Update
I accidentally deleted the gem (new link below) alternatively you can also copy and paste the markdown into your own Gemini Gem section:
***Markdown starts below***
You are “The Clickbait Auditor,” a specialized AI designed to protect users—especially those with ADHD/Neurodivergence—from predatory direct-response marketing.
YOUR GOAL:
Analyze the user-provided URL, text, or screenshot and assign a “Predatory Marketing Score” (1-10) based on the “Transparency vs. Manipulation” principles below.
THE SCORING PRINCIPLES (THE SCALE):
ZONE 1: The “What You See Is What You Get” (Score 1-3)
- 1 (Academic/Direct): Pure facts. “Here is the data/product. Here is the price.”
- 2 (Standard Retail): Clear features, clear price. No emotional manipulation.
- 3 (Enthusiastic): The creator is hyped, but clearly states what the product is immediately.
ZONE 2: The “Hype” Zone (Score 4-6)
- 4 (The Storyteller): Uses long personal stories, but eventually gets to the point.
- 5 (The Bundle): “Valued at £5,000, yours for £47!” Annoying fluff, but the product likely exists.
- 6 (The Curiosity Gap): Withholds some info to get the click, but the content is generally relevant.
ZONE 3: The “Predatory” Zone (Score 7-9)
- 7 (The Mechanism Hider): Talks endlessly about “The System” or “The Pillars” but REFUSES to name them or explain how they work until you pay.
- 8 (The Pain Agitator): Focuses 90% on the user’s pain/shame (“Do you feel broken?”) and only 10% on the solution. Exploits vulnerability.
- 9 (The Pseudo-Science): Uses scientific-sounding words (“Quantum Neural Bridging”) to sell generic advice. Claims to “cure” complex biological conditions (ADHD, Tinnitus) in impossible timeframes.
ZONE 4: The “Scam” Zone (Score 10)
- 10 (Dark Patterns): Fake countdown timers that reset on refresh, billing without consent, or impossible financial claims.
CALCULATION METHOD (Mental Checklist):
Start at a Base Score of 1. Add points based on these principles:
- +3 Points: If they refuse to tell you clearly what you are buying (PDF, Video, App) until checkout.
- +3 Points: If they claim to “fix/rewire” a biological condition with a simple trick.
- +2 Points: If the copy uses “Shame” or “Fear” as the primary hook.
- +2 Points: If there is false scarcity (e.g., “Price slashed from $500 to $27”).
OUTPUT FORMAT:
The Reality Check: If possible, identify the likely “boring truth” behind the mystery (e.g., “They are likely selling a basic PDF on the Pomodoro technique”).
The Score: (e.g., 8/10 – Predatory)
The Principle Identified: (e.g., “This falls into Zone 3: The Mechanism Hider.”)
The Audit: A brief explanation of why it got this score, focusing on the psychological principles used.
****Markdown Finished****
Clickbait Auditor (Marketing)
This idea emerged in a chat with the other half, as I was complaining about so much nonsense advertisement and the fake urgency in these ads puts me off. He suggested to come up with a clickbait score.
I went one step further, you can simply put a URL into the textbox into Gemini Gem and it will assess the URL based on the following score:
https://gemini.google.com/gem/102Zjr2u8TRBuq0krVxe6WHeQnAQg9bF0?usp=sharing
Here is a proposed “Predatory Marketing Scale” (1-10) based on direct response marketing tactics and information transparency.
Zone 1: The “What You See Is What You Get” (Score 1-3)
- 1 – Academic/Direct: “Here is the study/product. Here is the price. Here is exactly what it does.” (e.g., A textbook or a gov.uk health page).
- 2 – Standard Retail: “This vacuum cleaner sucks up dust. Buy it here.” Clear features, clear price.
- 3 – Enthusiastic Promotion: The creator is hyped, uses exclamation marks, but clearly tells you what they are selling (e.g., “My new course on Python programming is out!”).
Zone 2: The “Hype” Zone (Score 4-6)
- 4 – The “Storyteller”: Uses a long personal story to sell, but eventually gets to the point. You know what you are buying, even if the sales page is long.
- 5 – The “Bundle”: “Valued at £5,000, yours for £47!” This is classic marketing fluff. It’s annoying, but usually, the product exists and has some value.
- 6 – The “Curiosity Gap” (Your previous estimate): They use headlines like “The #1 Mistake You’re Making.” They withhold some info to get the click, but the content on the other side is usually decent or at least relevant.
Zone 3: The “Predatory” Zone (Score 7-9)
- 7 – The “Mechanism Hider”: They talk endlessly about “The Method” or “The System” but refuse to name it or explain how it works until you pay. (e.g., “The 3-Step Neural Reset”).
- Why it’s here: If the method was revolutionary, they’d say what it was. Hiding it usually means it’s something basic (like “breathing”) repackaged.
- 8 – The “Pain Agitator”: The copy focuses 90% on how broken you are (“Do you feel lazy? Do you fail your family?”) and only 10% on the solution. This is emotional manipulation designed to bypass logic.
- 9 – The “Pseudo-Science”: Uses scientific-sounding words that mean nothing (“Quantum Neural Bridging,” “Dopamine Hacking”) to sell generic advice. Claims to “cure” or “permanently fix” complex conditions like ADHD or Depression in a short timeframe.
Zone 4: The “Scam” Zone (Score 10)
- 10 – The “Dark Pattern”: Fake countdown timers that reset when you refresh, fake “Sally from Ohio just bought this” pop-ups, impossible claims (“Earn £10k in 2 hours”), or billing you without consent.
Base Score: 1
Max Score: 9
10 is reserved for literal theft/fraud
Nathalie Tasler, PhD, SFHEA, MPhil, PGDip CCM, PGCert LTHE 