The Rise of the Buzzfeed Article

Ever notice how all online articles seem to be lists of things now? Or that your entire Facebook feed is covered in quiz results? Blame that on Buzzfeed.

Buzzfeed is an entertainment and news website. The site contains lists, quizzes, gifs, videos, and articles about social media, entertainment, and occasionally news. It’s content is posted in a quick, easy-to-read fashion that mirrors todays social media. Which is perhaps what makes it so popular on social media.

For those who are still unsure what Buzzfeed is all about, check out this parody video. It explains everything that Buzzfeed is by using The Wolf of Wallstreet. And yeah, it is as awesome as it sounds.

The Wolf of Buzzfeed

Now many websites are copying the quick, witty style of Buzzfeed, posting rapid-fire list style information that mirrors the speed of social media.

So is this new style of internet writing just a fad or is it here to stay?

Jon Evans of TechCrunch.com says this can still not be predicted. But whether or not Buzzfeed continues to be successful will explain one of two things. If Buzzfeed continues to be successful, “we’re witnessing the rise of a new generation of titans.” On the other hand, if the website soon flounders, “then we’re seeing the news industry as we know it descend into an endless thrashing maelstrom of mayflies competing desperately for attention from an ever-more-fickle audience before the, in turn, are devoured.”

Basically Evans hopes that there will not be a need for an even more simplified news site than this already simple one. The beauty of the Buzzfeed style news is that it is simple. Simple, quick and fun. And also littered with utterly useless yet addicting quizzes.

Also, if you need more convincing of the power of Buzzfeed, or at the very least its quizzes, look no further than the explanation of Slate.com’s Emma Roller. She totally gets the importance of the unimportant Buzzfeed quiz.