Content Virality Cascade Data

This dataset provides detailed, structured insights into how social media posts go viral, capturing the full lifecycle of share cascades, influencer impact, and platform-specific dynamics. Marketers and researchers can leverage this data to identify patterns, optimize campaign strategies, and understand the mechanics of viral content propagation.

  • last updated 20 Aug 2025
  • by GoMask
The brief that made it

Designing and optimizing viral marketing campaigns

Sample rows

preview · 8 of 200 rows · all 20 columns
cascade_idstringpost_typestringaverage_depthfloatis_campaignbooleanpost_categorystringpost_idstringpost_author_idstringpost_created_atdatetimecascade_start_timedatetimecascade_end_timedatetimetotal_sharesintegerunique_usersintegermax_depthintegercascade_duration_secondsintegerpeak_share_timedatetimepeak_share_countintegertop_influencer_idstringtop_influencer_share_countintegerplatformstringlanguagestring
CASCADE_0001video14.8trueviral_challengePOST_A1F3USER_1012023-02-12T08:15:14Z2023-02-12T08:18:24Z2023-02-17T10:37:17Z78457801244413632023-02-12T09:00:12Z2380USER_2351287facebooken
CASCADE_0002image3.3falsefoodPOST_B9H2USER_1022023-03-09T13:41:10Z2023-03-09T13:45:29Z2023-04-01T18:31:00Z120117520016512023-03-09T18:12:45Z38USER_30131instagramfr
CASCADE_0003text1falsebusinessPOST_J8K1USER_1032023-04-21T10:11:22Z2023-04-21T10:23:00Zblank1110blankblankblankblanklinkedinde
CASCADE_0004link1.2falseeducationPOST_L7M2USER_1042023-01-29T19:44:05Z2023-01-29T19:47:25Z2023-01-30T10:30:11Z66253626blankblankblankblankotherru
CASCADE_0005image2.9truefashionPOST_N2Q5USER_1052023-05-13T14:27:31Z2023-05-13T15:00:00Z2023-05-15T08:19:42Z949061661222023-05-13T17:45:00Z29USER_32219instagramen
CASCADE_0006text2.1falsepoliticsPOST_X7P8USER_1062023-04-17T20:16:19Z2023-04-17T20:19:11Z2023-04-19T15:22:37Z272641597462023-04-17T21:00:00Z18USER_34912twitterar
CASCADE_0007video19.2truemusicPOST_C3Z9USER_1072023-06-20T11:35:20Z2023-06-20T11:36:51Z2023-07-03T13:01:23Z11200109442811283022023-06-20T14:00:12Z4847USER_3112402tiktokes
CASCADE_0008image2.2falsememorialPOST_D5V4USER_1082023-07-11T09:10:51Z2023-07-11T09:12:08Z2023-07-11T13:00:00Z72703139722023-07-11T11:10:00Z17USER_37613facebooken

What the 200 rows show

from the 200-row sample

Video (post type) stands out: mean average_depth is 13.6, against 2.0 for the rest.

  • 28%is_campaign = true
  • 2.2median average_depth
  • 6platforms
  • 12languages
  • 53median total_shares
  • 51.5median unique_users
Mean average_depth by post_type200 rows
010202.9image66 rows13.6video31 rows1.5text66 rows1.2link37 rows
average_depth200 rows, in bands of 2
05010094707115684401020average_depth →

Median 2.2, from 1.0 to 19.2.

post_category200 rows · top 10 of 17 values
  1. business25
  2. education20
  3. food19
  4. fashion18
  5. charity15
  6. holiday13
  7. music9
  8. technology9
  9. travel9
  10. sports9
20 columns by typefrom the column list below
  • string 8
  • integer 6
  • float 1
  • datetime 4
  • boolean 1

Columns

20 columns in four groups
blueprint · 20 columns
columntypedescriptionexample
Text 8 columns
cascade_idstringUnique identifier for each virality cascade instanceuniqueCASCADE_0001
post_idstringUnique identifier for the original postPOST_A1F3
post_author_idstringUnique identifier for the author of the original postUSER_101
top_influencer_idstringUser ID of the individual who generated the most downstream sharesoptionalUSER_235
platformstringSocial media platform where the cascade occurred6 valuesfacebook
post_typestringType of content posted (e.g., image, video, text, link)image · video · text · link · othervideo
post_categorystringCategory or topic of the post (e.g., entertainment, news, education)optionalviral_challenge
languagestringLanguage of the original post12 languages · optionalen
Numbers 7 columns
total_sharesintegerTotal number of shares in the cascade1 or more7845
unique_usersintegerNumber of unique users who participated in sharing1 or more7801
max_depthintegerMaximum depth of the share tree (longest chain from original post to last share)1 or more24
average_depthfloatAverage depth of shares in the cascade1 or more14.8
cascade_duration_secondsintegerTotal duration of the cascade in seconds0 or more441363
peak_share_countintegerMaximum number of shares in the peak interval0 or more · optional2380
top_influencer_share_countintegerNumber of shares generated by the top influencer0 or more · optional1287
Dates and times 4 columns
post_created_atdatetimeTimestamp when the original post was published2023-02-12T08:15:14Z
cascade_start_timedatetimeTimestamp when the first share in the cascade occurred2023-02-12T08:18:24Z
cascade_end_timedatetimeTimestamp when the last share in the cascade occurredoptional2023-02-17T10:37:17Z
peak_share_timedatetimeTimestamp when the highest number of shares occurred in a short intervaloptional2023-02-12T09:00:12Z
True or false 1 column
is_campaignbooleanIndicates if the post was part of a planned marketing campaigntrue

Use it for

  • is campaign28%57 of 200 rowsmean average depth by…2.9image13.6video1.5text1.2link

    A marketing dashboard

    The is_campaign rate, average_depth by post_type and a breakdown of post_category. Excel, Power BI or Tableau.

  • Why do the 31 video rows have a mean average_depth of 13.6?

    A root-cause class exercise

    Hand out the rows and one question. The answer is in the data, not in the brief.

  • A software demo

    Believable cascades with post_id, post_author_id and post_created_at to fill a screen in front of a buyer.

Not quite right?

Make it yours.

Same 20 columns, your size and your rules. See 20 rows before you pay.

Preview 20 rows free

1,000 rows: $1.99 · 10,000: $12.99One-time. No subscription. All prices

This dataset200 rows20 columns
Yours1,000 rows20 columns

blueprint · content-virality-cascade-data

Behind this dataset

Same schema. As many rows as you need.

These 200 rows came out of a blueprint — 20 columns with generation rules behind each one. Open it in Data Factory to retune a column, add your own, wire in foreign keys, and run it at the size you actually need.

Rules it was built with
  • Track post ID and share events
  • Record cascade depth and breadth
  • Flag viral posts
  • Exclude paid promotion posts
Rows
Open the blueprint in Data Factory

1 credit per row. Preview 20 rows free. Buy rows for the full run.

Exports
CSV, JSON, JSONL, Parquet, SQL, Excel, TSV, XML
Licence
yours to use, including commercially
API slug
content-virality-cascade-data

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