Question: What Is a Viral Video?
In a discussion inside the Humor Forum, a member asked the question. She expressed her concern that "funny" viral videos are somehow unpleasant, adding, "I don't like the sound of it."
I responded:
Answer:
There's nothing sinister implied in the sound or the term of "viral videos." It's a phrase used to describe popular email-forwarded or word-of-mouth propelled video clips on the Internet.For example, I tell you about a funny video I've seen, say TMX Elmo.
You watch it. You like it and you pass it on to a friend or everyone you know. They watch and like it, then forward the link or clip to more people, etc. The popularity of the video spreads like a virus. That's where the word "viral" has been applied to describe this phenomenon.
Viral videos are considered must-see items by their viewers. Of course, as with everything on the Internet, your mileage and taste may vary.
TMX Elmo is a video clip of Tickle Me Elmo from Sesame Street in action. How in the world could anyone find that viral video offensive? The term "viral" has nothing to do with the content of a particular item. Nothing.
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Another Explanation
Wikipedia writes:"The term 'viral video' refers to video clip content which gains widespread popularity through the process of Internet sharing, typically through email or IM messages, blogs and other media sharing websites. Viral videos are often humorous in nature and may range from televised comedy sketches such as Saturday Night Live's Lazy Sunday to unintentionally released amateur video clips like Star Wars Kid and Gary Brolsma's Numa Numa Dance."More Web Humor Q&A