# Anatomy of a viral moment

> A process map exported from forks.world (https://forks.world). Author: Brian. Source: https://forks.world/p/cmv0kq6f80036jv06iffbo8dm
> It describes who does what, in what order, and with which technology. Read the plain-language sections first; the JSON at the end is the exact, complete data.

## Summary

- 11 steps across 1 layer
- Persona: The moment, The internet, The press, You

## How to read this file

- A process is made of **layers**. The main layer is the top level; any step of kind `subprocess` opens a detail layer with its own lanes and steps.
- **Lanes** are either persona (people/roles) or technology (systems). Each step belongs to one lane; `using` lists tools a person uses for that step.
- Step kinds: `start`, `task`, `decision` (its arrows carry the answer as a label), `subprocess`, `end`.

## Anatomy of a viral moment

Lanes:
- The moment: person / role (id `moment`)
- The internet: person / role (id `web`)
- The press: person / role (id `press`)
- You: person / role (id `you`)

Steps, in the order they run:

1. **Something happens or gets posted** [start; The moment; id `v1`]
   - then Does it spread like a meme?
2. **Does it spread like a meme?** [decision; The internet; id `v2`]
   - if "Yes" go to It goes viral; if "No" go to It stays small
3. **It goes viral** [subprocess; The internet; id `v3`], links to the published process "How a meme goes viral" (https://forks.world/p/cmv0kpctr0002jn06fmoqc7zx; full text at https://forks.world/api/public/cmv0kpctr0002jn06fmoqc7zx/export)
   - then Is there a person at the center?
4. **Is there a person at the center?** [decision; The internet; id `v4`]
   - if "Yes" go to The pile-on cycle begins; if "No" go to Brands and media jump in
5. **The pile-on cycle begins** [subprocess; The internet; id `v5`], links to the published process "Anatomy of an online pile-on" (https://forks.world/p/cmv0kpewh000mjn06d8eq1v9k; full text at https://forks.world/api/public/cmv0kpewh000mjn06d8eq1v9k/export)
   - then Is the story true?
6. **Is the story true?** [decision; The press; id `v7`]
   - if "Yes" go to Reporters verify and publish; if "Unclear" go to A rumor takes shape
7. **Reporters verify and publish** [subprocess; The press; id `v8`], links to the published process "How a news story gets verified, published and corrected" (https://forks.world/p/cmv0kpfuo000wjn066lu72ags; full text at https://forks.world/api/public/cmv0kpfuo000wjn066lu72ags/export)
   - then You decide what to share
8. **You decide what to share** [end; You; id `v10`]
9. **A rumor takes shape** [subprocess; The internet; id `v9`], links to the published process "How a conspiracy theory spreads" (https://forks.world/p/cmv0kpfdn000rjn063ndyg5hi; full text at https://forks.world/api/public/cmv0kpfdn000rjn063ndyg5hi/export)
   - then You decide what to share
10. **Brands and media jump in** [task; The internet; id `v6`]
   - then Is the story true?
11. **It stays small** [end; The internet; id `v2a`]

```mermaid
flowchart LR
  subgraph l_moment["The moment"]
    n_v1(["Something happens or gets posted"])
  end
  subgraph l_web["The internet"]
    n_v2{"Does it spread like a meme?"}
    n_v2a(["It stays small"])
    n_v3[["It goes viral"]]
    n_v4{"Is there a person at the center?"}
    n_v5[["The pile-on cycle begins"]]
    n_v6["Brands and media jump in"]
    n_v9[["A rumor takes shape"]]
  end
  subgraph l_press["The press"]
    n_v7{"Is the story true?"}
    n_v8[["Reporters verify and publish"]]
  end
  subgraph l_you["You"]
    n_v10(["You decide what to share"])
  end
  n_v1 --> n_v2
  n_v2 -->|"Yes"| n_v3
  n_v2 -->|"No"| n_v2a
  n_v3 --> n_v4
  n_v4 -->|"Yes"| n_v5
  n_v4 -->|"No"| n_v6
  n_v5 --> n_v7
  n_v6 --> n_v7
  n_v7 -->|"Yes"| n_v8
  n_v7 -->|"Unclear"| n_v9
  n_v8 --> n_v10
  n_v9 --> n_v10
```

## Full data (JSON)

```json
{
  "title": "Anatomy of a viral moment",
  "maps": {
    "m_root": {
      "id": "m_root",
      "lanes": [
        {
          "id": "moment",
          "name": "The moment",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "web",
          "name": "The internet",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "press",
          "name": "The press",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "you",
          "name": "You",
          "type": "person"
        }
      ],
      "steps": [
        {
          "id": "v1",
          "kind": "start",
          "lane": "moment",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "v2"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Something happens or gets posted"
        },
        {
          "id": "v2",
          "kind": "decision",
          "lane": "web",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "v3",
              "label": "Yes"
            },
            {
              "to": "v2a",
              "label": "No"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Does it spread like a meme?"
        },
        {
          "id": "v2a",
          "kind": "end",
          "lane": "web",
          "next": [],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "It stays small"
        },
        {
          "id": "v3",
          "kind": "subprocess",
          "lane": "web",
          "link": {
            "id": "cmv0kpctr0002jn06fmoqc7zx",
            "scope": "public",
            "title": "How a meme goes viral"
          },
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "v4"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "It goes viral"
        },
        {
          "id": "v4",
          "kind": "decision",
          "lane": "web",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "v5",
              "label": "Yes"
            },
            {
              "to": "v6",
              "label": "No"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Is there a person at the center?"
        },
        {
          "id": "v5",
          "kind": "subprocess",
          "lane": "web",
          "link": {
            "id": "cmv0kpewh000mjn06d8eq1v9k",
            "scope": "public",
            "title": "Anatomy of an online pile-on"
          },
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "v7"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "The pile-on cycle begins"
        },
        {
          "id": "v6",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "web",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "v7"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Brands and media jump in"
        },
        {
          "id": "v7",
          "kind": "decision",
          "lane": "press",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "v8",
              "label": "Yes"
            },
            {
              "to": "v9",
              "label": "Unclear"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Is the story true?"
        },
        {
          "id": "v8",
          "kind": "subprocess",
          "lane": "press",
          "link": {
            "id": "cmv0kpfuo000wjn066lu72ags",
            "scope": "public",
            "title": "How a news story gets verified, published and corrected"
          },
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "v10"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Reporters verify and publish"
        },
        {
          "id": "v9",
          "kind": "subprocess",
          "lane": "web",
          "link": {
            "id": "cmv0kpfdn000rjn063ndyg5hi",
            "scope": "public",
            "title": "How a conspiracy theory spreads"
          },
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "v10"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "A rumor takes shape"
        },
        {
          "id": "v10",
          "kind": "end",
          "lane": "you",
          "next": [],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "You decide what to share"
        }
      ],
      "title": "Anatomy of a viral moment",
      "parent": null
    }
  }
}
```