The Ring (2002): Spreading Like a Virus, Literally?

Okay, international film buffs, Priya here! Had a rewatch of "The Ring" (the American version) the other night and it got me thinking... It's so different from a lot of the J-horror I love (my heart belongs to "Audition," forever and always!), but still scratches that creepy itch. I think what really gets to me is the concept of the tape itself. It's not just a haunting, right? It's like a memetic virus. Think about it: Rachel is investigating something that's already spread. It's not about a specific location, but about who sees the tape. It's copied, shared, replicated. The act of watching it is what damns you. It reminds me of how information spreads online, and how easily misinformation can become 'truth' for some people. That whole 'sharing is caring' thing goes terribly, horribly wrong! I mean, the fact that she even passes it on to her son kind of proves my point, right? Morally questionable, Rachel, morally questionable! And Samara herself... she's a really interesting case study. Is she JUST angry at being betrayed and locked away? Or is there something inherent in her abilities that makes her need to spread her curse? Like, does she even have a choice? Maybe her power is itself a self-replicating entity. I'm not saying she's blameless, but it makes you think about nature vs. nurture, and whether some evils are, unfortunately, born, not made, in a way. I'd love to hear your thoughts! Anything I missed or something totally different you got from it?