Your answer went viral: what to do when it's exciting but scary

What happens when you go viral

You shared a question box answer on social media, and it got 10 or 100 times more reactions than usual. The reposts and shares don't stop. Your notifications keep going off. This is what people call going viral (bazuru).

At first it feels great. You get a rush: "So many people are reading my answer!" But after a while, anxiety starts to creep in too. "Did I write anything weird?" "Am I getting criticized?" "It's scary to have strangers looking at me."

This feeling of joy and anxiety arriving at the same time may be familiar to anyone who has gone viral. You're probably not the only one.

Three things to do

First, take a deep breath. When you're going viral, you're worked up, so it's harder to make calm decisions. Turn off notifications for a while and settle down. The buzz will likely calm down within a few days.

Next, check the original post. Look for typos or wording that could be misunderstood. If there's a problem, add a follow-up comment. Deleting the post can sometimes make the fuss even bigger, so it's generally better to leave it as it is.

Finally, don't try to read every reply and comment. When you go viral, a huge number of comments come in, but you don't need to look through all of them. Read a few kind comments and let the rest go by. Reacting to critical comments one by one tends to wear you out.

People may look at your past posts too

When an answer spreads, people who get curious may scroll back through your past posts. Going viral is, in a way, an event that puts a spotlight on your whole account.

So when attention is on you, it's reassuring to take a quick look back over your past posts. If there's anything the current you thinks is "a bit much," delete it or make it private.

You don't need to panic and delete everything, but being aware that your posts may all of a sudden be seen by many people makes it easier to respond calmly. Going viral connects you with a wide world in an instant. Keep that in the back of your mind.

For sudden criticism, not reacting works best

When lots of people see your post, some of them will throw criticism or teasing at you. The more attention you get, the harder this is to avoid, but you don't need to react to each one.

If you fire back at criticism, the other person may enjoy it even more, and the exchange can end up getting bigger. Not reacting makes it easier to avoid adding fuel to the fire.

Ignoring them isn't losing. If anything, it's a smart way to protect yourself. Quietly close anything that bothers you and turn your eyes to the kind reactions. The strength to let things pass helps protect you from the rough waves of going viral.

It can also bring good connections

Going viral has its hard parts, but it can also bring good connections. People who related to your answer may reach out and connect with you.

The people who followed you because they thought "I like how this person thinks" could make your future conversations richer. If you look at these connections and not just the numbers in the moment, going viral can become a more positive experience.

These connections came your way because your answer spread. Instead of only being scared, try also looking forward to the chance that you might connect with some great people. That can make your viral moment something you enjoy more deeply.

Watch out for burnout after it ends

After the buzz dies down, your mood may drop all of a sudden. The notifications that were so lively go quiet, and you feel as if a hole has opened up: "What was all that excitement about?"

This is a completely natural reaction. After strong stimulation, a rebound tends to come. Even if you feel down, it doesn't mean something is wrong with you.

What matters is slowly returning to the everyday life you had before going viral. Talk with the usual people at your usual pace. Even without big excitement, those quiet days are where you really belong. Don't let the afterglow of the buzz push you around, and keep your feet on the ground.

Turn going viral into what comes next

Going viral doesn't last, but if you use it well, it's a chance to gain followers for your question box.

If you add your question box link to the post that went viral, people who think "This person is interesting, let me ask them something" may send you questions.

After you go viral, you're likely to get more questions for a while. You don't have to answer all of them, but if you answer a few carefully, new followers are more likely to stick around.

And just because you went viral, don't think "I have to go viral again next time." Going viral isn't always something you can make happen on purpose. Just keep giving answers that feel like you, the way you always do.