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Ah, 2024: the year we discussed how to pronounce “hawk tuah,” pondered the health benefits of eating rocks, and had a Broadway showstopper. It was a year when the story sounded clean and happy – for a few moments, before we were brought back to reality.
Online culture was more inescapable than ever this year, but where and how we interacted with this culture began to divide. Here are eight of the most viral, memorable moments that took me a year — but feel free to let me know what I missed!
What happened to Willy Wonka is painful
An organization calling itself the House of Illuminati promised a magical, Willy Wonka-themed experience, and an AI flyer advertising everything from “Encherining Entertainment” to “Imagnation Lab” (sic). It actually looked a little more attractive – in fact, a Glasgow museum. But while the event may have been a disappointment for anyone who paid for a ticket, it provided an endless source of stunning photos for the internet.
Google has decided that it is good to eat rocks
AI-generated content rose to the top of our results, with Google pushing an AI Overviews feature that was less than reliable. Some of the posts that went viral within the first few days of launch included advice to add pizza dough, spend half an hour in the sun, and eat one small stone a day. And while Google was quick to weed out the best results to be moaned about, the distractions show just how ridiculous the future of AI can be.
The Internet celebrates “Brat” summer
More than just an album, Charli XCX’s “Brat” was a vibe, interpreted with lime green and a celebration of being (in the words of the artist) “A girl who is a little bit confused and likes to party and maybe says dumb things sometimes.” If this sounds silly, don’t worry about it: “It’s silly. You are stupid. That’s brat. ” For a brief, bright moment, even Kamala Harris was brave.
The 2020 Summer Olympics were held in the shadow of the pandemic (the games did not take place until 2021), but this year’s event was returning to a more exciting form. For American viewers, it helped that Peacock’s marketing efforts knew how to present the diversity of the event. There were some inspiring moments, such as Celine Dion’s performance of Edith Piaf’s classic, but the real heroes of the internet were the best, from the indomitable Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec to the slow moves of Australia’s Raygun.
Moo Deng bites his way into our hearts
With a name that means “pork,” this hippo quickly became the hottest “new girl” in the world, according to the “Today Show.” Pictures of Moo Deng living at Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo have taken the internet by storm, thanks to his diminutive size, harmless bite, and hilarious scream. Of course, even something as cute and fun as the cute hippopotamus had its dark side, as the zoo had to deal with visitors throwing things at poor Moo Deng.
The stars of “Wicked” hold the space with their fingers
“Wicked” was everywhere this fall, as a big marketing push turned the movie into a Broadway hit. But the biggest moment of the meeting was not written, the stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande seemed worried when the reporter told them that “people are taking the words ‘Defying Gravity’ and saving space with this” – creating an unforgettable image of Grande. reaching up and holding one of Erivo’s fingers.
“Hawk Tuah’s Girl” earns her 15 minutes of fame
The most famous in 2024 in 2024 was Hailey Welch, a girl who became famous for her best answer to the question, “What makes a man crazy all the time?” Welch decided to use his reputation to sell products, start a podcast, and start the “HAWK” memecoin. The last session ended badly, many tokens were sold in what seemed to be the pulling of the crypto rug. (Welch has denied any wrongdoing.)
Bluesky goes from an open source underdog to a major media competitor
Bluesky was opened to the public in February, and just a few months after making the initial identification as a no-nonsense, left-wing X, it reached the top of the program’s charts – first in Brazil (where X was briefly banned), then in United. States (after Donald Trump won the presidential election with the help of X owner Elon Musk). This, perhaps unfailingly, led to serious speculation about liberal echo chambers, and questions about how Bluesky’s newfound popularity might dilute its good vibes and glorious wonder.
