Why Things Go Viral

​When you hear the phrase “viral video” you can't stop yourself from imagining the video playing over and over in your head until it's all you can think about all day.

Whether it’s the one with the baby cooking in a cute little chef’s hat or one of a dance that everyone just can’t keep from doing, there’s a reason why we’re all obsessed. Of course, there are scientific studies that determine the psychological reasons behind why we like viral videos, how they go viral, and even what it all means.  

Personally, viral to me means everyone and their mother just can’t stop talking about it or watching it. Simply hitting one million views doesn’t really cut it anymore, especially in the new age of TikTok, a short-form video-sharing app similar to its predecessor Vine. There are several explanations and opinions on why things go viral, but it has been scientifically proven that these videos cause a release of dopamine, the “feel good” hormone. 

These challenges can also have a dark effect on us, which is why we must be vigilant. For example, there were several “challenges” within the recent years urging young children to do things that would result in bodily harm or death. In particular, there was a challenge to hang yourself and try to pull up to keep yourself breathing. This dangerous challenge resulted in the death of a 12-year-old boy from Kota, India, named Rajasthan. 

The first viral topic I’m going to discuss is the planking challenge where you position your body in a stiff (plank-like) position. Out of all of the challenges I’d say this one is my least favorite. It originally began in the early 2010’s. It made a comeback in 2018, but like all fad’s it was short-lived. The first video I watched about this topic was mainly a compilation of people planning in odd places. These locations varied from playground to escalators! I didn’t really find this one funny. 

The second video pretty much gave me the same impression as the first. I don’t really care for this challenge, but I can understand the appeal. People like to do stupid things that bring attention to them and breaks through the norm. “Planking” is just like any and all other things we do for attention. The second viral topic is the “Harlem Shake.” This insanely popular dance existed long before the challenge which began roughly in the 2013-2015 era. I personally participated in this challenge and I remember it being a big deal when I was in high school. I remember it as something silly us kids did for fun.  

The dance originally began in the early 1980’s and was obviously a very popular dance in Harlem, US. The first video I watched about this topic included a compilation of some of the “best” Harlem Shake challenges. Watching this video made me want to jump up and dance along with it. I think people participated in this challenge because it was fun. 
The second viral video of the Harlem Shake I watched is pretty much the same, just people dancing along and going crazy to this song. I could only find compilations of this challenge that had over one million views which makes sense. 

The third viral topic is the “Mannequin Challenge.” Of the previous listed, this one is definitely my favorite. There was a time during my senior year in high school where this was the only thing we could talk about or do. We would prank teachers by doing this challenge until the point where they nearly banned it. The first video I chose to watch for this topic was this one. While similar to planking, it gives the participants free range to be creative. With over 7 million views, the first video was epic. It featured over 1500 high school students participating in the Mannequin Challenge all throughout the school! 

 I think this challenge was so popular because it gave everyone a chance to be included. Like we’ve read about this semester, people love to be a part of something and made to feel like they were an essential part of making something great. 

The second video I watched about this topic was very cute and regal. This video included fairy princesses and princes, in a theme park doing this challenge. I think this showed the very heartwarming, bright side these challenges can have.  

The fourth and final viral topic I chose was one of my personal favorites. There were several challenges I could’ve picked especially now when everyone’s stuck at home and the only thing there is to do is stupid challenges from the internet. I picked the “patience” challenge.  

This challenge involves putting someone (usually a baby/child) in front of something tempting (usually candy/food) and seeing if they can resist it. While majority of the babies usually resist in anticipation of more candy, the ones who don’t end up with the best videos. 

The first video I watched was the very first one I saw of this challenge. I couldn’t find this video on YouTube, but I will describe it anyways. A very adorable little girl is sat in front of a piece of gum by her presumably older sister. Her sister then leaves the room, and we watch the little girl fight with her emotions while talking to the camera and saying, “I can’t do this!”  

This challenge is very funny and cute, but if done wrong can come off a bit cruel, especially if the kid cries. 

The first video I found on YouTube about this challenge was what I think it originated from. In this video children are placed in front of a marshmallow and told that if they waited until the adult came back, they would get another. The other viral video was very similar. It included country pop singer Thomas Rhett’s daughter resisting the urge to eat out of a bowl of jellybeans in the most adore way possible. I think these videos went viral because they are adorable and wholesome. 

 I like that these videos not only bring joy to the viewers but are also teaching patience to the children. 

While analyzing these challenges it gave me a lot of time to put them in perspective. When I participated in these challenges, I simply did so because it was fun. In the recent years that I’ve been enrolled in college and have learned about the different effects and tricks professionals use on the public, I grow weary of participating in challenges and things that are widely popular. For example, I have yet to eat a Popeyes chicken sandwich or watch the Netflix movie Birdbox simply for the fact that everyone was so crazy about it.  
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It can be very frustrating sometimes, but I think it is important to be aware so not to be deceived. These challenges go viral for many reasons and if you ask a million people, you’ll get a million different ones. Some will say it’s because they are funny or fun, some will say they just like to be included, and some might say there is no reason. Sometimes things just grow insanely popular for no good reason and all of a sudden everyone is doing it. Whatever the reason things go viral, I think we should stop every once in a while, and join in. ​