How the #CharlieChallenge became a viral phenomenon
Simplicity, swift results and the pervasive sense that there must be ‘something out there’ have sent this game rippling across visual social media channels.
With more than 2.8 million tweets in the last few weeks of May, and no sign of slowing, the hashtag #CharlieCharlieChallenge has become a viral sensation.
Hashtracking.com has been tracking how the hashtag went viral on Twitter and on Instagram, spawning Charlie Charlie Challenge accounts like this.
The hashtag has experienced viral growth primarily on Twitter and Vine, as teens worldwide take the Charlie “Challenge” and share their results.
For the uninitiated, the Charlie Charlie Challenge is a “supernatural” game—part Ouija board, part Magic 8-Ball. It involves two pencils, a sheet of paper, gravity and a hearty dose of imagination.
What makes the #CharlieCharlieChallenge hashtag so ripe for virality?
1. Nostalgia factor
Good, old-fashioned ghost stories. Does the Charlie Challenge sound familiar? Perhaps it reminds you of levitation games, Bloody Mary or a tween-age encounter with a Ouija board? Whether you’re 17 or 75, you probably have heard a similar tale or played a similar game at a slumber party somewhere.
2. Unclear origins
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