Reflection 4: Infected—Understanding the Nature of Viral Videos

Viral videos—those videos that quickly gain popularity throughout the Internet (usually via social media)—are seemingly made for an era in which information is transmitted rapidly and social networks are the new water coolers. Sometimes entertaining, sometimes even annoying, these videos often take on a life of their own, even if their shelf life is short. Yet, for every "Gangnam Style" there are thousands of videos that no one ever pays any attention to. Why? What is it magic formula for a video going viral? And what of the stars of these videos? While many people were inadvertently (and regrettably) associated with viral videos, many others hope that they will catapult them to stardom. Have viral videos become a shortcut to fame? And are they a legitimate way to break into show business? Finally, what are some of your favorite viral videos and why?

Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• "Why Do Viral Videos Go Viral?" (Wired) 
• "How To Make a Viral Video: A Guide" (Huffington Post)
• "Ten Years Later, the 'Star Wars Kid' Speaks Out" (McLean's)
  
• "Viral Video’s Greatest ‘Stars’: Where Are They Now?" (Yahoo!)
• "Why that Video Went Viral" (New York Times)
• "Here are the Most Popular Viral YouTube Videos of 2016" (Time)

Required:

• MLA Style
• Two pages in length
• Works cited page

Due: We 3.15