Analysis of the Effects of Viral Advertising Studies on Sociological and Mass Education in Social Media and Internet Environments: An Example of Ice Bucket Challenge Advertising

Abstract

With the development of communication and information technologies, communication tools in the field of promotion and marketing have shifted from the traditional environment to the digital environment. In this context, the increase in Internet usage and the developing social media channels have started reaching much wider audiences. This situation has also led to transferring advertising and marketing activities to social media environments. Today, a new dimension has been added to the field of advertising, especially the environment prepared for viral ads to become influential on the masses. Viral ads, which are the subject of research, are spread by Internet users by filtering messages by people, transmitting them to another interested person and potentially transmitting and sharing the content of the message to those interested. The influence of social values on advertising, the harmony of the prepared advertisement with society and, in particular, the topics and content of the viral ads have also been affected. In this study, the analysis of the campaign of the “Ice Bucket Challenge” advertisement is included. This ad, an example of a viral ad, has been analyzed in the context of technological, corporate/brand, supporting factors, statistical success, using celebrities and opinion leaders, and its impact on education. In particular, information, awareness and awareness formation appear as essential features that attract attention within the scope of the study.