Since entering the 21st century, a lot of us have spent majority of our time on the internet, and other forms of media such as television and radio as well as print are no longer our primary source of entertainment. Viral Videos are now the trigger to bring people across the globe with access to a computer and strong Wi-Fi connection, great entertainment.


Viral Videos are often spoofs of topical news such as the infamous Bed Intruder Song, You’ve-been-framed style home videos of people’s own fails, the next dance craze like the catchy and ever duplicated Harlem Shake, or even shockers like the KONY2012 or Amanda Todd. The attraction to the viral video is that it is accessible to nearly all persons and adds a sense of community and active audience involvement. Viral Videos seem to become the new morning news paper. Before many people would read their news paper on the train to work, and use the headlines as conversation starters with fellow workers. People still do this, however it seems more people are whipping out their smart phones on their journeys to work and watching the latest Cat Vs Laser pen video, ready to show fellow co-workers during the lunch break.


Viral Videos have become an important source of instant information for the global community. Spread by word-of-mouth (or word-of-link), Viral Videos are able to get serious matters or hilarious anecdotes to the masses with a click of a mouse. News reports have based a lot of news articles upon viral videos, such as the bullying of Amanda Todd. A video, or cry for help that has now been watched over 17million times, resulting in Todd’s suicide due to cyber bullying through the video. This event caused a stir in the media world and was covered across the world. This was no suicide of a girl in Canada. It became a suicide of a girl from the internet, thus affecting a global community.


But it’s not only humour and news that viral videos are used for. Promotions and advertising for music and products also result in becoming viral videos. Most recent examples would be Macklemore’s Thrift Shop and Korean sensation Psy and his major dance track Gangnam Style.


Viral Videos show the true power of E-media and how society is moving forward with their sourcing of information. From entertainment, to serious issues, viral videos are becoming an everyday thing, and like your common cold, I don’t think we’ll find a cure any time soon.