What Does ‘Viral’ Mean?

A “viral” phenomena is one that quickly sweeps through the public space with astonishing speed. In the world of business, the term “viral” is used to refer to something that spreads in an exponential manner, quickly reaching a large number of people. The most common example of something becoming “viral” are internet memes that are shared on social media platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and Instagram. Because of this sudden, large-scale spread of a given message or image, it is referred to as a “viral” phenomenon.

In a business setting, something becoming “viral” can refer to a variety of things — from marketing campaigns to news items. For example, a product launch announcement may be quickly shared by consumers, spreading news of the product launch across the internet at a rapid pace. When a business campaign reaches a large number of people in a very short period of time, it is often referred to as a “viral” success.

In terms of business jargon, “viral” can also refer to digital items such as websites, videos, and images. For example, a website or video may go “viral” when it is shared across the internet by thousands of people, leading to increased visibility and engagement. Similarly, an image of any kind (such as a meme) that is shared by numerous people can be considered to have “gone viral”.

For new job seekers just entering the job market, it is important to understand business jargon such as “viral.” Not only does this term describe something that has spread quickly and gained a great deal of prominence in the public sphere, it can also be used to refer to the success of a business campaign or the popularity of certain digital content.