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The Virality of Horror Trends on Social Media: Understanding the Virality of the Blue Whale Challenge

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The Virality of Horror Trends on Social Media: Understanding the Virality of the Blue Whale Challenge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y looking at the examples of %/$3($2!0.3U!&#$!</'$!@#./$!,#.//$3>$!.3(!&#$!0*A*U!&his paper will use the theories of virality, parasocial interaction, paranormal phenomenon, and cyberbullying to help understand the reasoning behind the mass hysteria of these trends. This research will attempt to answer the questions: Why did these horror trends, despite the intended consequences for participating, go viral on social media? How are social media influencers responsible for these challenges going viral on social media? How should parents, teachers and children become aware of these challenges on social media and what should they do to avoid them? This paper uses case-study methodology to develop a better understanding of why the Slender Man, Blue Whale and Momo Challenge gained so much attention, regardless of the individuals knowing the horrible intentions of participating in these trends. This essay explores the coverage of the Blue Whale challenge (i.e., popular YouTuber Shane Dawson’s, William Salhani’s and an anonymous YouTuber’s videos) more specifically because of the end goal being so severe, which is to take one’s own life.! ! ! ! ! ! ! "#$%&'();!!#*22*2U!&2$3(4U!4*,-./!A$(-.U!</'$!@#./$U!0*A*U!%/$3($2!0.3U!E-2./-&)U!A*27-(U! :.2.3*2A./U!,)7$2.>>2$4-*3U!,)7$27'//)-3>U!,#-/(2$3U!A$(-.! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! G! ! )*+!,-&'.-%/!01!20&&0&!)&+34$!03!50(-'.!6+4-'7!834+&$%'34-39!%*+!,-&'.-%/!01!%*+!:.;+! <*'.+!=*'..+39+!! ! 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