ThinkCritical.eu · Manipulation atlas
Pressure and emotionSensationalism
CAPITALS, exclamation marks and words like “SHOCKING” are meant to stir emotion, not to inform.
A sensational style promises more than the content can deliver. Serious news is written plainly because it’s about information, not clicks and shares.
Social media post: “SHOCKING!!! A motorway bridge collapsed this morning. The media are keeping quiet!”
How to spot it
- CAPITAL LETTERS, rows of exclamation marks, words like “shock”, “you won’t believe”, “finally exposed”.
- The headline is stronger than the text below it – the article turns out to be far less dramatic.
- No specific place, time, names or source.
How to check and what to do
- Look for the same story on an established news site – a real event will be reported there calmly and in detail.
- Read the whole text, not just the headline, and look for who is making the claim and where they got it.
- If you can’t find the story anywhere else, don’t share it.
Tip: The more exclamation marks, the more checking.
Full explanation and exercises:
thinkcritical.eu/en/manipulation-atlas/sensational