- Refers to a piece of content (video, image, meme, post, etc.) spreading rapidly and widely across the internet, much like a biological virus spreads through a population.
Explanation
Origin
- The term viral in this context emerged with the rise of the internet and social media in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
- It draws an analogy between the rapid, person-to-person spread of online content and the way viruses replicate and infect hosts.
- Douglas Rushkoff's 1994 book Media Virus discussed related concepts. The term became mainstream with platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- It's everywhere.
- It popped off. (Became suddenly popular/successful)
- That shit blew up. (Vulgar, emphasizes rapid popularity)
Milder/More Formal:
- It gained widespread online popularity.
- The content achieved massive reach.
Situational Appropriateness
- Generally informal to neutral.
- Used widely in discussions about media, marketing, and internet culture.
- Acceptable in most professional contexts related to media or digital strategy.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Less likely to be misunderstood now, but initially, some might have confused it with actual biological viruses. The context usually makes the meaning clear.
Examples
- Did you see that cat video? It completely went viral last week.
- She's hoping her new song goes viral on TikTok.
- Brands often try to create content specifically designed to go viral.
Dialogue
Person A: My cousin posted a video of her dog doing a trick, and it totally went viral!
Person B: No way! Seriously?
Person A: Yeah, it has like 5 million views on TikTok now. She's been interviewed by local news.
Person B: That's insane! Send me the link, I gotta see this.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: My tutorial on how to bake sourdough went viral overnight! 🤯 Thanks for all the love and shares! #baking #sourdough #viral
- Facebook Post: Remember that hilarious dancing parrot video? It went viral again this year! Still makes me laugh.
- YouTube Title: How My First Vlog Accidentally Went VIRAL (10 Million+ Views!)
Response Patterns
- Expressing recognition: Oh yeah, I saw that! or Everyone was talking about it.
- Asking for details: Really? What was it about? or Where did you see it?
- Expressing impressiveness: Wow, that's amazing!
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing something went viral:
- Ask for a link or where to find the content: Can you send it to me? / What should I search for?
- Discuss the content itself: What did you think of it?
- Discuss the impact: How many views did it get? / Did the creator get famous?
Conversation Starter
- Yes. Asking Did you see that thing that went viral? can be a good opener. Can also be used when sharing interesting content.
Intonation
- Emphasis typically falls on viral. It went VIRAL.
- Often said with excitement or surprise.
Generation Differences
- Understood by most generations familiar with the internet, but particularly relevant and frequently used by Millennials and Gen Z who grew up with social media.
Regional Variations
- Universal term across English-speaking regions due to the global nature of the internet.