Elle apologizes for fake news tweet to encourage voter registration

Though similar posts have been circulating by individual Twitter users, the publication was slammed for using clickbait to trick its readers into doing their civic duties.

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There are a plethora of headlines encouraging people to vote, but Elle thought it would try a different approach to reach the younger demographic.

On Thursday, it tweeted:

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are splitting up 😱💔 https://t.co/epwKG7aSBg pic.twitter.com/u7qqojWVlR

— ELLE Magazine (US) (@ELLEmagazine) October 18, 2018

Instead of an article, the link takes readers to Elle’s affiliate page for WhenWeAllVote.org, a voting registration site powered by nonprofit organization Rock the Vote.

Though some Twitter users applauded the unusual move to encourage voter registration for the 2018 Midterm Elections, many more—including reporters and PR pros—lashed out at Elle for promulgating fake news.

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