Reflecting on 2024: The Year of Unforgettable Internet Moments
Ah, 2024 — a year filled with quirky debates, unexpected health trends, and unforgettable Broadway moments. It was a time when the internet managed to bring us pure joy, even if just for a fleeting moment before reality set in. Online culture was more pervasive than ever, yet how and where we engaged with it became more fragmented. Here, I share eight viral moments that defined the year for me. Feel free to share if I missed any!
- The House of Illuminati’s Letdown: Promising a Willy Wonka-themed extravaganza, the House of Illuminati’s AI-generated fliers offered “Encherining Entertainment” and an “Imagnation Lab” [sic]. Unfortunately, the experience fell short, leaving visitors with a sparsely decorated Glasgow warehouse but gifting the internet with hilariously bleak content.
- Google’s AI Overviews Fiasco: Google introduced AI Overviews, which quickly gained notoriety for unreliable advice. Viral instructions included adding glue to pizza or staring at the sun. Though Google acted fast to fix these blunders, it highlighted potential pitfalls in our AI-driven future.
- Charli XCX’s “Brat” Vibe: More than an album, “Brat” embodied a carefree spirit. Charli XCX celebrated being “that girl who is a little messy and likes to party.” Even Kamala Harris had her “brat” moment — a testament to the album’s cultural impact.
- Olympic Streaming Success: The 2020 Summer Olympics returned full of heartwarming moments and quirky heroes like Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec and Australian breakdancer Raygun. Streaming service Peacock played a key role in showcasing the event’s diversity.
- Moo Deng the Hippo’s Adorable Rise: The pygmy hippo named Moo Deng captured hearts worldwide with her antics at Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo. Her charm was undeniable but came with challenges as tourists misbehaved during visits.
- Wicked’s Unscripted Grande-Erivo Moment: With “Wicked” breaking records as a Broadway adaptation, an unscripted moment saw stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande emotionally connecting over fan interpretations of “Defying Gravity.”
- The Monetization of “Hawk Tuah”: Hailey Welch soared to fame with her candid bed move advice. She capitalized on her fame by launching merchandise and podcasts but faced controversy with her “HAWK” memecoin venture.
- Bluesky’s Meteoric Rise: Bluesky emerged as a social media contender after opening to public use. Initially an underdog, it climbed app charts globally amid political shifts, sparking debates over its influence on liberal discourse.
“In 2024, the digital landscape was as unpredictable as it was entertaining, offering moments that ranged from uplifting to bewildering.”
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