One of the most basic communication issues is assuming your audience knows everything you know, even the things you consider basic and obvious. It's self-centered, arrogant, and rude, and it gets in the way of actually getting things done.

You can read more about this and other considerate communication DOs and DON'Ts in my Medium article here:

https://medium.com/@frickingruvin/considerate-communication-46fea4d2a7f2

Any time I mute a time-wasting author (this wasn't the first and won't be the last), I always let others know that this option is available and how to use it. Contrary to your assumption, a significant number of people have thanked me because they didn't know this option was available or how to use it.

Muting is certainly a more effective option than just bitching about time-wasting clickbait articles and wishing that people would stop writing them. Instead, it ensures that we never see them again WHILE putting direct pressure on the offenders by reducing the size of their potential audience.

So maybe a little less assumption and condescension, m'kay? Thinking before typing. Thinking BEFORE typing.