How did the word ‘viral’ become viral?

 How did the word ‘viral’ become viral?

Where did the word viral actually come from? Why did it come about? How did this proverbial word shake society so much?

The word viral originally comes from medicine, which refers to a disease or infection that spreads quickly.

With the development of computer viruses and the Internet in the 1990s, the word viral came to mean the rapid spread of digital content.

After the rise of social media and YouTube, the word viral became popular and is now widely used in Nepali language as well.

When you start filming a video targeting someone, people start saying, ‘Oh, so and so is going to go viral.’

There is a common psychology that after filming a video and posting it on social media, it will or should go ‘viral.’ In fact, some have gone viral by shouting, some without saying anything, some by jumping, some by crying. Whether by saying good things or by criticizing someone harshly, people have gone viral.

What does it mean to go viral? There is no need to define it. Because you or your speech is to go 'viral' if it becomes widespread on social media. What happens when you go viral? You don't even have to answer this. Because viral brings both fame and infamy. What's more, once it goes viral, it is now sold on digital platforms. If you make it viral, you can also make money.

That's why many people have to go viral at this time. People are in a race to go viral no matter what they do. In fact, the word viral is not found in any Nepali dictionary.

That's why many people have to go viral at this time. People are in a race to go viral no matter what they do. In fact, the word viral is not found in any Nepali dictionary.

What is viral? Many people don't even know its exact literal meaning. However, everyone understands the broad meaning of viral. Whether it's a farmer in a remote area or a tea vendor on a busy street in the city.

People have gone viral knowingly, without anyone knowing. Some have gone viral intentionally, some unintentionally. The vibration of the word viral is so high in our society that if such content is not updated, people say, ‘Haven’t you seen that too? Please update it a bit.’

Where did the word viral actually come from? Why did it come about? How did this proverbial word shake society so much?

The original meaning of viral started with medicine

When there was no Internet era, the word viral meant a disease or fever spread by a virus.

‘Viral’ comes from the English word ‘viral’, which is rooted in the Latin word ‘virus’. In ancient Latin, ‘virus’ meant ‘poisonous liquid’, ‘damaging slippery substance’ or simply ‘poison’.

This word came to English in the 14th century, but in modern times, ‘virus’ can mean (infectious bacteria), which is much later. It refers to spreading rapidly and contagiously.

After scientists discovered microorganisms in the late 19th century, the adjective ‘viral’ began to be used.

In the 1940s, doctors used to describe seasonal flu as ‘viral fever’ or ‘viral infection’, describing diseases spread by viruses. The most interesting feature of this word was the ability to spread quickly from one person to another. The virus does not move on its own, but spreads rapidly through objects or breathing. This interesting feature of ‘rapid spread’ was later linked to digital content.

Interestingly, this metaphor of ‘fever’ has also been used in sports journalism since ancient times. For example, the excitement of big matches in the World Cup was called football fever or goal fever.

The excitement that spreads quickly like fever. This metaphor also formed the basis of viral to some extent. Because, news or excitement spread like a virus.

When the term viral used in medicine moved to the 'digital' platform

This analogy became more interesting in the 1980s with the advent of 'computer virus'. Computers were new, and the Internet was not yet well-developed. At that time, floppy disks (small wheel-like disks) were used to exchange data. If a computer virus was on one disk, it would automatically move to another. This property was exactly the same as the virus that is transmitted during an infection as doctors say, so it was named 'computer virus'.

Up until now, there was a kind of fear in people as soon as the word virus was mentioned. If it entered the body, it would damage the body and the computer, and if it entered the computer, it would damage the computer system. Now things changed in the 1990s.

In this decade, viruses started moving to the 'digital' platform. This was the era of the Internet. When the era of the Internet and email was beginning. Then, in 1996, Hotmail was launched.

Marketers thought of a new way, why advertise with expensive advertisements? If people promoted themselves, they saw the possibility of not having to pay expensive fees, and also increasing their customers.

While thinking about the method, a trick came up, which was (the old free email service) writing at the end of every email: ‘Get your free mail at Hotmail.’ When the user sent the email, this message would spread itself. Without expensive advertising, Hotmail reached 12 million users in 18 months.

Marketers were happy to see this. They laughed and responded, ‘It spread like a virus.’

Seeing this viral spreading style, they named it – viral marketing. This became the first and most classic and least expensive example of viral marketing.

Advertising and marketing experts began to compare a message, brand or promotional material that spreads quickly like a biological virus if people share it with each other.

At the end of this year, Jeffrey R. Pott's article 'The Virus of Marketing' was published. In which this concept was discussed. Less than two years later, venture capitalists Draper and Steve Jurvetson gave this method of Hotmail the formal name of viral marketing.

In this context, the term American Eagle (AE) viral marketing came into use. It meant a strategy to make a message widespread, without a large budget, through user participation.

Thus, the word 'viral' on the Internet began to mean the widespread spread of content, starting with marketing.

The Internet's first 'viral star': Dancing Baby

In 1996, along with viral marketing, another viral content appeared. At that time, the Internet's first big content came - 'Dancing Baby'. It was a video of a small child dancing in 3D animation. It spread through email chains and early Internet forums, everyone forwarded it with laughter.

Later, it was also shown on the TV show 'Ally McBeal'. It spread around the world overnight because it was unique, fun, and easy to share. Unknowingly, it is considered the first major viral content (mime) of the Internet.

