The Virality of Horror Trends on Social Media
Date
2021-08
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MAPC, The University of Tampa
Abstract
This paper analyzes popular horror challenges that went viral around 2010-2014 and encouraged children to harm themselves and ultimately
persuaded them into suicide. Slender Man, the Blue Whale challenge and the Momo, t 2 theories of virality, parasocial interaction, paranormal
phenomenon, and cyberbullying to help By looking at the examples of his paper will use the understand the reasoning behind the mass
hysteria of these trends. This research will attempt to answer the questions: Why did these horror trends, despite the intended consequences
for participating, go viral on social media? How are social media influencers responsible for these challenges going viral on social media? How
should parents, teachers and children become aware of these challenges on social media and what should they do to avoid them? This paper
uses case-study methodology to develop a better understanding of why the Slender Man, Blue Whale and Momo Challenge gained so much
attention, regardless of the individuals knowing the horrible intentions of participating in these trends. This essay explores the coverage of the
Blue Whale challenge (i.e., popular YouTuber Shane Dawson’s, William Salhani’s and an anonymous YouTuber’s videos) more specifically
because of the end goal being so severe, which is to take one’s own life.
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Keywords
Horror, Trends, Social media, Blue Whale, Momo, Slender Man, Virality, Morbid, Paranormal, Cyberaggresion, Cyberbullying, Children, Media