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Trending: What happens after you go viral?

Factual

What happens after you go viral?

26/07/2019 GMT

BBC World Service - Trending, What happens after you go viral?

Two stories about social media storms. What happened after the crowds moved on?

How are lives changed by a social media storm … and what happens after everyone stops paying attention?

Two stories about viral stories that kicked off deep debate about social issues. What happened when social media moved on?
Randa Jarrar, a university professor, tweeted a provocative – and many would say deeply offensive – message after the death of former US First Lady Barbara Bush. It went viral and hit a nerve in a country riveted by debates over free speech and its limits, especially on college campuses. 
And you may remember the story of the jogger who was caught on video throwing a homeless man’s possessions into a lake in Oakland, California. The incident eventually led to criminal charges for the jogger, and also sparked an outpouring of sympathy for the homeless man. But what happened next – yes, you guessed it – might surprise you. 

Presenter: Mike Wendling
Reporter: Chris Bell

(Photo Caption: Photo illustration featuring Randa Jarrar (centre) / Photo Credit: Getty Images)

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