2024's Viral Moments: A Year in Review
From mishaps to heartwarming stories, 2024 was a year of memorable online trends. Here's a look back at eight viral sensations:
- Willy Wonka Warehouse Fiasco: A Glasgow event promising a magical experience fell short, becoming a source of amusement online.
- Google's AI Eating Rocks: Google's AI Overviews feature had a rocky start, suggesting questionable health advice like eating rocks, highlighting the potential pitfalls of AI-generated content. This incident reminds us of the importance of verifying information, especially in the age of AI, much like the discussion around censorship and control of online narratives.
- "Brat" Summer: Charli XCX's "Brat" became a cultural phenomenon, celebrating a carefree and slightly messy attitude.
- Olympic Delights: The 2024 Olympics offered heartwarming and quirky moments, from Celine Dion's performance to the antics of athletes like Yusuf Dikec and Raygun.
- Moo Deng Mania: A pygmy hippopotamus named Moo Deng charmed the internet with her small size and playful bites.
- "Wicked" Finger Hold: A spontaneous moment between "Wicked" stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande became an instant meme.
- "Hawk Tuah" Girl's Rise and Fall: Hailey Welch gained notoriety for a viral video and attempted to monetize her fame, including launching a memecoin that ultimately flopped. This incident echoes the challenges and controversies surrounding cryptocurrency, similar to those discussed in Tesla's ventures.
- Bluesky's Ascent: The social media platform Bluesky gained popularity as an alternative to X, raising questions about echo chambers and the platform's future. This relates to broader discussions about the future of social media and online communities, as explored in articles like TechCrunch's Found Podcast.