Social Media Wire: Top 5 Viral Stories That Swept the Internet in 2015
Like previous years, 2015 is no different from harboring stories that broke the Internet by puzzling (and entertaining) the minds of many. As we are about to welcome 2016 with open arms, let's look back at five of the most interesting viral stories this year has offered.
Remember the perplexing attire that circulated online early this year? According to Today, many were confused about the real color of the ensemble and questioned how a still photo can change its hue. #TheDress ultimately made noise from Twitter to Tumblr and dominated every online platform, as it was named the "most viral story of the year."
SocialTimes added that it had a whopping 73 million views on Tumblr, while Facebook statistics' found that 58% said that it was white and gold while 48% disclosed it was black and blue.
Left Shark
The left shark stole the spotlight from Katy Perry's performance on the Super Bowl halftime show, having thousands of tweets as reported by CBC. SocialTimes noted that it caught every viewer's attention, and social media users later on, for its unique, entertaining and somewhat dumb dance moves.
According to DOSE, a digital media company, CEO Emerson Spartz said, "Left Shark was 'so incredibly derpy' that it was thrust into internet fame."
In fact, it was so popular it had custom made pajamas and costumes and even had shark-inspired trash cans at Coachella.
"Call Me Caitlyn"
Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce, broke the Internet as she launched her transition in Vanity Fair's June 2015 cover. The shot was made by the renowned photographer, Annie Leibovitz. "I'm not doing this to be interesting. I'm doing this to live," Caitlyn said. "Call me Caitlyn" has been her signature line since then, eventually making a comeback last Halloween.
Pizza Rat
This rat was spotted on a subway carrying a slice of pizza while crawling down the stairs. It already has its own Twitter account and way in the limelight, SocialTimes cited.
"Pizza Rat is a perfect example of a story most people have heard of but didn't actually see," Spartz said. The Washington Post wrote that on Sept. 21, at the time the news emerged, it gathered more than 400 #PizzaRat tweets per minute.
Llama Drama
Two llamas were caught gracing the highway of Phoenix like models near a retirement community. The hashtag #llamadrama then circulated on social media as the duo -- a black and a white one -- have their own Twitter page, AZCentral added.
Watch your favorite social media story of 2015? Share your picks in the comments section!
Watch the weirdest viral stories of 2015, as per Newsy: