Social media has become a platform for users to share all types of content with the world in an instant. From memes to life updates, fascinating photos to funny videos, content spreads rapidly across social networking sites. Consequently, certain types of content are more likely to “go viral” and captivate massive online audiences. Among these, viral videos promise entertainment and evoke emotions that facilitate their widespread sharing.
Viral videos typically feature novel content that piques
Viewers’ interest
They tend to exhibit one or more of the following: humor, shock value, a heartwarming or inspirational theme, or showcase something unusual or unknown. Often, these videos are very short – just a few seconds or minutes long – making them easy to consume and reshare on social media.
Social factors
They also contribute to a video going viral. When influential people like celebrities or popular social media personalities share or appear in a video, it receives more exposure and spreads more quickly.
To reach millions of social networkers, a video needs a combination of “buy-in” from top influencers as well as appeal to the masses. The most viral videos typically satisfy both criteria through simple yet engaging content. Some examples include the Gangnam Style dance video, BB King’s guitar-playing dog, proposal videos featuring unexpected plot twists.
Though most viral videos bring smiles and inspiration, some provoke controversy or outrage that fuels their spread. The divisive “cash me outside” clip of a defiant teenager on a talk show or footage of police violence are examples. Such videos highlight social debates and touch upon complex issues within society.
For content creators and advertisers, producing viral video remains challenging.Authenticity and relatability are essential, yet notoriously difficult to manufacture. Attempts at “forced virality” usually fail unless the content truly resonates with people in an emotional way. Viewers also tend to see through blatant promotional pitches, preferring more subtle product placements within entertaining videos.
In summary, there are no guaranteed formulas for going viral. But combining novelty, emotion and simplicity within shareable video clips offers the best chances of captivating vast online audiences today. As social media platforms continue evolving, the types of videos that can achieve viral status will also change. Yet for the foreseeable future, evocative short-form video content promises to remain “king” for cut-through on social networks.
