Hundreds of thousands of YouTube viewers may not know Clare Werbeloff’s name, but they do know her alter-ego, "Chk-Chk-Boom Girl." One fateful night in Sydney, Australia there was a shooting in the nightlife district. News crews were desperate for witness accounts of the events, and then they stumbled upon Werbeloff, who gladly volunteered her (false) story, which you can hear in the video or read in the excerpt below.
Chk-Chk-Boom Girl is now an Internet phenomenon which has spawned spoof videos, t-shirts and hundreds of thousands of fans.
Viral Fake News
Chk-Chk-Boom Girl Clare Werbeloff Gets Famous for Falsifying
Trend Themes
1. Fake News Phenomenon - Due to the popularity of fake news, there is an opportunity for companies to develop software or apps that could check the validity of news stories.
2. Viral Videos - As viral content becomes increasingly popular, companies could focus on creating and marketing products related to the newest and most-watched viral trends.
3. Social Media Hoaxes - As social media becomes a necessity for businesses, there is an opportunity for companies to develop and implement strategies on how to avoid and combat social media hoaxes and false stories being shared.
Industry Implications
1. Journalism - Journalism could benefit from investing and developing technology that could prevent fake news from being published.
2. Marketing - Marketing companies should take advantage of the viral nature of social media by focusing their ads on content related to the latest viral phenomena.
3. Social Media Management - Businesses could hire social media management companies to manage their online presence and keep track of fake stories that could damage their reputation.