What Makes Videos Go Viral?
Film & Animation
Introduction
Growing up in a digital age, the term "viral" often evokes thoughts of internet videos rather than actual infections. Despite having watched countless viral clips, understanding what makes a video shareable remains elusive. To uncover the secrets of viral success, I analyzed a selection of 100 viral videos from 2006 to 2017, each boasting over 4 million views — one even reached nearly 3 billion.
Analyzing Viral Video Trends
Among the viral videos, 24 were categorized as shocking or surprising, exemplified by clips like a man blending a brand new iPhone or the delightful interruption of a BBC interview by children. Surprisingly, 30% fell under the "impressive" category, showcasing high-level trick shots or elaborate music videos that demanded substantial effort. Only 14% of the videos had a cute aspect, typically featuring kids, while 17% were simply weird, wacky, or cringy. The most common denominator among all these clips was humor, accounting for about 50% of the total.
Noteworthy statistics included an average video length of 4 minutes and 10 seconds, with the longer videos appearing more recently. Interestingly, only 12% of the selected clips didn’t feature humans or animals.
Despite some quality differences, viral videos don’t always represent the highest artistic effort. The common thread among them is a quality that encourages viewers to share with others. Even when sharing content deemed hilariously bad, it still counts towards virality.
The Elements of Shareable Videos
Take, for example, Susan Boyle's unexpected singing talent or the universally relatable charm of "Charlie Bit My Finger." Each contains elements that resonate with viewers: shock, relatability, humor, or nostalgia. The "Evolution of Dance" showcases impressive transitions through different music genres, appealing to a wide audience through a sense of nostalgia.
However, it’s clear that reverse engineering this viral formula isn’t straightforward. For instance, if one were to film a standard snowboarding video, it likely wouldn’t be shareable. The solutions could be to add extraordinary tricks or introduce a cute element by featuring a child. Alternatively, using a shocking element, like a humorous injury, could also increase shareability.
Examining a successful example, Casey Neistat filmed a video in January 2016 snowboarding behind a Jeep driving through New York City. The novelty of snowboarding amidst ordinary urban life provided a fresh concept, allowing it to go viral without the need for extreme snowboarding skills or risky elements. A crucial factor was timely execution—filming and uploading the content quickly while snow was still a hot topic—along with ensuring the roads were closed, which added a rebellious aspect to the video.
However, it would be naive to expect viral success from a standard snowboarding video, as predicting what will resonate with viewers is notoriously unpredictable—even for seasoned creators like Casey Neistat.
Ultimately, rather than obsess over what makes content shareable or chase after viral trends, one should focus on producing quality content that resonates personally. Such a mindset is liberating; it emphasizes creativity over consumer approval. If the outcome is a viral hit, that’s a pleasant bonus — but the primary goal should remain creating meaningful content. After all, the viral hype is often fleeting.
Keyword
- Viral Videos
- Comedy
- Shareability
- Nostalgia
- Shock Factor
- Cute Factor
- Impressive Skills
- Urban Snowboarding
- Creative Content
FAQ
Q: What are the common characteristics of viral videos?
A: Common characteristics include humor, shock or surprise, impressiveness, relatability, and sometimes cuteness.
Q: Does video quality matter for virality?
A: Not necessarily; many viral videos aren’t the highest quality or most artistic. What matters more is their shareability and the emotional or entertaining responses they invoke.
Q: Can I predict what will go viral?
A: No, predicting virality is very unpredictable. Successful creators often emphasize it is not possible to consistently foresee what will resonate with audiences.
Q: Should I focus on trends to create viral content?
A: Instead of chasing trends, focus on creating quality content that you are passionate about. If your content connects with others, it may become viral by chance.
