The 2010s were one of the most controversial decades to date. There was political unrest, violence, and technological advancements. Though there have been many low points over the last ten years, we can also reflect on the high points before we ring in the next roaring 20s...
2010: The Digital Age Begins
The digital age really kicked off in 2010, both in the United States and worldwide with the advent of smartphones. Apple was in the early stages of designing its advanced iPod Touch and the first generation of iPhones.
2010: Instagram is Founded
Everyone's favorite photo-sharing app was founded in 2010, and the early stages of the app are something to cringe over compared to the progress it's made nearly a decade later. With the early, deep sepia filters, frames and borders, and first attempts at usernames, IG has come a long way. Some people even make a career out of it with modeling or product promotion or travel.
2010: The iPad Is Released
It was just back in April 2010 when Apple released the first generation of the iPad. When it first came out, the idea of a tablet was a completely revolutionary idea. Now, people are subbing desktops and laptops for tablets. You can do virtually anything on a touch screen these days.
2010: Lady Gaga's Meat Dress
Gaga's iconic meat dress earned her a spot on Time's fashion statement of the year list. No one ever knew what to expect from Gaga's eccentricities, but it certainly wasn't a dress made of red raw meat.
2011: Rebecca Black Releases "Friday"
Remember when this teen sensation went viral for her song "Friday"? Remember how cringe cinematography and awful lyrics? How could we forget such iconic lyrics like “gotta have my bowl, gotta have cereal?"
2011: Tornados Strike Alabama
A series of tornadoes caused heavy damage in the South, Alabama being the hardest hit. 324 people were killed in the deadliest American natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina. The weather phenomenon was known as the 2011 Super Outbreak and caused around $12 billion in damages.
2011: Osama bin Laden is Killed
Osama bin Laden, leader of al-Qaeda and mastermind of the September 11 attacks, was killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan, by U.S. Navy SEALs under Obama's presidency. He spent years in hiding following 9/11 and evaded capture time after time until a SEAL mission was finally successful at catching him by surprise.
2011: Millions Watch The Royal Wedding
Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton had a royal wedding in April 2011. The televised marriage was one of the biggest and most highly-covered events that year, and their wedding was one of the largest royal weddings next to William's parents' Charles and Diana.
2011: STS-135
The Space Shuttle Atlantis touched down at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center, ending the 30-year shuttle program, which began with the launch of Space Shuttle Columbia on April 12, 1981. The 4-person crew successfully completed their mission after six months of preparation.
2012: The Planking Craze
You might remember when this strange craze took over the world back in 2011. It was stupidly simple - people laid facedown on the ground anywhere and then took pictures of themselves. It was the first of many social media "challenges" to become viral on the internet.
2012: US Presidential Election
Barack Obama and Joe Biden are reelected for President and Vice President of the United States following a historic four years. Obama was the United States' first African American President, and he'd already had many achievements under his belt, like eliminating 9/11 perpetrator Osama bin Laden.
2012: Harry Potter Ends
Harry Potter charmed the hearts of children everywhere since the late 90s, and when the final film was released — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 — the phenomenon came to an emotional close. Of course, the Potter universe still lives on now through the popular Broadway play The Cursed Child and the continuing Fantastic Beasts franchise. JK Rowling also has a popular Twitter feed where she frequently discusses Potter lore.
2012: Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Sandy ravaged the eastern seaboard in 2012, almost totally wiping out New Jersey towns such as Asbury. It was the deadliest and most destructive hurricane of the 2012 season. The overall damages cost around $70 billion in rebuilding.
2012: "Linsanity"
When New York Knicks backup point guard Jeremy Lin unexpectedly led his team on a seven-game win streak during the 2011–2012 basketball season, the global craze known as “Linsanity” was born. If you're a sports fan then you remember it. Now, he plays for China after having been on eight NBA teams.
2012: "Gangnam Style"
When South Korean musician Psy released "Gangnam Style," no one really knew what to think of it. The accompanying music video was instantly a major hit and became the first video ever to reach a billion views on YouTube. Since its release, there have been countless parody videos made about it.
