"Drop a like in the next five minutes or..." you'd be forgiven for not believing that this is how most Fortnite videos start on YouTube. The year is 2021, and it seems like we are digressing into the past, where conventionalism dictated the quality of content.
Over the last three years, the Fortnite community has seen the rise and fall of clickbait culture. Working concomitantly with clout farming, the clickbait culture flourishes on spreading misinformation. It is designed to lure the younger audience with fear and false promises.
To a youngster, the fear of having a spider under the bed is as compelling as the promise of getting a shoutout for watching and liking a video. This technique has been battle-tested and saw a minor downfall back in 2020.
However, the clickbait culture has returned to Fortnite Season 8, following its massive success. Community experts may argue that it never left, and whether or not it's toxic, that is the question for the audience to ponder on.
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Fortnite Season 8: Resurgence Of The Toxic Clickbait Culture
Fortnite is undoubtedly one of the most popular video games of all time. Some would call it a social phenomenon, a platform for expression in today's fast-paced world.
Now, for a moment consider how the YouTube algorithm works. A certain number of clicks can make or break a video. In order to secure those clicks, creators employ a simple technique to hook their audience within the first ten seconds of the video.
It's ridiculous how often you get to hear the same clickbait pitches in Fortnite videos. Community experts claim that Fortnite singlehandedly propagated a culture that's dependent on propagating misinformation.
"Quick, like and subscribe or else your Fortnite account will be banned,"/"Drop a like in the next 5 seconds to get free holidays from school." - the list goes on, and it gets worse.
You may wonder, why is this technique so popular, and 'how is this hurting anyone or affecting the community?' Well, the reason why it's popular is because it works, and always reaps the rewards.
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How Does Clickbait Culture Affect The Fortnite Community?
The answer is quite rudimentary and comes down to YouTube's TOS and policies. Any form of clickbait or misinformation is strictly prohibited on the platform.
Nevertheless, the clickbait culture has become an inextricable branch of the Fortnite community. While most recognise it to be toxic, others insist that it is a means to justify ends.
If you see the most prominent and successful Fortnite creators like SypherPK, TypicalGamer, Lachlan, Ninja, LoserFruit, TheCampingRusher - their videos usually have an attractive title with an engaging thumbnail, and the context is always explained. Thus, there is no manipulation with this type of content.
These popular creators explain every detail they present in the titles. This is the best practice for any aspiring or upcoming YouTuber focused on making Fortnite content.
The opposite school of thought is primarily based on fear-mongering and misinformation. Countless creators upload videos with misleading titles, flashy thumbnails and clickbaity intros to improve their CTR.
Sometimes, clickbait creators assure players that they will be rewarded with a shoutout or a gift card for watching, liking, and subscribing. However, most of the time it ends up being a hoax, much to the disappointment of youngsters.
As for which creators identify as clickbait YouTubers, that is a question which only the community can acknowledge.
To conclude, fans have identified the disparity between creators who make false promises, and those who deliver genuine content. The best you can do is to educate others about the devious tricks employed by clickbait creators.
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