Viral apps: Visible in use

6 viral apps: Visible in use, traced from the first post to the peak with sources. 83% started on Open web. Median 469 days from first post to peak.

Cases
6
Median Spread Score
38
Most started on
Open web83%
First post to peak
469 days

By mechanic

All69Controversy37Shareable output35Maker origin19Pairing15Dupe economy14Newsjacking7Scarcity drop7Underdog6Visible in use6Identity badge6

SETI@home volunteer launch

49
SETI@home BOINC graphics in Classic display mode. Later BOINC interface demonstration, not the original 1999 screensaver.

Dropbox’s two-sided referral rewards

39
Drew Houston’s 2010 slide explaining Dropbox’s two-sided referral incentive

WeChat’s first New Year red packets

38
Tencent’s 2017 presentation illustrating WeChat group red-packet opening and random allocation

Hotmail’s email signup footer

35

Twitter at SXSW 2007

33
SXSW Web Awards Ceremony

M-PESA’s Send Money Home launch

31

More collections

Visible in use in every industry