2013: Edward Snowden Case
Edward Snowden leaked classified documents from the National Security Agency while he worked as a CIA employee and subcontractor. Since then, he has been exiled to Russia and is referred to as a whistleblower. His chances of returning to the United States are very slim.
2013: The Harlem Shake
When this viral meme sensation took over the internet back in early 2013, thousands of bizarre 30-second versions of the "Harlem Shake" were being uploaded on the daily. The video usually began with a lone person dancing in a room full of seemingly oblivious onlookers, but then there's a beat drop and a crowd of people emerges and does SUPER weird dances.
2013: Same-Sex Marriage Legalized
The Supreme Court overturned Proposition 8 with a 5-4 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in California. That put an end to the Defense of Marriage Act. The court ruled Section 3 of DOMA unconstitutional "as a deprivation of the equal liberty ... protected by the Fifth Amendment." The decision was widely quoted by both sides in same-sex marriage lawsuits.
2013: "What Does The Fox Say" Goes Viral
Ylvis's "What Does The Fox Say" was one of the weirdest YouTube videos to come out of 2013. The Norwegian duo's hit song features various woodland animal noises and funny costumes, and it became the top trending video of 2013. However, we still don't actually know what the fox says.
2013: Black Lives Matter Movement Emerges
Black Lives Matter is an international activist movement, originating in the African-American community, that campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards black people. It came to light in 2013 following the unlawful deaths of black teenager Michael Brown.
2013: "The Cup Song" Goes Viral
When Anna Kendrick performed this song — and the accompanying percussion routine using a plastic cup — in the movie Pitch Perfect, it was all over everyone's Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube feeds. Everyone was covering this song, no matter how objectively annoying it was.
2014: Malaysian Airline Disappearance
When a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet disappeared without a trace in early 2014, the fate of the plane — and the 239 passengers and crew onboard — became one of the biggest aviation mysteries in history. While it hatched many conspiracy theories, the truth is that the plane was intentionally crashed by the pilot.
2014: ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
2015: Same-Sex Marriage Legal Nationwide
2015: "The Dress"
2015: Apple Releases Racially Diverse Emojis
In 2015, Apple finally released racially diverse emojis after several years of iPhone users asking for some inclusivity. While changing the color from yellow might not seem like a huge deal, it was a step in the right direction. Now there are various forms of the "family" emoji as well.
2016: Pokemon Go Takes Over
The launch of this augmented reality (AR) mobile game in July 2016 took the world by storm. Fans of all ages were quickly obsessed with the idea of walking around in real life and catching virtual Pokemon. Since its takeoff, people have created teams and tournaments based on the fun creature-catching game.
2016: Leonardo DiCaprio Finally Won an Oscar
Leo finally snagged the Oscar he deserved for 2016's The Revenant. He should have gotten it for Titanic, but good things clearly come to those who wait. He hasn't won one since 2016, though. The 88th Oscar Awards will be a night he'll never forget.
2017: Donald Trump Sworn Into Office
In January 2017, Donald Trump became the 45th President and Mike Pence became the Vice President. Trump is the first person without prior military or government service to hold the office. He holds the office for the Republican party.
2017: Women's March in DC
On the first day of Donald Trump's presidency, millions of people took to the streets of Washington and other cities to protest. Supporting gender equality, civil rights, and other issues that faced challenges under the new presidency, the Women's March drew over 5 million people in over 600 marches across the world.
2017: Fidget Spinners
For a little while in the spring of 2017, fidget spinners were everywhere you looked — in toy aisles, mall kiosks, and even in tiny gas stations and convenience stores. These colorful plastic toys promoted focus and helped people release nervous energy.
2017: Snapchat IPO
In one of the biggest and most highly anticipated U.S. market debuts in recent years, the image messaging service Snapchat began trading publicly on the New York Stock Exchange in March. After the IPO, Snapchat stocks rose from $17 to $27 in its first two days of trading, before falling 30 percent in subsequent weeks.
