Forums | Keynote 2 Tuesday evening 8KEc

12 March 2018, 16:33

For homework, you've been asked to watch Kevin Allocca's TED Talk, Why Videos go Viral. After watching, get involved in the discussion. Use the questions below as a starting point or come up with your own. Then, read other posts and reply to what interests you the most:

What do you think makes some YouTube videos go viral? Can you think of a particular example? What did you conclude was the reason for its popularity? 

What is your favorite remix of a well-known song? 

Share some recent parody's that have gone viral. 

13 March 2018, 8:48

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmCOjcaiXQM

This video is an annual parody of a video. It is very relatable and it's promoted by tastemaker jimmy kimmel. In my view were these two aspects are the reason why these videos are very popular.

13 March 2018, 11:59

Oh, I love Jimmy Kimmel‘s show. Yesterday I found out that Jimmy produced a Baby Bachelor show. The episodes are definitely worth a watch! Me personally, I think videos go nearly automaticaly viral if they star at least one cat or one child. The combination of these two = instant immortal fame.

13 March 2018, 16:13

Ohhh, these are phenomenal! However, in the recent one, I suspect some of those entries to have been made up by the parents to increase the chances to be chosen and aired on the show ;-)

13 March 2018, 16:07

This is a quite famous video about a hair tutorial gone wrong :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdVuSvZOqXM

The poor girl’s facial expression is incredibly funny and triggered various reactions from shock (that could happen to me, too!) to spitefulness (are you really that stupid?).

13 March 2018, 16:55

One thing I believe is necessary for a video to go viral (maybe except for big name music videos) is an authentic provenience. I guess this is why only a rather small fraction of viral videos originate from big corporations. Commercials (even the funny ones, such as the etrade babies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4GZfvXx9Js ) just don't get quite as much "street cred" as that rainbow guy in Kevin Allocca's presentation. Or what else would be the reason, why big multi-million-dollar marketing campaigns just can't beat parent filming their kids biting each others fingers? :-)

Oh, and by the way my favorite music video remake is this one - for visually obvious reasons... :-P

13 March 2018, 17:34

I absolutely agree with you. I also think that one of the reasons might be the goal of such a video. On the one hand we have companies that have the risk of losing their reputation and the goal to reach and convince as many people as possible that the company is awesome. On the other hand parents or independent groups of people - especially those who come up with radically innovative ideas - who don't have anything to lose and simply use youtube as a medium to share their ideas or experiences with the world. The goals really diverge and therefore much more trash and, of course some of these viral pearls are produced. I believe that the "random" factor for the latter group is much greater than the one for companies and the result is a far lower amount of fun, innovation and out-of-the-box thinking.

13 March 2018, 18:29

I like all math videos of Daniel Jung. They are really popular and rightly so. He is gifted in explaining stuff simply and concisely

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ribhv53H288

13 March 2018, 18:30

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfjfimChVnU

This video was pretty widespread on platforms like Reddit, Facebook or 9Gag. I guess part what made it so successful was how weird and funny she showed her passion of playing the keyboard. Videos that make you laugh spread much faster and wider than other videos.

13 March 2018, 18:33

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y90yaLFoYoA

This video is about some crazy russian, who surely enjoys dancing while beeing drunk. I guess it went viral because of the funny dance and the absence of shame.