Viral Videos and Flash Mobs

Ever since YouTube became such a popular website, people have been sharing videos. When one is especially popular, and gets shared many times, by all different kinds of people, it's called a viral video.

It comes from the idea of a virus which spreads like a disease, and people can catch the sickness. It starts small, but as more people share, and their friends share, etc. the idea explodes.

A Flash Mob is a special kind of thing that happens when many people plan to look like strangers in a public place, but really they have planned a dance or activity which is planned together. They come together, do the dance, and then quickly return to life as usual. These are often recorded. Sometimes they are done to bring attention to a problem.

There are many examples of viral videos of flash mobs, even!
Check out these examples:

After watching the videos, and thinking about the definitions, please answer the following questions with a partner. I want you to work together on one Google Doc, share the document with each other and with me.

1. What is the difference between a viral video and a flash mob?

2. Explain what you think the purpose was of each of these videos.

3. How did the purposes of the 3 videos differ?

4. How is the purpose of the 3 videos similar.

5. Have you ever seen a viral video from your native country?

6. Please research viral videos from your native country on YouTube and copy three links in your document for me to see. One of them should be a viral video AND a flash mob in the same video.