2017: Hurricane Harvey
Hurricane Harvey Texas and Louisiana the hardest when it made landfall, and caused billions of dollars of damage, making it one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history. It was labeled a category 4 tropical depression storm.
2017: Total Solar Eclipse
The total solar eclipse was enough to resurrect the "Total Eclipse of the Heart" singer from retirement. Remember making special glasses out of cardboard to watch the event? If you missed it, there'll be another in 2024.
2017: Harvey Weinstein Accused of Sexual Harassment
Film producer Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual harassment in a New York Times expose, marking the beginning of the Me Too movement. Since the first victims came forward, hundreds more actresses and women in various industries who work under powerful men have stepped up and shared their stories. #MeToo has also helped shed the stigmatism away from discussing issues of rape and victim-blaming.
2018: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Marry
Prince Harry of Sussex married Meghan Markle at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, and the wedding featured a total of about 600 guests and approximately 29.2 million viewers. Meghan wore a beautiful Givenchy dress and a simple, sweeping updo.
2018: Iconic Media Spearheads Die
The creator of Spongebob Squarepants, Stephen Hillenberg, and creative leader of Marvel Comics, Stan Lee, both died in November. Both were ill, though Hillenberg was notably younger than Lee. Since their passings, both studios have paid homage to their creators with various cameos and dedications.
2018: New Content in Public Domain
All the works published in 1923 except for sound recordings (2022 scheduled events) entered the public domain in the United States. For the first time in twenty years, a whole year’s worth of copyrighted works were available for free use. It's now possible to make new copyrighted works based on the old works, like the way Disney has remade most of its popular cartoons into live-action films.
2018: West Virginia Court of Appeals is Impeached
On August 13, 2018, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia was impeached by the West Virginia House of Delegates for charges relating to corruption, overspending, and lack of oversight. Of the five justices who were investigated, Justice Menis Ketchum resigned before impeachment, plead guilty in federal court to one count of wire fraud, and had his license to practice law annulled.
2018: Marjory Stoneman Douglas Shooting
A gunman killed 17 people and injured 17 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. This event set off a series of gun restriction protests and warnings about school shootings. Since then, students have held rallies in hopes of banning the recreational purchase of firearms.
2018: Trump Meets With Kim Jong Un
The 2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit, commonly known as Singapore Summit, was a summit meeting between North Korean Dictator Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump, held at the Capella Hotel, Sentosa, Singapore. This was the first-ever meeting between leaders of North Korea and the United States.
2018: Stephen Hawking Dies
British physicist Stephen Hawking, who suffered from ALS, died at the age of 76. He was responsible for the theory of relativity as well as several other books about black holes and previously undiscovered facts about space. The film, "The Theory of Everything" was inspired by his life.
2018: Democrats Reclaim House of Representatives
In the 2018 United States elections, the Democrats reclaimed the House while the Republicans kept the Senate. The Democrats, led by Nancy Pelosi, gained a net total of 41 seats from the total number of seats they had won in the 2016 elections. It was a step in the right direction under a Republican-led White House.
2018: George H.W. Bush Dies
Former U.S. President George H. W. Bush died from complications resulting from Parkinson's disease. He lied in the state at the U.S. Capitol building before being interred. Notably, current President Trump did not attend his memorial. H.W. was one of only a handful of surviving U.S. Presidents. He was survived by sons George and Jeb Bush.
2019: Patriots Win Super Bowl
Super Bowl LIII (54) was hosted at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Quarterback Tom Brady won his sixth championship, the most ever won by an NFL player. The Halftime show featured Maroon 5. The game ended with a historically low score, with the New England Patriots defeating the Los Angeles Rams 13 to 3.
2019: Record Low Temperatures
Large portions of the United States were hit with a polar vortex in late winter. The city of Chicago once again hit a record low: 27 degrees below zero for fifty-two straight hours. The city went into a state of warning and it was heavily advised against traveling outside during those dangerous conditions.
2019: Government Shutdown
The longest government shutdown in American History (December 22nd, 2018 -January 25th, 2019), or 35 days, officially ended. It was the second federal government shutdown involving furloughs during the presidency of Donald Trump. Congress failed to fund the government for what it deemed "inessential" demands. Federal workers went without pay for one month.
