Frenzy Video - Feeding

Viral media, spectacle, algorithmic culture, consumption aesthetics, digital anthropology. Note: This is a fictional academic paper created for illustrative purposes.

The “feeding frenzy video”—a genre depicting intense, competitive, and often chaotic consumption—has proliferated across social media platforms. While rooted in nature documentary tropes (e.g., sharks attacking a school of fish), the genre has evolved into a distinct digital artifact. This paper argues that the feeding frenzy video operates on two levels: (1) a spectacle of resource competition reflecting neoliberal anxieties, and (2) an algorithmic mimicry , where user engagement patterns (likes, shares, comments) replicate the very frenzy depicted on screen. feeding frenzy video

From viral clips of piranhas stripping a carcass in seconds to Black Friday shoppers trampling each other for discounted TVs, the “feeding frenzy” visual trope is defined by speed, volume, and a lack of individual agency. On platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, such videos are consistently rewarded with high retention rates. Why does chaos sell? While rooted in nature documentary tropes (e