TGIF - time for some cute stuff after a long, hard week. Now that 2015 is almost over, many are looking back to see who and what were the big winners in terms of content. From dresses of indeterminable color schemes and other viral moments - it can be interesting to look back and think that we could have never predicted what would go viral and why.
Not so with the most watched video of the year. It features interspecies animal friendships: a.k.a. VIRAL BAIT.
In February Google launched "Friends Furever," an ad for its Android mobile platform. In the months since, it has racked up over 6.4 million shares, besting Disney's "Surprise Shopper" ad (3.9 million shares) and a commercial for Purina pet food ("Puppyhood") created by Buzzfeed (3 million shares).
Actually, Google's "Friends Furever" ad is not just one of the most watched ads of the year. It's one of the most-watched ads of all time, taking the lead ahead of Activia's World Cup "La La La" ad (6 million shares). On YouTube alone it has been watched over 20 million times.
Is there a scientific reason interspecies friendships are certain to make content go viral? Or is it just cute? The 1-minute spot, created by agency Droga5, features puppies cuddling with kittens, puppies cuddling with elephants, a tortoise topped by a chinchilla (?), and more, all to the sound of the very nostalgic "Oo De Lally" song that puts me in mind of Disney's Robin Hood from my youth.
Watch the video here: