Oct
4
Spreadability
October 4, 2025 | 1 Comment
Using an example—maybe a campaign, video, meme, or community-led remix—
that spread effectively, describe how it started, changed, what made it go viral,
how it was received and shared across digital platforms, and discuss what made
it ticks:
🌸🌸🌸🌸 I am using Susan Boyle as my example because her story perfectly represents how
something can go viral and change someone’s life completely. For the longest time,
I honestly thought she had won the competition she participated in, Britain’s Got
Talent, but I just recently learned that she did not. She came in second place, and
someone else actually won that season. When I found this out, I felt so disappointed
because, like millions of people, I believed she deserved to win. Still, through social
media and digital platforms, Susan’s journey did not end with the competition. It
was because of the internet and the way people shared her audition video that she
became a global sensation. Even without the title of “winner,” she was able to
launch a music career, bring economic stability to her life, and take care of her
remaining family, while it lasted.
Susan Boyle’s life before this moment was very humble and even difficult. She grew
up in Blackburn, Scotland, the youngest of nine children, and spent much of her life
caring for her aging mother. She lived quietly, dealing with bullying and ridicule
because of her looks and mannerisms. She also faced learning difficulties due to
complications at birth, which made her childhood even harder. For years, Susan
dreamed of becoming a singer, but she had no real platform or opportunity to share
her voice. By the time she stepped onto the stage of Britain’s Got Talent in 2009, she
was in her late 40s, unemployed, and living alone with her cat, Pebbles, after her
mother had recently passed away. She didn’t have a husband or children, and later
in life, she openly admitted she had chosen not to marry, focusing instead on her
music and personal growth.
Her audition is where everything began. When Susan first walked on stage, the
audience and judges were skeptical because of her appearance, she didn’t fit the
typical image of a star. She looked, as some cruelly described at the time, like a
“Frumpy, middle-aged woman,” and many people assumed she wouldn’t be talented.
But the second she began to sing “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables, the
entire room shifted. The audience was stunned, the judges were visibly emotional,
and within hours, clips of her performance were circulating online. Her voice was
so pure and powerful, like an angel, that it shattered everyone’s expectations.
This moment went viral almost instantly. News outlets across the world picked it
up, and within days, Susan Boyle was everywhere, on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter,
and every major news network. People shared her video not just because of her
talent, but because her story carried a powerful message: never judge a book by its
cover. She became a symbol of hope and inspiration. Even here in Wisconsin, far
from the UK, I heard about her through the internet. That’s how massive her reach
was.
What made this spread so effectively was the mix of surprise and emotion. Viewers
felt a deep connection to her story: a woman who had been overlooked all her life
finally getting the chance to show the world her gift. Her voice was breathtaking,
and it stirred feelings of hope and possibility. The contrast between how she looked
and how she sounded created a dramatic, unforgettable moment. It was not just a
performance: it was a reminder that greatness can come from unexpected places.
Though she didn’t win Britain’s Got Talent, the viral attention changed Susan’s life.
She went on to release her debut album, which became one of the best-selling
albums of all time. Even after suffering personal losses, like the deaths of her
parents and her sister, and continuing to live a quiet, single life in Scotland, Susan
now has the comfort and security that success brought her. She can live peacefully,
focusing on her music, knowing she touched millions of lives.
When I hear her voice, even without the music playing, I feel the energy of her song.
It is like hope itself is speaking. That is what made her story “tick.” It was not just
about going viral for a moment, it was about inspiring the world and showing that
anything is possible, no matter where you come from or how others see you.🌸🌸🌸🌸
Comments
1 Comment so far
Your enthusiasm is magnetic — I love it!