Recipe

6 Habits That Make Older Women Look Beautiful

The idea that there are “6 habits that make older women look beautiful” is subjective—beauty isn’t determined by age or a fixed set of behaviors. However, there are habits that many people find contribute to a healthy, vibrant appearance at any age: Protect your skin from the sun. Using sunscreen regularly can help reduce premature …

Recipe

Shortly before my wedding, I stopped by my future mother-in-law’s house. As I left, I realized I’d forgotten my cardigan. I went back inside to get it—and what I saw made me cancel the wedding right there. At first, it wasn’t a dramatic scene. No screaming. No broken glass. Just a silent hallway in Chicago, the door of a luxury apartment ajar, and my hand frozen inches from the doorbell. My mother had embroidered two little flowers on that cardigan before she passed away, and… See more

This is another example of a social media cliffhanger designed to make readers click “See more.” The opening uses several storytelling techniques: A relatable situation (forgetting a cardigan). A sentimental detail (the cardigan embroidered by the narrator’s late mother). A sudden promise of a shocking discovery. An unresolved ending (“…what I saw made me cancel …

Recipe

Alert! 8 Drugs That Cause Serious Dementia

Headlines like “Alert! 8 Drugs That Cause Serious Dementia” are misleading. The relationship between medications and dementia is much more nuanced. Some medications can cause confusion or memory problems, especially in older adults, but that does not mean they directly cause dementia. In some cases, the cognitive effects improve after the medication is stopped or …

Recipe

My parents told me to take the bus to my Harvard graduation because they were too busy buying my sister a brand-new Tesla, but when they finally

This reads like another viral cliffhanger that’s designed to get people to click “See more.” The setup follows a familiar pattern: An unfair family dynamic (one sibling is favored). A major personal achievement (graduating from Harvard University). A dramatic contrast (the graduate takes the bus while the sister gets a new Tesla). An unfinished ending …

Recipe

My husband had no idea I was the anonymous billionaire behind the company he was proudly celebrating that night. To him, I was just his “plain, exhausted” wife who had “lost herself” after giving birth to twins. At his promotion gala, I stood there holding our babies when he pushed me toward the exit.

This is another example of a viral story hook that’s very common on social media and content sites. It uses several elements that are meant to keep readers clicking: A hidden identity (“anonymous billionaire”). Family betrayal (“my husband had no idea”). Public humiliation (being pushed toward the exit). A promise of dramatic revenge or vindication. …