The Viral Eclipse

Damon Talbot
Jul 25, 2017 · 3 min read

We are just under a month to go until the Total Solar Eclipse on August 21st that will sweep across the United States. Each day more and more news articles and online forum postings are starting to discuss it. In many of these postings the conversations seems to be turning to one common question, “How many people are coming?” or “What is traffic going to be like?”

In places such as Oregon the department of transportation is advising that its going to be the worst traffic in the states history. There is a great write up on potential traffic from GreatAmericanEclipse. In other states the same is being said and in many communities even warning to residents that they need to prepare in advance by stocking up on food, water, and fuel.

Without speaking to the specific details as there are so many varied locations, factors, and unknown variables I want to address one part that is going to likely be an important factor. We have heard statements that its the first total eclipse in the United States in years and that we now have a very substantial freeway system, most people have access to transportation, and many will have the means to travel.

We also have heard that we now live in the age of social media. That is the part I would like to focus on. Not just the fact the almost everyone has either Facebook, Twitter or other Social Media sites but the fact we now have the ‘Viral’ factor.

Now almost anyone, or anything has the potential to suddenly capture the imagination and interest of large group of the public. These pictures,videos, or posts can go from just a few views to millions in just days. We now live in a world where something things become even more ‘shared’ due to them being viral then the content themselves.

In an article titled “This Is What Makes Something ‘Go Viral,’ According To Science” they state the following;

“if you want something to go viral, your creation just needs to be a solid combination of self-reflection and social connection.”

If any real world event has ever had the potential to be self-reflecting and provide a social connection the upcoming eclipse would be it.

This along with the fact that the media are starting to ramp up coverage of the eclipse and related traffic, events, concerns, and amazement this has the high probability of becoming and having exponential growth.

Almost all of the projections by states on anticipated attendance and travel are based on accommodation bookings, travel plans such as air, bus and train, and even rental car and porta-potty rentals. None of these account for the people who will not decide until the last minute (or days) to make the trip to a location n the path of totality.

Based on all of these various factors we can seriously assume that the eclipse as it gets closer could see exponential interest and become a viral must-see event that gets far more people attempting to travel then currently expected.

What ever happen it’s going to be a event that millions of people will never forget.

Damon Talbot

Written by

I am a Ham Radio operator for 20 years. I am highly interested in breaking news. I enjoy monitoring Police and Fire scanners. I volunteer with @HumaintyRoad

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