What makes a viral Internet post?

© iStockphoto.com/Javier Brosch

A guy at Gawker apparently has it down to a science, literally, Andrew Phelps writes on the Nieman Journalism Lab site. Phelps quotes Neetzan Zimmerman on the elements of a viral post, starting with the element of surprise: “A taxidermied cat being that’s been turned into a helicopter — that’s clearly going to be successful, right? Because it’s got that element of shock, it’s got that element of a cat, you know, it’s basically just tailored to the Internet,” he said.

June 12, 2012

ADVERTISEMENT
BWF Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants

ADVERTISEMENT
EurekAlert! Travel Awards

ADVERTISEMENT
Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications