What We Found Will Blow Your Mind: The Impact of Hyperbole on Reader Interest and News Reading Intentions

Arjun Kadian, Dezhi Yin, Logan Steele

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

News posts are popular among social media users. Since the reading of news is critical for both social media platforms and news providers, it is common practice for news providers to use attention-grabbing tactics, such as hyperbole, in an effort to pique user’s interest. However, there is scant empirical evidence to support that these tactics are effective. Our paper explores how and why the use of hyperbolic statements in news headlines influences users’ interest and intention to read the news. Drawing on humor and psychological contract violation literatures, we developed a theoretical model and proposed competing hypotheses. We conducted two experiments to examine the impact of hyperbole and test the competing mechanisms. Our findings challenge the prevailing notion that the use of attention-grabbing tactics, such as hyperbole, in news headlines are effective.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication42nd International Conference on Information Systems, ICIS 2021 TREOs
Subtitle of host publication"Building Sustainability and Resilience with IS: A Call for Action"
PublisherAssociation for Information Systems
ISBN (Electronic)9781713893608
StatePublished - 2021
Event42nd International Conference on Information Systems: Building Sustainability and Resilience with IS: A Call for Action, ICIS 2021 TREOs - Austin, United States
Duration: 12 Dec 202115 Dec 2021

Publication series

Name42nd International Conference on Information Systems, ICIS 2021 TREOs: "Building Sustainability and Resilience with IS: A Call for Action"

Conference

Conference42nd International Conference on Information Systems: Building Sustainability and Resilience with IS: A Call for Action, ICIS 2021 TREOs
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAustin
Period12/12/2115/12/21

Keywords

  • contract violation
  • humor
  • hyperbole
  • interest
  • News reading
  • social media

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