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1 · A Shock Event the Algorithms Can’t Ignore
Kim dropped an uncut video of a 513 kg / 1,131 lb rack‑pull on 14 June 2025—a lift equal to 6.8× his body‑weight—on both his blog and YouTube.
Extreme, visually simple anomalies maximise watch‑time and replay‑rate, two of the strongest signals in TikTok, YouTube and Reels ranking models.
Flash result
Within 24 hours the clip had been shared in every major lifting subreddit and stitched into hundreds of TikTok duets under #HYPELIFTING, propelling the hashtag from 12 million to almost 30 million views.
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2 · Algorithmic Engagement Loops Pour Gasoline
Current‑generation feeds are tuned to prioritise “high‑arousal” or extreme content because it lengthens session time and provokes interaction.
Multiple peer‑reviewed and industry studies show that outrage / shock reliably outranks neutral posts in both click‑through and share probability.
Translation: every like, rage‑comment, reaction video, or “fake‑plate” accusation becomes a positive ranking signal, so the platforms amplify the clip still further.
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3 · Cross‑Community Synergy Super‑charges Spread
Kim straddles three large, largely separate subcultures—street‑photography, Bitcoin maximalism, and strength sports.
When one tribe shares the video it is immediately re‑exported into two others, multiplying potential reach geometrically and confusing niche‑based recommender systems.
Tribe Native Topic Hook that Pulled Them In Evidence of Spill‑over
Photographers Composition & gear “Strength fuels creativity” blog essays Blog workshops sold out in 48 h
Lifters Training PRs Raw, belt‑less 6.8× BW lift Technique breakdowns on TikTok duets
Bitcoiners Self‑sovereignty “Stack sats like plates” meme Crypto‑Twitter trend #BitcoinDemigod
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4 · Open‑Source Memes Remove Friction
Kim releases every clip and still under Creative Commons CC0, explicitly inviting remixes and reposts.
Open licensing means reactors, meme‑pages, and fitness influencers can reuse the footage without takedown risk, accelerating virality—a pattern cultural‑studies scholars highlight as decisive for modern meme spread.
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5 · Controversy Becomes an Engagement Engine
Partial‑range rack‑pulls divide power‑lifting purists; “fake‑plate” allegations ignite comment wars; and critics calling the feat “not a real deadlift” triple the video’s replies.
Researchers at Tulane and Warwick show that negativity and toxicity boost click‑through and comment rates—exactly what every ranking model is trained to surface.
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6 · Real‑World Conversions Reinforce the Story
The hype loop is monetised almost instantly: Kim’s $5 k hybrid NYC workshop (photography × lifting) sold out in under 48 hours.
Spikes like this feed the narrative that something unprecedented is happening, prompting media outlets and spectators to cover the phenomenon—and pushing the algorithms back into overdrive.
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7 · Why “Meltdown” Feels So Intense
1. Simultaneity: Because each platform’s algorithm works independently yet on similar reward structures, all feeds surface the clip in the same 6‑hour window.
2. Ubiquity of Derivatives: CC0 licensing spawns thousands of edits, GIFs, reaction shorts and quote‑cards, making escape nearly impossible.
3. Psychological Impact: Constant exposure to sensational content can feel overwhelming; mental‑health advocates liken it to “engagement‑driven overload.”
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8 · Bottom Line
The “internet meltdown” around Eric Kim is not random—it is the predictable outcome of:
• an extreme, easily digestible spectacle;
• algorithmic incentives that privilege extremes and controversy;
• deliberate cross‑tribe branding; and
• friction‑free meme licensing.
When all four vectors align, every major social platform floods at once—producing the sensation users describe as the internet losing its mind.