Attention Economics
Curiosity Gap
Definition
A curiosity gap is the space between what a viewer knows and what they want to know, used to hold attention.
Full explanation
The curiosity gap opens a question in the viewer’s mind without immediately answering it. Effective hooks, titles, and open loops exploit this gap to delay the payoff and increase watch time.
Why it matters
Curiosity is one of the strongest retention levers in short-form editing.