With the wide scope of social media, different photos and videos can be trending in just a snap as long as they catch the attention of viewers, and a few of these are from our furry friends, who have already gained their virtual ninong and ninangs with their cuteness.
According to previous studies, the presence of pets such as dogs and cats is something that could help to lessen the depression and anxiety of a person.
Based on their observations, these pets are a medium for their owners to engage in a healthier lifestyle considering their daily needs as animals, and they provide the presence of a companion to their owners.
These benefits have engaged humans to have a soft spot in their hearts when it comes to seeing pets, both personally and even in virtual media. Based on research, it has gone wild domination on pets when it comes to social media that other countries make a festival to gather cats and dogs that have gone viral on the online platform.
In the local context, Filipinos also share the same admiration for pets, as many viral videos are circulated online, especially on TikTok. With its growing population, these netizens call themselves virtual ninong and ninang whenever they see these kinds of content.
For them, these viral pets are their nieces that they always want to watch grow older, as they make them happy because of their adorable personalities. Some netizens even joke around that they already have many “inaanak” online because of these various pet viral videos.
The growth of the trend of virtual ninong and ninang when it comes to pets has also become a medium to address the population of stray dogs and cats that were also shared online.
Many individuals have initiated a movement online to share equal rights with animals, especially stray animals, gathering people to help them provide funds for their shelter and food.
With the virtual ninong and ninang of these stray pets, some organizations were able to build enough shelter for them and provide for their daily needs. Also, some of them found their new home as the adoption of stray dogs and cats became easier because of social media.
Coming up with this kind of outcome has shown how social media has become a part of promoting positive movements for individuals. This has shed light on the fact that online platforms can still be a medium for a good cause and should be pushed to stay with this kind of service for netizens.
