McIlroy said, inevitable. Like the T1000, the shape-shifting Terminator cyborg who cannot be killed off, the world No 1 just keeps on coming. It was no surprise to hear all the comparisons with Tiger Woods afterwards. 'I never thought in my lifetime I'd see a player as close to Tiger as this man currently is,' said veteran caddie Jim 'Bones' Mackay, who worked with Phil Mickelson for 25 years and saw Woods' dominance up close. 'Honestly, I think if Scottie's feet stayed stable, and his swing looked like Adam Scott's, we'd be talking about him in the same breath as Tiger Woods,' Shane Lowry agreed. Scottie Scheffler darts in another approach shot 🔥 — Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) July 20, 2025 But there is no denying just how good Scheffler is. Whether he is good for the game golf is more difficult to answer, but there is no reason on earth he should be shot down for what he said on Monday. Scheffler was not being disrespectful to the game. He admitted in that same press conference that he was 'living out his dreams' playing professional golf and that it brought 'tears to his eyes' just thinking about the chance to deliver on the years of hard graft he had put in. Nor did he say he did not want to inspire the next generation. He said he was not doing it to inspire the next generation. There is a big difference. The point Scheffler was trying to make – and which he repeated on Sunday in the wake of his dominant win – was that there was more to life than golf. Scheffler is a devout Christian. He is a husband and a father. What he was saying was that his God and his family were more important to him than the game, and that he struggled to reconcile the contradiction of working so hard at something which only gave him such fleeting highs. There is nothing wrong with any of that. Scheffler cares deeply about the game. You could see the emotion in him when he went to celebrate with his wife and son Bennett on the 18th green on Sunday. Scheffler is great for the game. Ok, he is not the most exciting player on earth. He does not have a highlights reel like Tiger or Rory. He is not a sexy golfer in that sense – as much as he might look like a bearded Elvis Presley. That's fine. There is room for all types in the game. What he is is a decent human being. Jordan Spieth, who has known Scheffler since he broke through as a junior, reckons he might be unique in not courting publicity or attention. 'Scottie doesn't care to be a superstar,' he said. 'He's not transcending the game like Tiger did. He's not bringing it to a non-golf audience necessarily. He doesn't want to go do the stuff that a lot of us do, corporately, anything like that. I'm thinking about so many other sports, and Nikola Jokic is the only guy I can think of that's a superstar that's equally unassuming in any sport in the modern era.' 🚨🗣️⛳️ #NEW — Spieth on Scheffler: "He doesn't care to be a superstar. He's not transcending the game like Tiger did. He's not bringing it to a non-golf audience necessarily… doesn't want to go do the stuff that a lot of us go do…" (Via @GOLF_com) — NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 20, 2025 But don't take it from Spieth. McIlroy, Scheffler's vanquished opponent, agreed wholeheartedly. 'He is the bar that we're all trying to get to,' McIlroy admitted. 'And yeah, he's a very worthy winner. Also, he's a great person, and I think he's a wonderful ambassador for our game as well. I'm really happy for him and Meredith and his family.'
