ViralWorld

The internet in 2016

2016 was the year of Baby Shark Dance, Boaty McBoatface, Chewbacca Mask Lady and Mannequin Challenge. Part of the platform era.

Baby Shark Dance
The one from 2016

Baby Shark Dance

You might remember it as baby shark song, Pinkfong Baby Shark

The most-viewed video ever uploaded, and a genuine question about which of many versions is canonical.

Defining moments of 2016What the year is remembered for

2016, month by monthAs it happened

  1. Boaty McBoatface The Natural Environment Research Council opens the #NameOurShip poll for its new polar research vessel. James Hand suggests Boaty McBoatface. Wikipedia — Boaty McBoatface

  2. Chewbacca Mask Lady Payne posts the video, with the caption “It’s the simple joys in life”. Wikipedia — Chewbacca Mask Lady

  3. Chewbacca Mask Lady It has more than 140 million views and three million shares. Mark Zuckerberg invites her to Facebook’s headquarters. Wikipedia — Chewbacca Mask Lady

  4. Milkshake Duck Ward posts the tweet. Wikipedia — Milkshake Duck

  5. Baby Shark Dance Pinkfong uploads Baby Shark Dance. Wikipedia — Baby Shark

  6. This is fine The Republican Party tweets the image during the Democratic National Convention, and is criticised for it. Wikipedia — Gunshow (webcomic)

  7. Pokémon Go The game is released in the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Wikipedia — Pokémon Go

  8. Pokémon Go About 21 million people in the United States use it in one day, passing Candy Crush Saga’s peak. Wikipedia — Pokémon Go

  9. PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen) The video is posted to YouTube. Wikipedia — PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen)

  10. Trash Doves The sticker set is released for iMessage. Wikipedia — Trash Doves

  11. PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen) Justin Bieber shares it on Twitter as his favourite video on the internet. It is then watched more than 1.5 million times a day. Wikipedia — PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen)

  12. PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen) It is reported to have entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 77, the shortest song to do so. Wikipedia — PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen)

  13. Mannequin Challenge The Pittsburgh Steelers post a version. Wikipedia — Mannequin Challenge

  14. Fyre Festival The promotion begins: influencers including Kendall Jenner and Emily Ratajkowski post an orange square. Wikipedia — Fyre Festival

Also in 2016Older things, still moving

  1. The Dress Bleasdale and her partner tell the BBC they were “completely left out from the story”. Wikipedia — The dress

  2. This is fine Adult Swim announces an animated series based on the comic and releases an animated version of the strip. Wikipedia — Gunshow (webcomic)

  3. Netflix and chill Netflix publishes a “Netflix and chill study”. Wikipedia — Netflix and chill

  4. Charlie the Unicorn A crowdfunding campaign for a finale is announced as having raised 209,247 US dollars. Wikipedia — Charlie the Unicorn

  5. Deez Nuts A national poll gives the name 10 per cent against Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Wikipedia — Deez Nuts (politician)

  6. Evolution of Dance Evolution of Dance 3 is uploaded for the original’s tenth anniversary, six years after it was announced. Wikipedia — Judson Laipply

  7. Homestuck It ends, seven years to the day after it began. Wikipedia — Homestuck

  8. Boaty McBoatface A racehorse is reported to have been named Horsey McHorseface. Wikipedia — Boaty McBoatface

  9. Boaty McBoatface It is announced that the ship will be called RRS Sir David Attenborough, a name that had come fifth in the poll. Boaty McBoatface is given to one of its submersibles. Wikipedia — Boaty McBoatface

  10. Chewbacca Mask Lady Gifts to her are valued at more than 420,000 US dollars, most of it a university scholarship. Wikipedia — Chewbacca Mask Lady

  11. Don't Hug Me I'm Scared The sixth and last web episode is released. Wikipedia — Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared

  12. Mukbang Twitch tries out a “social eating” category. Wikipedia — Mukbang

  13. Pokémon Go It is released in Japan, and downloaded more than ten million times that day. Wikipedia — Pokémon Go

  14. ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Researchers announce the discovery of NEK1, a gene linked to ALS, in work partly funded by the donations. Wikipedia — Ice Bucket Challenge

  15. Pokémon Go It passes 100 million downloads. Wikipedia — Pokémon Go

  16. This is fine Green publishes a sequel, This is Not Fine, in The Nib. The dog panics and puts the fire out. Wikipedia — Gunshow (webcomic)

  17. YTMND Goldberg says the site is likely to close, citing his health and the cost of hosting. Wikipedia — YTMND

  18. We Are Number One A remix disguised as music from a video game is uploaded, and the song becomes a meme. Wikipedia — We Are Number One

  19. We Are Number One Stefánsson announces that he has cancer. Wikipedia — We Are Number One

  20. Shitposting Esquire describes it as a legitimate political technique. Wikipedia — Shitposting

  21. Mannequin Challenge Hillary Clinton’s campaign posts one, as do Adele and, together, Beyoncé, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland. Wikipedia — Mannequin Challenge

  22. We Are Number One He performs the song live on Facebook with the other actors. Wikipedia — We Are Number One

  23. Mannequin Challenge The Boston Pops Orchestra performs one. Wikipedia — Mannequin Challenge

  24. We Are Number One A fundraiser for him has passed its goal of 100,000 US dollars. Wikipedia — We Are Number One

The videos of 2016Watched

More from 2016Also remembered

On this page: 20 named things from 2016, 8 videos, 4 memes, 1 sound or saying and 3 trends among them.

The years either sideNearby