Understanding Viral Videos

Kevin Alaka, a trends manager at YouTube, discusses how videos go viral through tastemakers, community participation, and unexpectedness. He uses examples like Double Rainbow, Rebecca Black's Friday, and Nyan Cat to illustrate these concepts. Tastemakers introduce new content to larger audiences, communities engage and create parodies, and unexpectedness captures attention. Viral success is unpredictable, but creativity and participation are key in the new media culture.

What is the main factor that has made it easier for anyone to become famous today?

• Traditional media

• Web video

• Print media

• Radio broadcasts

What role do tastemakers play in the viral success of a video?

• They critique videos negatively

• They fund the production of videos

• They introduce new content to a larger audience

• They create the videos themselves

Which video was propelled to fame by a tweet from Jimmy Kimmel?

• Nyan Cat

• Rebecca Black's Friday

• Double Rainbow

• Casey Neistat's bike lane video

What was a significant factor in the viral spread of Rebecca Black's 'Friday'?

• It was picked up by Tosh.no and blogs

• It was featured in a movie

• It was released on a Monday

• It was a charity song

How did the community contribute to the popularity of 'Friday'?

• By deleting it

• By criticizing it

• By ignoring it

• By creating parodies

What is unique about the Nyan Cat video?

• It is a silent film

• It has a three-hour version

• It features a famous actor

• It is a live-action video

What unexpected element helped Casey Neistat's video go viral?

• A dramatic storyline

• A musical performance

• A celebrity cameo

• A surprising and humorous approach

What is a key characteristic of new media culture?

• Limited access

• Audience-defined popularity

• High production costs

• Exclusive content

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of viral videos discussed in the video?

• Tastemakers

• Community participation

• Unexpectedness

• Predictability

What does the video suggest is necessary for a video to stand out among the vast amount of content uploaded?

• Professional editing

• High budget

• Uniqueness and unexpectedness

• Famous actors