Have you ever wondered what factors drive viral videos? Why does one video of a cute puppy get 1 million views on Youtube, while an equally cute puppy video only gets 2,500?

A few days ago, Mashable highlighted an infographic (and we know how much I love infographics!) on how videos go viral.

Some of the factors weren’t a surprise: young people watch the most online video, more videos are shared on Facebook than any other site and shorter videos do better.

Click here to see a larger view of the infographic.

However, some surprising stats stuck out:

Women account for nearly 57% of social media views and share videos 30% more than men.

This makes all the Superbowl video promotions interesting. Are they aimed at men or women?

Southerners watch more online videos than any other region of the country.

If the South rises again, it will probably be done through YouTube. While Mid-Westerners share the most videos, Southerners provide the most eyeballs.

Combined, I’m wondering if  Southern women are the most important demographic to capture in sharing & watching viral videos?

I don’t know if I can make that correlation without looking at more data, but I’m intrigued by the thought. It makes sense. Women, particularly those in the South, have rich networks of other women to contact. If I see a video that strikes me, I immediately think who among my friends would enjoy it. I know I’m not alone in doing this.

The timing of this infographic is interesting as well.

Several months ago, I joined the Southern Living Source, which is a consumer panel for the magazine. I have a near reverence for Southern Living, and I believe I’m at least the 3rd generation in my family to regularly read it (I can’t remember if my great-grandmother read it or not). Basically, it’s the bible for Southern ladies. Getting in Southern Living is the gold standard in the South.

When I get emails from Southern Living my face lights up. Despite working in the communications/marketing field since 2004 and fully realizing that I fit a certain income and demographic profile, part of my brain thinks, “Southern Living wants to know my opinion!”

Yesterday, a Southern Living Source survey asked if I had a webcam/flipcam, and if I did, would I be interested in filming a short video on what makes me uniquely Southern? They followed up with a short email:

Thanks for agreeing to participate in a new type of conversation with us.  We’d love to get to know our readers even better and are excited to hear what you’ve got to say – straight from your own mouth!  Please use your webcam or flipcam to record a short video, no more than a few minutes.  We’d like you to tell us about what makes you distinctly southern…whether it’s a generation’s old tradition, your most beloved recipe, or that special knack you have to throw the perfect dinner party.

Now watching videos and creating videos are two separate categories, but a venerable institution like Southern Living has realized the importance of engaging Southerners via video.

I’d love to see the responses and how Southern Living uses them. Just imagine all the Julia Sugarbakers out there with flipcams!