On October 9, in a private audience with members of the media, Pope Leo XIV condemned the widespread use of clickbait, emphasizing the importance of transparency, objectivity, and the high quality of reporting.
Known to be an avid supporter of ethical journalism, the pontiff urged media organizations to take greater accountability and ownership of their work.
"Communication must be freed from the misguided thinking that corrupts it, from unfair competition and the degrading practice of so-called clickbait," he said to the press on that day.
Indeed, it is true that clickbait and fake news have become a big part of our everyday lives, as well as one of the most pressing problems in our society. Part of the reason for this is related to pride and ego: we all like to think that we are good critical thinkers who are immune to absorbing misinformation. The reality, however, is that we are preconditioned to believe things that aren't true. We all have a propensity to believe in lies, especially when a clickbait headline makes us feel strong emotions.
Intrigued? Check out this gallery to learn why our brains believe in lies and misinformation (and what we can do about it).