Beyond the Viral Video

Dogs, cats, babies, TikTok trends… we scroll through them mindlessly. But what if viral videos are doing more to our world than we realise?

In episode one, we examine the propagator-in-chief of silly viral videos - TikTok. It has gained traction in at least 140 countries, but why would a platform for dumb videos suddenly get the attention of political leaders in the United States and India? Is there more to TikTok than we presume?

In episode two, we turn our attention to the most 'harmless' videos out there - animals and kids. We watch them for giggles, sometimes to be amazed. But are these video as harmless as they seem to be? We explore the dark side of viral videos and the science behind why we share them. 

In the final episode, we follow up on the ordinary folks after they've struck Internet fame. How long does the glitter last? What happens after?