TED: What makes something go viral? | Dao Nguyen

The transcript discusses BuzzFeed's viral video experiments, focusing on a goat prank and a watermelon explosion. It explores why these videos succeeded, emphasizing audience engagement and shared anticipation. The concept of 'cultural cartography' is introduced, which categorizes content based on the job it does for the audience, rather than just its subject. This approach aims to enhance user experience and content creation by understanding audience needs and emotions.

What was the prank that BuzzFeed employees planned for their boss Ze Frank on his birthday?

How did the livestream of the goats in the office perform compared to expectations?

What hypothesis did the team form about why the goat video was successful?

What was the outcome of the watermelon rubber band experiment?

What does the term 'cultural cartography' refer to in the context of BuzzFeed's content strategy?

What are some examples of jobs that media can do for its audience as mentioned in the talk?

How did BuzzFeed's quiz about guessing age and height go viral?

What was the main job that the 'fudgiest brownies ever' video aimed to achieve?

In what ways did the content creators at BuzzFeed adapt their approach to better connect with their audience?

What role does understanding the audience's needs play in creating successful content according to the speaker?