What all viral content have something in common | The Psychology of going Viral!

We have all at some point wondered what it would be like to go viral whether it's for us or our business. But it takes luck, right?

Nope, WRONG!

“Viral” hasn't been mere luck ever since ‘viral’ stopped meaning 'common cold'. It is still a science nevertheless.

Turns out, viral content follows a pattern and those patterns are measured. It’s backed by behavioral psychology, marketing data, and some cold, hard analytics. We’re handing you the playbook.

 1. Emotion Trumps Information. Feelings Go Viral.

Research from Wharton professor Jonah Berger found that high-arousal emotions like awe, anger, anxiety, amusement, or joy increase sharing dramatically. The brain responds to feeling more than it does to knowing.

So, what do you do?

Execution is key to anything. Evoke emotions but make content that is genuine. You will be better able to communicate emotions through something if it makes you emotional yourself.

Now, this doesn't mean to make people cry. Emotions range from despair to ecstasy to everything in between.

Spark emotion early.

Open with a “WHOA,” a “WTF,” or a “YES, THIS.”

Headlines matter. So do visuals. And stories? Always.

 2. “This Is So Me”: The Relatability Factor

People rarely share to inform. They share reels to express themselves.

Whether it’s a carousel on the pains of freelancing or a reel about how Gen Z handles heartbreak (read: playlists, memes, and mild delusion), content that says “This is who I am” wins.

Humans crave validation. We share what makes us feel seen or what shows others what we stand for.

People share either what they identify as, or what they want to identify as. We are wired that way!

Content that mirrors people’s daily frustrations, aspirations, private thoughts, or unspoken joys is more likely to be shared.

Think about it:

If your reel makes someone look:

•  Witty

•  Woke (education or activism)

•  Trendy (fresh aesthetics)

•  Emotionally in tune (vulnerable storytelling)

  
  

they’re more likely to hit share.

 3. Shocking, Surprising or Baffling into going viral

Do you remember every jump scare in a scary movie? Or reminisce every detail of the imaginary surprise party only your imaginary friends were good enough to throw you?

It happens for a reason.

Our brains light up when something breaks the pattern.

Whether it's a statistic that flips what we thought we knew, or a video that starts one way and ends in a twist surprise triggers attention.

• Novelty = dopamine

• Dopamine = engagement

• Engagement = viral

 4. Simple, Snackable, Sharable

Your audience is not sitting with a cappuccino and 45 minutes of reading time. They're doomscrolling in a queue.

Your content has 4 seconds to grab, and maybe 15 to deliver.

People’s attention span has dropped to 8 seconds as of 2025.

So keep it:

•  Visually digestible (think Reels, carousels, memes)

•  Mobile-first

•  Minimal, bold, punchy

 5. Everyone Wants to Feel Included!

You want shares? Invite people in.

Sometimes we don't have to try anything fancy. Just be genuine and ask people nicely:

“Share our reel,” “Drop a like.”

You can also turn it into a sort of digital audience participation expect no ones votes render a Big Boss Contestant 'homeless'

For example:

•  Comment down and let me know if you have any questions

•  Let me know what you think

•  Drop a like if you agree

•  Follow for more healthy recipes

  
  

 6. Do the Math.

Observe, experiment, and see what gets you the best response—and at what time.

Make sure you have a business account to access all Instagram tools.

Content doesn't go viral alone it climbs on the backs of early engagement.

So:

•  Post when your audience is online

•  Use trending audios, formats, or memes

•  Get friends, teammates, or micro-influencers to engage FAST

  
  

While you can't control viral in a true sense, you can perhaps engineer it.

We’re not saying you can make everything go viral.

But we are saying this: you can absolutely stack the odds.

Just be patient and observe what works for you!

And if you feel that this is all too much while also managing your business, then we have your back.

Call us at +91 98755 37552 or

 Email us at info@futuresmith.pro

Let us take care of Marketing, and you only worry about running your business!