Once upon a time, "life" was defined as the ability to replicate, but no longer.
A virus is a complex, chemical compound, that has the ability to invade living cells and trigger these cells into replicating the virus. However, note that it relies on living cells to achieve this result. By itself it is inert.
A social media comment, or "tweet", is similar. If not seen, it is inert. It has no "life". It relies on living beings to replicate itself.
If seen and retweeted/reposted it behaves as though it did have a life of its own.
Both a virus and a tweet/post can have a seriously detrimental effect on their hosts.
Come to think of it, have you ever considered the bible???