Buying stock is typically a carefully-researched decision based on the long-term viability of a company. In recent days, however, the hottest stock on the U.S. market was a struggling, brick-and-mortar video game retailer -- not exactly a business model that suggests explosive growth or even long-term viability.
How, exactly, did this happen and why? Through a series of unlikely events, GameStop (NYSE: GME) became a "meme" stock, with small investors driving up the price by creating a big buzz on social media.
Still confused? Since social networks helped send GameStop's shares skyrocketing more than 1,640% at its peak, why not let one of them -- Twitter (NYSE: TWTR) -- explain just what's going on.
For further details see:
How GameStop Investors Took On the Wall Street Goliath, as Told by Twitter