The virus is spreading around the world at an exponential rate visiting every corner sparing no country. The story of viral news is no different. It spreads like fire across every creak via any available source of media. Including Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram. Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter, and many more. The spread of viral news is indeed the real fast method for the outbreak of news. Thoughts, stories, and trends into the population. It spreads like contamination in a society where the audience plays an immensely dynamic role of spreading the update irrespective of the genre and the field of life concerned.
Terminology
Typically the word ‘viral’ belongs to an image, message, video, or any other written material disseminated in the population via an online mode of communication in the shortest possible time. English writers and philosophers have described the term viral repeatedly in their own style and perceptions. Thomas Mofolo, a South African media theorist, has described media virus as the combination of the virtual collection that is manifested via digital media networks. Such viral news stories or updates on media, in magazines or dull newspapers, eventually become a part of the reality of our society.
Background of viral news
The history of content sharing in our world is not a new concept. Oral culture, due to illiteracy, was the basic mode of communication used years ago for telling folk songs and poetry. The idea of sharing news through verbal and faster means continued developing until today and forever. The first influential and potentially strong mode of the transfer of information across the planet was viral videos. It receives millions of views, not to exaggerate, in a blink of an eye. The chain of individuals who are watching a content and then spreading it to the close circle of friends and family can pile up to the list of viewers.
Categorization of viral videos
The type of such videos has been broadly classified into six main types. Firstly, unintentional videos which are created and shared by the owners without any intention of earning popularity. Secondly, humorous videos are typically produced for the sake of entertainment and automatically gets a lot of likes and shares to the funny content. Some videos are purely promotional, for instance the ones which have been used for the sake of endorsing a branded product or services.
Video composed for charity and spreading positivity are also supported heavily. Such as planting hundred trees campaign, feminism, no workplace harassment. No workplace harassment, and equality of rights to transgender, equality of rights to transgender, and other social and financial justice content.
Likewise, artistic videos prepared by artists can help to highlight the idea of creativity. And freedom in their work, videos against. The political corner promotion is also conducted. Through such viral videos including the voting campaigns. Highlighting any injustice imposed by the government. Or other political group promotional videos which are usually paid content. And are paid heavily at times to ensure their spread as a virus.
Viral News today
The search engines, every official paid and unpaid site. These days are promoting a hot topic. That has completely toppled the familial, social, emotional, financial, and recreational framework of the globe. It is none other than pandemic itself. More famously known as Covid-19 or coronavirus. The news on the number of cases reported, and associated deaths are highlighted daily to keep the people in touch with the world current situation.
Moreover, promotional videos issued by the World Health Organization. Including those that endorse the washing of hands, use of face masks, avoiding public unessential public gatherings. And ensuring social distance is gaining rapid fame around the world corners. Likewise, memes related to the impending and inevitable World War III and end time of the world and universe are both taken spread around virally as part of facts laden and social senses of humor for the public.
Boost or bane
The contamination rate of viral news is strongly linked to the materials. Ability to stimulate emotional responses in the people. This creates a push factor compelling people to share massively. It leads to the generation of arousal of feelings and dominance over emotions in society. This is the reason why both the aggressively negative may cast terror in the hearts of people. And purely positive content that boosts the public is equally praised by people. Of course, social media is full of positive and negative content. Yet the responsibility lies on the shoulders of viewers on when and which content to roll out and what to hold back.
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