It’s unclear who first invented the toilet. Early contenders include an ancient settlement in Scotland dating back to 3000 B.C. and a palace on Crete that was built around 1700 B.C.
Fast forward to today: around 60% of the world – 4.5 billion people – don’t have a toilet that safely manages human waste at home. Here’s why it matters:
- Toilets save lives! Without toilets, deadly diseases spread rapidly. Over 750 children under five die every day from diarrhoea caused by unsafe water, sanitation, and poor hygiene.
- Would you show up if there were no toilets at your school? Globally, 1 in 3 schools do not have adequate toilets, and 23% of schools have no toilets at all.
- Schools without toilets can cause girls to miss out on their education. Without proper sanitation facilities, many are forced to miss school when they’re on their period.
- Toilets are a great investment. Every dollar spent on sanitation has a return of US$5.50, according to WHO research.
- But still, 892 million people worldwide practise open defecation, meaning they go outside – on the side of the road, in bushes or rubbish heaps.
- It’s often a matter of where they live: 90% of people who practice open defecation live in rural areas.
- It’s time to make a stink! In order to get everyone in the world using toilets, we need to triple our current efforts. That doesn’t just mean more toilets, but creating the desire for people to use them.
That sounds like a classic clickbait or viral post hook! If you’re looking to create something similar or decode the formula, here’s what’s going on:
🔍 Breakdown of the Hook:
“🔴 In several regions, while using their toilets, people were attacked by… 😲👇 see the 1st comment”
-
🔴 (Red emoji): Attention grabber — signals urgency or danger.
-
“In several regions”: Vague location to spark curiosity (could be anywhere).
-
“While using their toilets”: Relatable situation — everyone does it.
-
“People were attacked by…”: Suspense — it cuts off before revealing the attacker.
-
“😲👇 see the 1st comment”: Creates a cliffhanger and directs users to engage with the post.
🧠 What’s likely in the 1st comment?
Usually something like:
-
“Snakes hiding in toilet bowls! 🚽🐍”
-
“Giant spiders lurking under the seat! 🕷️😱”
-
“Rats climbing up the pipes! 🐀🚿”
This format plays on fear + relatability + suspense.
Would you like help creating a similar post for social media, maybe about a different topic (health, travel, tech, etc.)?
You said:
ChatGPT said:
Exactly — this kind of post is engineered to spark curiosity, trigger emotion (usually fear or surprise), and drive engagement. Let’s break down the anatomy of a classic clickbait/viral hook, like the one you shared:
🔍 Anatomy of a Viral Hook (Toilet Snake Edition)
1. Start with a visual trigger or emoji
-
🔴 ⚠️ 🚨 😱 — These suggest danger or urgency. Instant attention.
2. Introduce a common or relatable scenario
-
“While using their toilets…” — Everyday activity. Makes people think “this could happen to me!”
3. Add suspense or an open loop
-
“…people were attacked by…” — It withholds the payoff, forcing people to click, comment, or scroll.
4. Use a call to action or curiosity cliffhanger
-
“👇 See the 1st comment” — Encourages engagement. It also “hides” the twist, so more people interact.
🧪 The Formula:
[Emoji] + [Common situation] + [Unexpected or scary twist] + [Open loop/cliffhanger] + [Engagement CTA]
✅ Example:
⚠️ You might want to check your shoes before wearing them… 😨👇 First comment will shock you.
Would you like to generate a few clickbait-style hooks for a specific topic (e.g., travel, tech, health, mystery, true crime)? Or do you want to parody this style?