Malay Mail
10-07-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Clickbait culture: When the hunt for clicks compromises media ethics — Akmal Nadzmi Azlan and Mohd Istajib Mokhtar
JULY 10 — Have you ever clicked on a headline that promised to 'reveal the shocking truth' only to find a bland, underwhelming article? That's the bait — and you just got hooked. Welcome to the world of clickbait. In today's digital media landscape, attention is everything. With millions of stories competing for eyeballs every second, publishers often resort to flashy, misleading, or emotionally charged headlines to stand out. While these tactics might bring short-term traffic spikes, they raise serious ethical concerns and contribute to a growing mistrust of the media. Clickbait is a strategy designed to do one thing: make you click. It often takes the form of over-the-top headlines, dramatic thumbnail images, or cryptic social media captions that prey on your curiosity. These hooks are engineered to be irresistible — tapping into human impulses like the fear of missing out (FOMO), outrage, or suspense. Experts in media psychology have noted that these tactics rely on what's called a 'curiosity gap' — the space between what the headline teases and what the story actually reveals. By deliberately withholding key information, content creators make readers feel compelled to click just to satisfy that curiosity. In many cases, the payoff is disappointing. And the more that happens, the more readers become skeptical — not just of the outlet, but of journalism itself. According to the author, in the race for attention online, some publishers use flashy or misleading headlines to attract clicks — a tactic that may boost traffic but erodes trust in the media. — Unsplash pic The modern internet runs on attention. Every click, view, and share can be converted into ad revenue. As social media platforms use algorithms that promote high-engagement content, the incentive for news outlets is clear: be the loudest, most provocative voice in the room — even if it comes at the cost of accuracy. Digital media researcher Fahim Rahman pointed out in 2023 that media companies are under constant pressure to generate revenue, and 'engagement metrics have quietly replaced editorial integrity.' He argued that when journalism is reduced to a numbers game, sensationalism often wins. Another reason clickbait thrives is that many of us no longer read full articles. We scroll through headlines on social media, letting those few words shape our understanding of complex events. In this environment, a misleading headline can have more influence than a well-researched article buried beneath it. Clickbait isn't just annoying —it's dangerous. Studies have shown that people who repeatedly engage with clickbait headlines are more likely to distrust the media. A 2022 survey found that even when readers know a headline is exaggerated, repeated exposure leads to a general scepticism toward all news. This effect becomes especially troubling during times of crisis. Take the Covid-19 pandemic, for example. Viral headlines about 'miracle cures' or 'what doctors don't want you to know' spread like wildfire. Many of these claims were not only misleading — they were harmful. People changed their health behaviours based on content designed to generate clicks, not deliver facts. What's worse is that even when the article itself is accurate, a misleading headline can leave a lasting impression. Readers may not retain the nuanced truth — they remember the emotional pull of the exaggerated claim. Over time, this distorts public understanding and contributes to the spread of misinformation. In 2016, Facebook took a public stand against clickbait after facing backlash over its role in spreading sensational and misleading content during the US presidential election. The tech giant rolled out an algorithm tweak that demoted posts with headlines like 'You'll Never Believe What Happened Next!' or 'This Simple Trick Changed Everything!' Adam Mosseri, then head of Facebook's News Feed team, explained that the platform had developed a system to detect commonly used clickbait phrases and reduce their visibility in users' feeds. The move was a step in the right direction — at least on paper. But the strategy had its limits. Publishers quickly found ways around the filters by tweaking their wording just enough to avoid detection. This arms race between content creators and algorithm designers revealed a deeper truth: technical fixes alone won't solve a cultural problem. The ethical dilemma At its core, clickbait raises tough ethical questions. Is it acceptable to mislead people — even a little — if it means drawing attention to an important issue? Some would argue yes, especially under a utilitarian view where the outcome justifies the means. But many ethicists strongly disagree. They point out that journalism is not just about what's effective — it's about what's right. The moment media organisations compromise on honesty, they breach the fundamental trust that holds the public and the press together. Communication ethics also stresses the importance of respecting the audience. Misleading headlines manipulate readers rather than inform them. As consumers become more aware of this manipulation, media outlets face a choice: regain trust through transparency, or risk losing credibility altogether. So how do we fix the clickbait problem? It starts with better newsroom practices. Editors and journalists need to apply the same standards to headlines as they do to body text. That means no exaggerations, no half-truths, and no emotional manipulation for the sake of traffic. Technology can help, too. Some publishers are experimenting with AI tools to analyse headlines for sensationalism before articles go live. Others are adding trust indicators — like estimated reading time or content previews — to set clearer expectations for readers. But the responsibility isn't just on the creators. As consumers, we need stronger digital literacy. Schools, universities, and public education campaigns should teach people how to evaluate online content, spot manipulative tactics, and think critically about what they read and share. Rahman suggests that lasting change will require a combined effort: platforms enforcing consistent policies, publishers upholding ethical standards, and readers staying informed and sceptical. 'Clickbait thrives in ignorance,' he notes. 'Education is our best defence.' Clickbait may seem like a harmless marketing trick — but it reflects a deeper conflict between profit and principle in the digital age. While the race for clicks can boost numbers on a dashboard, it chips away at something far more valuable: public trust. In the end, every headline is a promise. When that promise is broken — again and again — the damage isn't just to one article or one outlet. It's to journalism itself. So the next time you see a headline that screams for your attention, take a moment to ask: is this worth the click? And more importantly, is it worth the compromise? * The authors are from the Department of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, and may be reached at [email protected] ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