Both Hotmail's viral marketing and Dancing Baby's viral content began in 1996. One was planned marketing and the other was the spontaneous spread of unique content. Both reinforced the concept of 'viral'. This was the early days of the Internet, where email was the main sharing medium.

After the advent of social networks

YouTube was founded in February 2005 and launched a beta version in May. It went fully public in December 2005. Before that, from the late 1990s to 2005, the term 'viral' was mainly used only in viral marketing. For example: - Hotmail's email signature and content were spread through email chains or forums.

There was no central platform to easily upload and share videos, so the concept of 'viral video' was limited. Everything changed with the advent of YouTube. In October 2005, Nike's advertising video 'Ronaldinho: Touch of Gold' was uploaded, in which Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho juggles a ball. It became the first YouTube video to surpass one million views. It is considered the platform's first major 'viral video'.

In December 2005, a clip from the American TV show 'Lazy Sunday' was uploaded to YouTube. It quickly reached millions of views and increased YouTube traffic by 83 percent. From this time on, the phrases 'viral video' and 'going viral' began to be used in everyday language.

Who associated the word 'viral' with social media content?

It developed naturally, not by any one person. Marketers, media and bloggers began to call videos that spread quickly on YouTube 'viral videos'. In 2006, YouTube itself encouraged such videos by introducing sections such as 'Most Viewed' and 'Most Discussed'.

Previously, ‘viral’ was limited to marketing, but YouTube made it popular by making it so that even fun, funny or unique videos of ordinary people could become viral content.

Some interesting examples:

In 2012, Gangnam Style by Korean singer Ekta took the world by storm, with its horse-riding dance and fun music. It became the first video to cross 1 billion or 1 arc views on YouTube.

In 2013, in a short song by Harlem Shake, he first danced alone, and then everyone suddenly started dancing. Millions of people around the world made their own versions - from the office to the army. At this time, viral was less popular but more ‘trending’ or ‘popular’. In the decade after 2010, platforms like TikTok and Instagram made short videos spread rapidly.

In 2013, in a short song by Harlem Shake, he first danced alone, and then everyone suddenly started dancing. Millions of people around the world made their own versions - from the office to the army. At this time, viral was less called ‘trending’ or ‘popular’ more, in the decade after 2010, platforms like TikTok and Instagram made short videos spread rapidly.

An emotional video, humorous content, shocking news or controversial expression started reaching millions of people in a few hours or days. Users learned to share such content.

Nowadays, memes are the king of viral. Short, funny pictures or videos spread in seconds. And, now the word ‘viral’ is hanging on the lips of everyone from children to the elderly.

It is also becoming acceptable in Nepali language

Thus, the word ‘viral’, which started with a negative biological meaning and now has a positive social meaning, a word previously associated with disease, has today become an indicator of popularity, fame and influence.

Overall, the journey of the word ‘viral’ has started from medical science and reached digital culture. Its core meaning, the concept of ‘spreading quickly’, has been transformed according to time and context.

Today, the word ‘viral’ is not just a word, it has become an important concept in understanding modern communication, information flow and social behavior.

The interesting thing is that the word ‘viral’ is not yet registered in the Nepali dictionary. According to linguists, it is an imported word, but frequent use enriches the language. It is a word that comes from Latin and then English, which refers to the rapid spread of a content.

Linguist Madhav Prasad Luintel says that the word viral has come into the limelight thanks to digital platforms. ‘The word viral was once a scary word used for diseases, but what is in the news today is called viral,’ says Luintel.

He says that since this word is being used frequently, it should also be kept in the Nepali dictionary and the imported word should be accepted. ‘The literal meaning of viral tends to be universal in Nepali,’ says Luintel, ‘but rather than universal, the word viral has become a word that everyone speaks and understands. If such new words are used frequently in the dictionary and have become a trend setup, it seems that the language should be enriched by including these words.’

The miracle of viral: From clothes to business, ordinary people become celebrities

What miracle does it do when a video or photo goes viral on social media?

It makes trading everything from clothes to goods easier. In Nepal, fast fashion has taken off due to TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Even small brands are getting a good market with the help of viral reels and influencers.

Young people immediately start buying after seeing the dresses or T-shirts worn by influencers. This viral marketing has boosted e-commerce. Earlier, expensive advertisements were required, now a viral post reaches millions of customers, sales increase, and the brand name spreads.

This virality not only makes business but also ordinary people celebrities. There are many examples in Nepal – Vtain’s song ‘Cigarette’ went viral in 2017 and he became an overnight star. Ayush Gauchan’s song ‘Maya’ went viral on TikTok and he became a famous singer.

From famous celebrities to ordinary people, everyone makes videos sitting at home and goes viral. In fact, virality has given a new height to Nepal’s fashion and business.

Viral is not always good

Creative videos or useful information becoming ubiquitous means going viral. However, in reality, going viral is not always good. Because, if used properly, it can bring awareness to the society, but if misused, it degrades dignity.

Misinformation, hate speech or rumors that spread quickly are also called viral, which can have a negative impact on society. In the rush to go viral, some people engage in disorderly activities, use obscene words or try to attract attention by displaying unnecessary nudity. Such actions exaggerate social media and have a bad impact on society.

This viral term is an example of how language adapts to technology and culture as technology evolves. The term, which originated from the biological spread of viruses, reflects the spread of information and entertainment in the digital age. In today’s social media era, going ‘viral’ has become a measure of success, but it has also increased the risk of misinformation.