How can a word which had a negative meaning turn into something positive? What does it mean to go viral? It’s not something I would say to someone who had the flu. But in the world of tech and online media and communication, the term “viral” is the epitome of being a success. It’s strange to see/hear/watch how language changes through time – sometimes I wonder if Twitter is a reflection of Orwell’s book 1984. Anyway, the term “viral” has transcended from being a medical term to one that is the pinnacle of online success. The evolution of the term “viral” is documented well in Wired magazine’s May 2013 issue. Here are a few paragraphs I found that hit the issue on its head.
It’s all about connecting content with people’s interest and their willingness to share:
Going viral happens through a series of volitional acts, each carried out by a specific human being who sees stuff they like and shares it if — and only if — they believe it will entertain the other specific human beings.
It’s also about getting people to not be bystanders but to be actively participating to make something “viral”:
No would-be viral message goes anywhere if the audience doesn’t actively pitch in.
So if you want to make things go viral, try to make it funny:
It’s the reason why so much viral content is comedic (we love to make our friends laugh), why so much of it is short (no one wants to chew up their friends’ time), why its premise tends to get announced right up front (no one wants to bewilder friends about what they’re forwarding), and why so much of it revolves around animals or relationships or kids or the other things we already blab about in casual conversation.