We live in a digital world of information overload with stuff coming at us from every which way, all day, every day. If you’re plugged in and switched on, it’s unavoidable. I like to think of myself as a savvy reader with mostly moderate views. I find it relatively easy to ignore the bile from the keyboard warriors and the bedroom bores – misfits, axe grinders and ne’er-do-wells, the lot of ’em (that’s me being not so moderate). And don’t get me started on the so-called social media influencers and make-believe ‘experts’ conning the gullible. But now, the ‘respectable’ traditional media is at it too, grabbing attention with sensationalist and totally misleading headlines. Clickbait, I think it’s called. A good example is a recent online headline from the Manchester Evening News:
“ITV Emmerdale regular sacked after harrowing abuse revelations come to light”
So some dodgy soap star has been up to no good? Sounds alarming, doesn’t it? Except it’s not true. It was a plot line for the show – not real life at all. A relief I suppose, but utterly cynical.
Perking the Pansies 
hey Jack. I’ve noticed the same thing in the US. I find myself ignoring more and more. I finally have a blog up. Hope you haven’t given up on mt.
Torta
LikeLike
Welcome back to blogging. You’ve been on quite a journey by the sounds of it 😦
LikeLike
I hate it all.
And I haven’t watched television in may be eight years. The other night I decided to watch the local news, local meeting 100 miles away from here.
Almost half the time was spent on advertising! And almost all of it was political, since our election is coming up in just over three weeks. I finally just had to turn it off.
LikeLike
Luckily, we still have public service broadcasting so can avoid all the ads. Good luck with the election!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have PBS also. But for some bizarre reason, I decided to watch a regular TV station for news. That may have been the last time ever!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That soap opera headline is just ridiculous! Are we living in the real world or an alternate reality? I use social media a great deal and manage to avoid the bots and the influencers. They bore me. But it is all really tedious, and people do get taken in by all of this.
LikeLike
I suspect it because few people actually buy a newspaper these days are so ‘click baiting’ is an alternative way to generate an income through ads.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! I have not bought an actual physical newspaper for years.
LikeLiked by 1 person