In the domain name Its value remains the same, even if the websites once hosted there are closed or abandoned. Prospectors frequently swoop in to snatch up unused domains and build new websites filled with clickbait articles. If the domain name ranks high in search results, new clickbait articles will also rank high and the prospector is guaranteed a steady stream of visitors searching her web for common phrases. will be done.
Zombie sites like this exist all over the web. You have probably encountered them yourself many times. But this seedy market is poised to grow exponentially with the proliferation of generative AI tools. Text generators like ChatGPT make it easier for prospectors to create clickbait articles faster and feed an already raging river of pabulum.
This week, Kate Knibbs tells WIRED her story about one of the entrepreneurs operating in the world of AI-generated clickbait hosted on squatted domains.
Show memo
Read Kate's story about Nebojša Vujinovic Vujo and his clickbait empire. Also read Kate's original investigation into what happened to Hairpin, the popular women's writing blog that was defunct and then reborn as a content mill.
Recommendations
Kate recommends novels Fang of Extinction Written by Ray Naylor.Brian recommends the novel stung by a bee Written by Paul Murray. Lauren recommends cutting out fancy, creamy coffee drinks during Lent. Mike recommends BlueSky, a social media platform that is available to everyone today.
Kate Knibbs can be found on social media @nibs.Brian Barrett is @bull bullet.Lauren Good is @lauren good.Michael Karoly is @snack fight. Please contact the main hotline @.gadget lab. This program was created by Boone Ashworth (@boone ashworth). Theme music is by Solar Keys.
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