Reflection 2: Infected—On Viral Videos

Viral videos—those videos that quickly gain popularity throughout the Internet are seemingly made for an era in which information is transmitted rapidly and social networks are the new water coolers. Sometimes entertaining, sometimes even annoying, these videos often take on a life of their own, even if their shelf life is short. Yet, for every "Gangnam Style" or "Baby Shark" there are tens of thousands of videos that no one ever pays any attention to. Why? What is it magic formula for a video going viral? And what of the stars of these videos? While many people were inadvertently (and regrettably) associated with viral videos, many others hope that they will catapult them to stardom. Have viral videos become a shortcut to fame? And are they a legitimate way to break into show business? Finally, what are some of your favorite viral videos and why?

Include at least two of the following in your discussion: 

• "Top Ten Viral Stars: Where are They Now?" (WatchMojo)
• "'Star Wars Kid' Suffered Years of Harassment after 'First Ever Viral Video' and Doesn't Even Like Star Wars" (LADBible)
• "The Science and Psychology of Why Videos Go Viral" (TNW)
  
• "How the ‘Pink Sauce’ Chef Survived Her Downfall" (Rolling Stone)
  
• "Nine Ordinary People Who Went Unexpectedly Viral in 2022 Described What it's Like to be Launched into the Internet Spotlight" (Business Insider)

Requirements:

• MLA Style
  
• ≈ 375 words (2 pages) 

Submission Window: Thu 3.2-Tue 2.7 (via Canvas)