It may feel as though a whole year has gone by instead of just a month, but 2020 has already been bursting with cultural events, experiences and trends.
Whether it’s TikTok becoming a cultural phenomenon, Shakira’s tongue during the Super Bowl halftime show or the coronavirus being an outbreak and meme at the same time, 2020 has been wild.
Junior Erez Davidson said that he believes that TikTok has so far defined 2020 in terms of immediate impact among college students.
“TikTok is like Vine but for a broader age group and goes beyond just Gen Z kids,” Davidson said.
Emily Waldman, also a junior, said that TikTok provides much needed amusement in a busy world.
“TikTok is what we all needed, what we all deserved and especially for all those who need new tools to procrastinate homework,” Waldman said. “It’s an amazing new platform.”
Junior Emily DiPaola said that what social media platforms people use seems to affect what kind of content they think is trending.
“The things that seem to be trending to me are really just what I see on Twitter,” DiPaola said. “[For example], Bernie Sanders presidential campaign commercial where he is asking for funding but with people putting other words over it so like him saying that he is once again asking what someone’s name is, Dolly Parton’s four picture meme of LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Tinder and a whole lot about Shakira’s tongue at the Super Bowl halftime show.”
Junior Brye Davis said that she has heard a lot about the coronavirus, whether it’s from people at her work, class or even just friends cracking jokes.
“I know it’s a serious virus, but it is one of those jokes that just surrounded the college culture so much it’s hard to stay away from it.”
Among others, a few other things that have been trending include plant-based meats being incorporated in more diets and fast food restaurants, film cameras coming back into style and Billie Eilish winning a ton of awards, specifically at the Grammys. Last but not least, many are honoring the death of the dearly loved Kobe Bryant, Gianna Byrant and the seven other people who passed away in the helicopter crash, an event that has impacted so many in 2020 and will continue to throughout history.