I’ve not got anything against people wearing masks, clearly it’s helpful for reducing the spread of COVID, flu, etc. - I wrote elsewhere in this thread that I think it would be good to see people wearing masks more commonly around flu season as well.

I do think the article is sensationalist, though - it implies that there is broad scientific consensus that masks should be mandated again, but when you read it, it’s just a single tweet containing the opinion that it’s a good idea to wear a mask if you’re going to be in a crowded place.

What generates clicks?

Sensationalist, anxiety-inducing headlines from news websites - particularly ones which desperately want COVID (or some other pandemic) to return in force. Do you remember all of the media frenzy around monkeypox a few months ago? That’s a really good example. There’s this pervasive sense that the press are almost hoping for some horrible new pandemic or for COVID to mutate in a way that makes it much more virulent, just so that they can get more clicks.