The viral video can create an instant celebrity, change a political campaign, or introduce a new catchphrase into the world. The first viral video, arguably, is the video of the LAPD beating Rodney King, a video that was replayed endlessly on the emergent 24-hour cable news network CNN back in 1991:
Of course, this was before YouTube and ubiquitous cell phone cameras. The Rodney King trial led to the acquittal of the officers involved and the 1992 L.A. riots.
With the advent of YouTube in 2005, and other popular video file sharing sites, the potential audience for videos going viral has expanded immensely, and the frequency with which a video goes viral has also increased. For some people, a video worth sharing may contain a moment from everyday life:
For others, the video worth sharing and viewing repeatedly accompanies the worst pop song ever written:
And some viral videos are stirringly tragic and can inspire a revolutionary moment, such as this video from 2009 of a woman named Neda who died in the Green Revolution in Iran (please note the video contains graphic material):
How would you describe the elements of a viral video on YouTube? What are the social effects of viral videos? What are some of your favourite viral videos?
