Viral by Design

At a cursory glance, the image screams audacity—a man, face twisted in fear, with a gigantic tornado looming beside him. Such risk is just for a unique selfie, one might think. However, behind this dangerous allure is a clever ruse. This viral “selfie” was an invention of the Melbourne-based Woolshed company.

Woolshed crafted this image to explore the lengths people might go to in order to achieve online stardom. Their fake tornado selfie underscores the trend of facing perilous situations for a taste of viral fame. It’s a commentary on today’s digital age, where danger is often sidelined in the quest for the next big social media hit.