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A Perfect Headline to Drive Parents Crazy with Fear: “Boy Says Men Tried to Abduct Him”

THIS HEADLINE STINKS:
 
“Bergen Boy, 13, Says Men In Landscaping Truck Tried To Abduct Him”
 
You will note from the article that it turned out to be a misunderstanding (the boy didn’t understand the landscapers, who were speaking Spanish) and police determined there was NO ABDUCTION ATTEMPT.
But if you glanced at the headline, you’d be scared for your kids — which is exactly what it was designed to do. Attract you, scare you, and add another notch to the site’s metrics as you click.
That this is spreading baseless fear, and prejudice, and leading to a society brimming with distrust — who cares? Abduction headlines work.
Even when there wasn’t an abduction.

One Response to A Perfect Headline to Drive Parents Crazy with Fear: “Boy Says Men Tried to Abduct Him”

  1. Clemencedane October 11, 2020 at 8:20 pm #

    Wish they’d said what the landscaper was actually saying.