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The Mathematics of Going Viral on Social Media

The Mathematics of Going Viral on Social Media (Lesson Plan)

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Lesson Plan - The Mathematics of Going Viral on Social Media

This lesson explores how maths helps us understand why some videos, memes or posts suddenly go viral online. It’s called “The Mathematics of Going Viral on Social Media” and connects everyday internet trends with real maths skills.

Aimed at learners aged 8 to 16, the session covers key ideas like exponential growth (when something spreads very fast), algorithms (the rules behind what we see online), and probability (how likely something is to happen). Don’t worry — everything is explained in simple terms, so no advanced maths knowledge is needed.

Your child will take part in fun activities, problem-solving, and creative thinking. It’s a great way to show how maths isn’t just for the classroom — it’s all around us, even on social media. This lesson helps children think critically, understand digital trends, and apply numbers to the real world, all from home.


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Lesson Plan
The Mathematics of Going Viral on Social Media
Overview This home education lesson explores how maths helps explain the rise of viral content online. Children will learn about exponential growth, algorithms, networks, and probability, all through the lens of social media. The lesson includes hands-on activities, real-world connections, and creative thinking opportunities.
Learning Objectives - Understand what it means to "go viral"
- Explore exponential growth and its impact online
- Learn how social media algorithms use maths
- Calculate simple engagement statistics
- Use probability to predict outcomes in sharing behaviour
Estimated Time60–75 minutes
Starter Activity Ask: “Have you ever seen something go viral? What made it spread so fast?”

Look at a child-friendly viral post or video. Guess how many people shared it and how it spread.
Read and Learn Read our featured article: The Mathematics of Going Viral on Social Media

Discuss the following together:
  • What is exponential growth?
  • How do algorithms affect what people see online?
  • What’s an R-number, and why does it matter for sharing?
  • Why do some posts take off while others don’t?
Activities Comprehension Questions:

  1. What does “going viral” mean?
  2. How does exponential growth help a post spread?
  3. What are algorithms, and what do they do?
  4. How can we measure engagement on a post?
  5. What role does probability play in sharing content?

Maths Task:

Use this sharing example: 1 person shares with 3 others. Each of those shares with 3 more. Continue for 5 rounds. How many people have seen it? Try drawing it as a tree diagram.

Real-Life Connection:
Pick a viral video and research how many views, likes, and shares it received. Can you calculate its like rate and share rate?
Deeper Thinking Big Question: “Do you think going viral is always good?”
Discuss how fast-sharing content can be positive or harmful. Can you think of examples of both?
Creative Projects - Invent your own “viral” video idea and design a poster for it
- Create a step-by-step algorithm for a platform that recommends funny videos
- Draw a network map showing how a post might reach 1,000 people
Review & Reflect Ask your child:

  • What’s one new thing you discovered today?
  • What surprised you most about viral content?
  • If you could make something go viral, what would it be?
Extensions & Homework - Research another famous viral trend. How did it spread?
- Watch a video explaining algorithms or data science
- Compare exponential growth with linear growth using graph paper
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