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A curiosity-driven headline instead says:
“BREAKING NEWS! Just in 5 minutes ago… See more…”
The reader knows almost nothing.
And that lack of information becomes the reason to click.
A Search Reveals Something Important
The exact wording is not unique to one confirmed news event.
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Search results show multiple Facebook pages and posts using variations of “BREAKING NEWS Just in 5 minutes ago… See more…”.
One result, for example, simply uses the phrase as the title of a Facebook video without providing enough information in the searchable preview to establish what the alleged breaking event actually was.
Another Facebook result uses nearly identical language, while the preview contains unrelated references to other breaking-news claims.
This is an important lesson for readers.
A repeated headline is not the same thing as repeated confirmation.
If ten social-media pages copy the same phrase, that does not mean ten independent news organizations have verified an event.
What Genuine Breaking News Looks Like
Real breaking news generally contains specific information.
A credible breaking-news report should tell readers at least some of the following:
What happened
Where it happened
When it happened
Who was involved
Which authority or organization confirmed it
What is known so far
What remains uncertain
The initial report may be brief.
Breaking stories often develop rapidly, and journalists sometimes have only a few confirmed facts when they first publish.
But even a short report normally identifies the basic event.
For example, if a major accident has occurred, a responsible headline might identify the location and nature of the accident.
If a public figure has made an announcement, the headline should identify the person and announcement.