10 Viral Moments That Changed the World
10 Viral Moments That Changed the World
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were counting down our picks for the trending moments that had a major impact on the world and world affairs.
Doge (2010)
Beginning as a goofy mispronunciation of the word dog, Doge has become particularly associated with a meme surrounding one particular doge. The dog in question, a Shiba Inu named Kabosu, gives some hilarious side eye in the most famous picture of her. However, the meme didnt stop at image macros. It has also inspired a cryptocurrency, Dogecoin. Although originally created as a joke, its among the most popular of the volatile investments. Furthermore, U.S. presidential advisor and richest man in the world Elon Musk helped spearhead the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency, or D.O.G.E. The newly created department has slashed thousands of government jobs, and created plenty of controversy. And it all started with a funny dog picture.
It Gets Better Project (2010-)
Teens cutting their own lives short is a tragic issue. In the wake of several gay teenagers doing so, Dan Savage and his now-husband Terry Miller created a highly viral video sharing a simple message - it gets better. Not only did the original video trend, it also inspired others to share their stories, with other gay adults, and celebrities and politicians of all orientations joining in. The project is now a nonprofit, aimed at helping and motivating young LGBTQ+ people worldwide. We are all unique, but we also all have a community of people who could support us and empower us - its just a matter of finding them.
Ice Bucket Challenge (2014)
People doing something uncomfortable online is always going to get a lot of attention. But doing it for a good cause? Well thats even better! The Ice Bucket Challenge was created to spread awareness for ALS, also called Lou Gehrig's disease or motor neuron disease. Those challenged must film themselves having a bucket or other container of icy water dumped over them, or else make a charitable donation, or both. The viral challenge and even celebrity attention helped raise a substantial amount of money for organizations researching the disease. And while attempts to recapture the viral sensation havent been quite as successful, some participants have continued donations in the years since.
GameStop Short Squeeze (2021)
The stock market is complicated, but some people understand it, and some of those people are on Reddit, specifically the subreddit, r/WallStreetBets. Some users noticed that the stock of gaming retailer GameStop was being undervalued compared to how successful it was, with hedge funds essentially promising to buy more GameStop shares than actually existed. These users then began hyping up and buying up GameStop stocks. This meant the hedge funds shorting the price would need to buy all the stocks theyd previously shorted at the market value - which had been driven up by what was basically a meme. The resulting fallout led to huge losses from the hedge funds, market fluctuations, a U.S. congressional investigation, and a movie adaptation.
Kony 2012 (2012)
A nearly 30-minute documentary and call to action over Ugandan war criminal and cult leader, Joseph Kony, Kony 2012 went viral with nearly unprecedented speed. Its emotional appeal and Konys horrific treatment of children touched the hearts of nearly everyone who watches it. Thanks to its overnight success and numerous calls by viewers to their representatives, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution to assist the African Unions attempts to capture Kony. One of its creators also had a very public (and very naked) breakdown. While Kony remains at large as of this writing, his forces have been much reduced and he was forced into hiding.
Barack Obama Hope Poster (2008)
During then-U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obamas 2008 campaign, his publicist commissioned artist Shepard Fairey to create a poster for them. The resulting stencil portrait with its vivid use of red, beige, and blue and messages reading hope, change, and progress quickly became famous. Versions featuring other public figures, both real and fictional, with captions of their own have been the subject of memes in the years since its creation. The poster may have helped contribute to Obamas first election, and the original poster is now displayed in the Smithsonian Institute. Plus, its practically a visual shorthand for political messaging and posters now.
WikiLeaks (2006-)
A non-profit organization dedicated to publishing leaked, often classified government information, WikiLeaks has gone viral several times during its history. WikiLeaks has released information revealing corruption from several governments, as well as diplomatic and military documents from the United States, with their 2010 leak in particular causing a firestorm online worldwide. The organizations info drops have proven controversial, with some praising them and others criticizing a lack of circumspection, such as including social security numbers and other personal data. WikiLeaks, and particularly founder Julian Assange, have also faced a mountain of legal difficulties. However, in the wake of WikiLeaks revelations, governments have had to reexamine what it means to be transparent with their citizens in the age of the internet.
Arab Spring Videos (2010-12)
Speaking of WikiLeaks, some of the organizations leaked documents in 2010 included the corruption present in several Arab and Middle Eastern countries. These leaks, as well as widespread authoritarian abuses, led to protests breaking out across Northern Africa and the Middle East. Despite attempts by governments to suppress information about the protests, social media played a big role in not only reporting on the demonstrations, but also in organizing them. The Arab Spring demonstrations saw longtime dictators in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, among others, all being deposed. Additionally, the protests sparked armed conflicts like the Syrian Civil War, the rise of ISIS, and the Yemeni Civil War, all of which continue to have repercussions today.
#MeToo (2017-)
Although the MeToo movement actually began back in the mid-2000s on social media with activist Tarana Burke, it didnt truly go viral until after the Harvey Weinstein allegations ignited the internet. Actress Alyssa Milano began the MeToo hashtag on Twitter, hoping to spread awareness of the magnitude of the issue of sexual harassment and assault. And spread it did! In addition to many high-profile celebrities coming forward, social media exploded, with Facebook once disclosing that over half its American users knew someone who had been assaulted. The movement led to several abusers, particularly in the entertainment industry, being exposed. Additionally, the MeToo movement has undeniably led to greater cultural awareness worldwide of assault, and far more calls to crack down on it.
#BlackLivesMatter (2013-)
Founded by a trio of activists in 2013, Black Lives Matter is a social movement that has acted in response to widespread racism and discrimination against black people, particularly by the police. The movement gained momentum and trended several times in the 2010s and early 2020s, particularly in the wake of several highly publicized deaths of black people at the hands of police. BLM has sparked online discussion and real-world protests, with somewhere between 15 to 26 million protestors participating in the United States - making it one of the biggest protest movements in American history. While reactions have varied over time, and the movement has created several counter-movements, theres no denying the impact of Black Lives Matter on public discourse.
Is there another viral moment that made the world stand still? Get moving down to the comments to tell us your picks!
