Viral trends: discussing fads and habits
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Think about these questions before watching. Share your ideas with a partner.
- Think about a time you jumped on the bandwagon for a popular trend, whether it was a game, a social media challenge, or a particular product. What was the initial appeal, and how long did your interest last?
- To what extent are our daily routines shaped by digital fads versus our own conscious choices? Reflect on the small, repetitive digital actions you perform each day.
- What distinguishes a harmless, short-lived fad from a more ingrained cultural habit? Discuss an example of a trend you believe successfully crossed that line.
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Watch the video carefully. Pay attention to the main ideas and key details.
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Answer these questions in your own words. Support your answers with evidence from the video.
01According to the video, what was the initial motivation for creating Wordle and how did it first gain popularity?
Sample answerThe creator, a software engineer named Josh Wardle, designed it for his partner because she was a fan of word games. It first became popular among their friends and family, and then its growth exploded through word of mouth, reaching over a quarter of a million players in just a few months.
02In what ways does the video describe Wordle's design and distribution model as being unconventional?
Sample answerThe video highlights that Wordle is unconventional because it's just a simple website, not an app. More importantly, it's completely free of advertisements and what the narrator calls 'money-making gimmicks,' which is quite rare for a viral online game.
03How does the video illustrate that the game can be more complex than its simple rules suggest?
Sample answerIt shows that even an expert, referred to as the 'queen of Scrabble', can struggle with it. The video also reveals a specific complexity, which is that letters can sometimes be used twice in the answer, making it much tougher to solve.
04What key psychological factor does the video suggest is responsible for keeping players so engaged with the game?
Sample answerThe video implies that the game's scarcity is the key factor. By only allowing people to play once a day, it creates a sense of anticipation and leaves them 'jonesing for so much more,' which is a powerful hook to ensure they return daily.
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Vocabulary
Vocabulary
These expressions will help you communicate more naturally about this topic.
Examples
To jump on the bandwagon — to start doing or supporting something that is already popular or successful.
Usage note: Often used with a slightly critical tone, suggesting that the person is following a trend rather than having a genuine interest.
A flash in the pan — something that is successful or popular for only a very short period.
Usage note: Use this to express doubt about the long-term success of a new trend. It's often used retrospectively, e.g., 'That app turned out to be just a flash in the pan.'
To gain traction — to become more popular, accepted, or established.
Usage note: This phrase is common in business and media contexts. It's a slightly more formal alternative to 'catch on'. Common collocations: 'gain significant traction', 'start to gain traction'.
The novelty wears off — the initial feeling of excitement and newness about something disappears over time.
Usage note: This is a natural-sounding phrase to describe the lifecycle of a fad. You can say 'the novelty wore off' (past) or 'the novelty is wearing off' (present continuous).
To be a creature of habit — to be a person who prefers to do the same things at the same time and in the same way every day.
Usage note: This phrase describes a personality type. It connects the idea of a viral game like Wordle to the personal routines people build around it.
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Decide if each statement is true or false. Correct the false ones.
01The game was initially conceived as a personal gift for the creator's partner, who was an avid fan of word games.
02The video attributes the game's rapid spread to a well-funded social media advertising campaign.
03A key constraint of the game is that letters cannot be repeated in the final five-letter word.
04The video draws a parallel between Wordle's gameplay mechanics and those of an old British game show.
05According to the video, the game's design is minimalist and it operates on a website free of advertisements or other 'money-making gimmicks'.
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Complete the sentences with words from the box. One word is extra.
Word bank
01It seems like every company is trying to jump on the by incorporating AI into their products, whether it makes sense or not.
02The new social media platform struggled at first, but it started to gain significant after a few key influencers promoted it.
03At first, everyone was excited about the 24/7 live stream from the office, but the quickly wore off and people lost interest.
04While the app was incredibly popular for a month, it turned out to be just a with no real long-term appeal.
05I'm such a that I can't even start my day properly without my specific morning coffee routine.
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Choose the best answer based on what you heard in the video.
01According to the video's explanation of the gameplay, what does a yellow-colored letter signify?
02The video mentions a specific milestone in Wordle's early popularity. What was it?
03What specific user habit does the video mention in relation to the game's daily reset?
04Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the video as a characteristic of Wordle or the experience of playing it?
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Fads and habits in context
Match the beginning of each sentence with its correct ending.
Drag or click to match
Definitions
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Discuss these questions with a partner. Try to use vocabulary from the lesson.
- The video mentions Wordle's 'once-a-day' feature keeps people 'jonesing for more'. To what extent is this scarcity model a sustainable strategy for digital products to gain traction, versus a gimmick that risks frustrating users once the novelty wears off?
- The video highlights Wordle's simplicity and lack of ads. In your culture, is there a growing appreciation for simpler, non-commercial digital experiences, or do people generally prefer more feature-rich, monetized apps? Discuss whether you think minimalist trends like this are just a flash in the pan or indicative of a larger societal shift.
- The video portrays Wordle as a wholesome part of a daily routine. At what point does a daily digital engagement like this stop being a harmless habit and become a compulsion? Consider the factors that distinguish a creature of habit from someone who has jumped on the bandwagon of a potentially unhealthy digital trend.