2023 was a year filled with moments that resonated and captivated the collective attention of online communities worldwide. 
Join us as we delve into the heart of the online world, recapturing the magic and mayhem that is the internet

BARBIE Takeover 

We start off our top 2023 events strong with the Barbie Movie. Breaking records, the Barbie Movie was a top contender for viral moments. Both in the theaters and online. 

Barbie was the highest-grossing film of 2023, the highest-grossing Warner Bros movie of all time, and the highest-grossing film directed solely by a woman.

After a couple of viral TikToks, we all agreed to wear pink to the theaters. Barbie led to a cultural shift of sisterhood as we were lined up at the movie theater dressed in pink, reliving the nostalgia of our Barbie days. 

The Barbie Movies reign didn’t end there. Internet trends come and go fast, but even though the Barbie Movie came out in July, it still had a chokehold on us during Halloween. Hey Barbie!

TWITTER REBRAND

Elon Musk bought out Twitter, rebranding it to 'X'. The brand that made the words ‘tweet’ and ‘tweeting’ mainstream has been put to an end. Now X has ‘post’ and ‘repost’ taking on the same verbiage of many other social media platforms. 

Although the numbers are vague, analysts estimate this rebranding wiped out over $5 billion in value. Any marketing expert will agree this rebranding is a horror story from their worst nightmare. 

TAYLOR SWIFT'S ERA

Of course, we can’t have a 2023 recap without mentioning Taylor Swift… at least twice. She graced our playlists with not one but two albums and one EP: The More Lover Chapter, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), and 1989 (Taylor’s Version). Taylor Swift made viral headlines more than once this year, leading her to earn two top moments in our opinion. 

ERA'S CONCERT

First, Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. Even if you’re not a swiftie (who isn't?), there’s a high chance this tour still made its way into your algorithm. With the highest-grossing music tour ever, it seems like breaking records comes naturally to this mastermind. Swift's Eras Tour exceeded $1 billion in revenues so far. Taylor also broke a record with more than 2.4 million tickets sold… in just one day. 

If that wasn’t enough, the film ‘Eras Tour’ that came out in October quickly became the highest-grossing concert movie of all time. It generated $26 million in pre-sale tickets and broke the record of tickets sold in one day, in just three hours. 

NFL (TAYLOR'S VERSION)

Taylor also receives a top moment from us when it comes to Travis Kelce. We were kicking our feet and giggling along with a simple change in lyrics. Swift changed the words during her live performance of Karma from “Karma is the guy on the screen” to “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs”. Yet another unforgettable moment for the swifties. 

The Kansas City Chiefs and NFL franchise have been taking full advantage of this marketing opportunity that has been handed to them on a silver platter. After Taylor was spotted at a Chiefs game with Travis Kelce, Kelce’s merch had a 400% spike in sales. 
The week after, their game with the Bears became the most-watched game among women aged 12-49. All in hopes of catching a glimpse of Taylor. The NFL on X (Twitter), changed their bio to NFL (Taylor’s Version) and also made their header photo of Taylor cheering on the game, leading to an increased female following. 

As far as it goes for the Chiefs, they have put up significantly improved stats of Travis Kelce with the caption “With Taylor Swift in Attendance” and “Left to His Own Devices.” 
The Chiefs have also alluded to their “winning era” with pictures of the players and coach edited to match Taylor Swift albums.
On top of that, since the camera has been such a fan of showing Taylor Swift during the games, Swift went viral for pissing off football watchers at home, simply just for existing. 

Taylor Swift proved once again that she is more than an artist; she is a cultural icon. 

GIRL DINNER

The Girl Dinner phenomenon took over social media. Across social media platforms, women were showing off their dinner, but not just any dinner, specifically girl dinner. Girl dinner is having a Lunchable but for grownups. Putting together random snack items around the house and calling it dinner.
When you don't feel like making anything or have “nothing to eat” girl dinner is what we go to. Fortunately, this style of ‘meal’ now has a popular name. 

THE ROMAN EMPIRE

The Roman Empire was in everyone's mind this year. Well, not everyone, but for some reason, most men. When men were asked, “How often do you think of the Roman Empire?” to much surprise, many of them shared just how often they think of it. Answers varied from every day to at least once a month. This coined a popular question among women: what’s our Roman Empire? 

BEYONCE'S RENAISSANCE TOUR

In the grand finale of our recap journey, we shine the spotlight on an absolute showstopper. None other than the iconic 32-time Grammy winner, Beyoncé. In a year already laden with top-performing artist tours, Beyoncé is another that took center stage, once again asserting her dominance in the music industry. 

Beyonce's performances solidified her status as THAT GIRL, a career marked by consistent excellence and groundbreaking achievements. Beyoncé isn't just a name; she's an institution.

AND FOR 2024?

With 2023 being wrapped up, we are now ready for 2024’s internet breakers to begin. Anticipating the ever-changing and unpredictable changes in viral phenomena. We begin this journey together, ready for new narratives, trends, and personalities that will leave a mark on our online experience.

Among the early contenders for the title of 2024's internet breaker, Gypsy Rose stands as an early contender when it comes to new media. Get ready for another year of open minds, open browsers, and endless scrolling as we find the next viral trends.