Viral videos achieve an inexplicable kind of fame, and they are damn near impossible to predict. For example, remember Tay Zonday, the guy with the preternaturally deep voice who posted a video of himself singing his original song “Chocolate Rain”? It stormed the Web in 2007 and has since been watched more than 100 million times. Or how about the sneezing baby panda that’s generated north of 220 million views since 2006?
There’s David After Dentist, Charlie Bit My Finger, Keyboard Cat. And who among us hasn’t been Rickrolled? Just a few weeks ago we watched a young girl, all hopped up on painkillers after dental surgery, get punked by her brothers into thinking they had to flee the zombie apocalypse. And earlier this week we met Chewbacca Mom. She put on a character mask she bought at Kohl’s, laughed hysterically in her car—alone—for more than two minutes, and shortly after she was on The Late Late Show with James Cordontalking about how it feels to have a silly video you filmed in a parking lot watched more than 140 million times.
But what does that kind of hyperspeed rise to popularity actually look like on a global scale? What does it look like when a viral video becomes a video pandemic? In the video above you can watch the spread of the world-consuming ALS Ice Bucket Challenge that was used to raise awareness and funds for those living with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
The “Cold Water Challenge” had been kicking around since 2013, but it entered the American consciousness in a big way when Matt Lauer fulfilled the Challenge on an episode of The Today Show in July of 2014. Then for the rest of the summer everyone’s Instagram and Facebook feeds were dominated by celebrities and common-folk alike either dousing themselves in freezing cold water or donating money to ALS research. The amount of money and number of views generated is a truly stunning example of what it looks like when philanthropy achieves viral success.
The above visualization uses data from Google Trends to show the global spread of the Ice Bucket Challenge over a 30 day period (August 6th - September 7th).
Music: Mono/Poly - "Queen of Cups" - https://monopolytracks.com
Produced & Directed by Gabriel Reilich
Data: Max Einstein - https://DataLooksDope.com
Visuals: Strangeloop - https://strangelooptv.com/
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The 30 countries with the the most search traffic related to the term "Ice Bucket Challenge" are shown. Of course, many other countries participated in this viral phenomenon, but the 30 portrayed in this video made for the bulk of Google queries during this specific time period.
The bottom numbers and charts track the daily volume of three primary hashtags associated with the challenge, as well as the top tweet associated with that hashtag for any particular day. On August 15th, #alsicebucketchallenge overtakes #icebucketchallenge. This information was gathered using analytics from https://topsy.com.
Total donation figure provided by https://ALSA.org
Total Video Shares & Views from https://newsroom.fb.com
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
Happy volunteersCanva
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.