The 20 Most-Viral Ads of 2012

A 30-minute nonprofit video outlasts Google, Coke, VW and Nike to take the top spot

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A controversial 30-minute video by a little known nonprofit far outpaced efforts from multinational marketers like Google, Coca-Cola, Volkswagen and Nike to take the top spot on Unruly Media's list of the 20 most-shared ads of 2012 in social media.

The short film, titled "Kony 2012," released in March by Invisible Children Inc., part of U.S. filmmaker Jason Russell's crusade to rally opposition to rebel Ugandan strongman Joseph Kony, was shared a staggering 10 million times, according to Unruly's data—more than twice the number of the second spot on the list, TNT's "A Dramatic Surprise on a Quiet Square."

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