RP101Have You Seen This

 (READING POWER 01)

Have You Seen This? 

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If this sounds familiar, you've probably seen one of Asia's biggest viral videos of 2016. The song "PPAP" by Japanese star Pikotaro was watched and shared by millions of people. It became an overnight success thanks to social media.

These days, YouTube videos can spread around the globe within hours. A video "goes viral" if it gets more than five million hits in a week. Some videos grab the public's attention for a few days, and then disappear. Others stay popular for years.

In 2007, YouTube was just beginning. A user uploaded a clip called "Dramatic Chipmunk." In the video, we hear thunder, and then the animal turns to the camera looking shocked. Viewers of all ages and nationalities found it funny. The video lasts only six seconds, but the little chipmunk is still well-known today.

Music videos usually get the most hits. "Gangnam Style" was the first video to reach a billion views back in 2012. It took R. O. K singer Psy five months to reach that total. Now there are lots of videos with a billion views. Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and Katy Perry regularly attract huge audiences.

Do you want to watch the top viral videos right now? Click the "Trending" button on YouTube. It will show you the most popular clips by the number of viewers.

And if you want to make a world-famous video yourself? Experts say you need to do two things. The first is to find an unusual phrase that people can remember and like to repeat. The second is to create emotion. If you can make someone laugh, cry, or get mad, he or she will be more likely to click "Share."