Viral culture in today’s society is an interesting phenomenon. The act of “going viral” is considered the highest peak of a content creator’s career. It happens when the creator’s content is shared by millions of people over a short period of time, and they become an overnight sensation.
Across the globe, there are several instances of viral videos and memes that have gained popularity overnight. An interesting example is the KFC proposal in South Africa. A video of a couple went viral in which the man was proposing to his wife at a KFC outlet. While the man was criticised by many for not having chosen a better spot for the proposal, KFC South Africa came through by offering to plan the wedding with the new couple. Several other South Africa based companies also came forward with vouchers and coupons for the couple. This is just one of the many examples of the “viral” culture in today’s world.
How does one go “viral” in today’s society?
Content creation is a competitive industry today. Creators, social media influencers, and famous personalities must churn out content consistently without compromising quality. To go viral, therefore, is no easy task. Most viral videos are not intentional and include content that was made for fun. In a nutshell, there is no magic trick to going viral. What could help increase a creator’s chance is his/her sensitivity to culture. If the creators are in tune with what their audience wants, it is very likely that the audience will hit that share button. Creators that stay true to themselves are seen to garner more support and produce content with the potential to go viral.
FAQs
- What is considered viral on social media?
Content that has been shared numerous times within a short period of time is termed viral content. An image or video with around 5 million views is considered viral on social media.
2. How do you make social media content viral?
There is no set rule book on how to make your content go viral. If you are able to elicit emotions from a majority of your audience, whether it is happiness, sadness or even fear, it is likely your content will go viral.
3. What are the disadvantages of going viral?
Sometimes unintended content goes viral. This invades the privacy of the people subjected to the content unknowingly or unintentionally. This will lead to the person being sought out on social media platforms and positive and negative messages being sent to them.
4. What could be a possible way to go viral?
Creating content that is relatable is a possible way to go viral. Content made on trending topics, especially those that are political or controversial in nature, is seen to get traction.
5. Why do videos go viral?
