How does a video become viral?

Amy Bartner

February 05, 2009 by Amy Bartner

+1 vote

I’m doin’ a little experiment on making a video go viral, and was wondering if I could pick yer brains?

Nosy question time!

1. What does it take to make a video viral?
2. What does it take to attract you to a video?
3. How often do you send videos on?
4. I don’t have a fourth question, but three questions didn’t seem like it was enough!

Forum: WTF?

Tags: 

numa, viral, videos, internets

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13 comments

six_inch_nails
six_inch_nails, February 6, 2009
0 votes

Ahahahaha!! I forgot this video existed!! Soooo funny!

joe.shearer
joe.shearer, February 6, 2009
0 votes

1. It has to come into contact with another viral video, causing the virus to spread.
2. I’m not. They tend to find me.
3. Rarely.
4. No problem. Someone with serious answers please provide one! :)

Channing
Channing, February 6, 2009
0 votes

To me, a viral video has to first provide one of three things:

a. A Darwin Award-esque person hurting themselves
b. Goofy fat people embarrasing themselves (e.g. Star Wars Kid, Numa Numa Guy)
c. Attractive women doing odd things, preferably while nekkid or scantily clad (e.g. Wii Fit Girl)

Then it must be universal enough that others would enjoy it as well.

Most videos I pass along actually fail on that second point, as their appeal is very limited, usually just to myself and a select few others. I don’t think I’ve passed along anything “viral” in quite a while, apart from the “Bale vs. O’Reilly” mash-up.

Zombieguy
Zombieguy, February 6, 2009
0 votes

It’s all about the content. If the content is interesting for one reason or another (funny, horrifying, shocking, etc.), then people will pass it on.

Drinky_McGee
Drinky_McGee, February 6, 2009
0 votes

1. I have to hear about it. Despite my time spent on Indy.com, I’m not actually that hip to the goings-on of the interworld, so if I’ve seen it, there’s a 100% chance that everyone else already has.
2. It has to be supercheesy. If it involves religious types or politicians making fools of themselves, that’s also a plus.
3. I am not a carrier.
4. Broccoli.

Ben Neff
Ben Neff, February 6, 2009
0 votes

You might enjoy this. This is kind of outdated and long, but starting at about a minute in, the way he says “Obama’s Mama!” is pretty funny:

Jenny  Elig
Jenny Elig, February 6, 2009
+1 vote

1) It features someone dancing to “Single ladies.”

2) It features a dude rapping about mini-malls.

Ben Neff
Ben Neff, February 6, 2009
0 votes

New to me. I love it!!!

Jenny  Elig
Jenny Elig, February 6, 2009
0 votes

Or a kid talking about turtles:

Or a animal doing something silly/cute:

Or a man/Butters talking about something going in his anus:

I am a sucker for these memes.

JohnScott
JohnScott, February 6, 2009
0 votes

I love the zombie kid. I remember spitting pop when I first saw that one.

Jenny  Elig
Jenny Elig, February 6, 2009
0 votes

OMG! I forgot La Pequena!

Jesika
Jesika , February 13, 2009
0 votes
SemperFiMarketing
SemperFiMarketing, October 7
0 votes

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