2019: R. Kelly Charged
Singer R. Kelly was charged with ten counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse for incidents dating back as far as the year 1998. He was accused of kidnapping and grooming young women to serve as sexual slaves, and each woman that came forward had concrete evidence. Kelly denies the claims but has since been tried in court.
2019: US Drops Out of Nuclear Forces Treaty
President Donald Trump confirmed that the U.S. will leave the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia. The decision was made because of the US military's goal to test a new non-nuclear mobile-launched cruise missile developed specifically to challenge Moscow in Europe. The pact has been in place since the Cold War.
2019: El Chapo Found Guilty
Mexican drug boss/lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán was found guilty on all ten counts at a drug-trafficking trial in New York. Though he's successfully broken out of prison twice before, he was officially sentenced to life in jail. There were also attempts to arrest his son, but no official reports have been made.
2019: Historically Diverse Lawmakers
When the 116th Congress was sworn in earlier this year on January 3, it was the most diverse class of lawmakers to ever take office. The incoming class had a record-breaking number of women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ representatives — and among the 117 women newly elected to office, we also got the first Native-American women and the first Muslim-American women in Congress.
2019: NASA's Latest Mission Revealed
Vice President Mike Pence ordered NASA to fly Americans to the Moon within the next five years, using either government or private carriers. The plan was a dramatic acceleration of the agency’s human space exploration plans but a directive accompanied by a few technical or fiscal details. The plan is a direct response to potential international competition.
2019: First Image of Black Hole Taken
Scientists have obtained the first image of a black hole, using Event Horizon Telescope observations of the center of the galaxy M87. Evidence of the existence of black holes – mysterious places in space where nothing, not even light, can escape – has existed for quite some time, and astronomers have long observed the effects on the surroundings of these phenomena without ever successfully capturing one on camera.
2019: New Death Row Ruling
Supreme Court case Bucklew V. Precythe in the Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 that inmates on death row are not guaranteed "painless executions" under the Constitution. The ruling was brought to light regarding the execution of a convicted murderer who sought to die by lethal gas rather than lethal injection because of a rare medical condition. The inmate had argued that lethal injection might inflict agony by rupturing blood-filled tumors on his face, head, neck, and throat caused by a congenital condition in violation of the Constitution’s Eighth Amendment, which bars cruel and unusual punishment.
2019: Jimmy Carter Oldest Living US President
James Earl Carter Jr. became the longest ever living U.S. president at 94 years old, following the death of George H. W. Bush in December of 2018. He's survived a series of illnesses and injuries, having broken a hip most recently, but is still in relatively good health. He has openly opposed President Trump.
2019: California Synagogue Shooting
A 19-year-old gunman killed one and injured three in a California Synagogue. After fleeing the scene, the alleged gunman phoned 9-1-1 and reported the shooting. He was apprehended in his car approximately two miles from the synagogue by a San Diego police officer.
2019: Trump Gets Funding for Wall
The Supreme Court ruled to give President Trump $2.5 billion to fund his wall. The court ruled in a 5-4 vote. However, it is significantly less than the $5 billion President Donald Trump requested for the project. While a Senate bill matched Trump's request, a House bill included no funds for a barrier.
2019: El Paso Shooting
A 21-year-old gunman entered a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. The gunman killed 20 people and injured another 26. The shooting shook Democratic candidate Beto O'Rourke, who hails from El Paso. The gunman's motivation was a fueled hate crime.
2019: Washington Bans Semi-Automatic Rifles
Washington State banned anyone under 21 years of age from purchasing a semi-automatic rifle. This was the result of various protests and political movements surrounding the countless mass shootings that occurred within the last handful of years. The law has yet to be passed nationally.
2019: President Trump is Impeached
The U.S. House of Representatives impeaches President Donald J. Trump for high crimes and misdemeanors. Though the final trial has yet to occur, Trump is able to finish his term as of now. The likelihood of impeachment has been high since the beginning of his term.