What Makes a Video Viral? PBS Explores the ‘Culture of Sharing’

We talk about viral videos a lot on TheBlaze, but just want makes a video “viral” and what does this mean? PBS’ Off Book recently posted a video of its own to discuss this very topic.

(Related: See other articles on TheBlaze with viral videos)

“The Many Worlds of the Viral Video” delves into this with experts like Jonah Peretti from Buzzfeed and Kevin Allocca from YouTube. They start off setting the record straight that there is no “generally agreed upon definition” for a viral video. Given that “going viral” is the goal of many content producers now, this could be both a boon and a challenge.

Peretti shares two definitions of “viral” — something that “takes off and is popular” and/or something that people are “inspired to share with their friends.” It’s the latter that Peretti, the founder of Buzzfeed, a site notorious for curating and creating viral content.

“Content is sharable when it hits people emotionally and makes people proud to have it be associated with their identity,” Peretti said.

Time Magazine, for example, pulled together a Top 50 list of viral videos. At the top of the list are “Charlie Bit My Finger,“ ”David After Dentist“ and the ”Evolution of Dance.” Do any of those ring a bell? If so, what Peretti is saying rings true.

Screenshot from "David After Dentist"

Learn more about what these guys think make a video go viral and the “culture of sharing”:

PBS’ Off Book, according to its website, looks into “cutting-edge art and the artists that make it.”

(H/T: GeekOSystem)