The 5 Weirdest, Most Wonderful, Life-Changing Internet Stories of 2021

This week, we're doing something a bit different. I'm rounding up the biggest stories on the internet and in the tech world from the past year: the weird, wonderful and life-changing. Then, Lately is going on a holiday hiatus for a couple weeks. I'll see you back on Jan. 10!

This year saw several stories dominate the internet and tech landscape, leaving an indelible mark on our collective consciousness. From the relentless hype surrounding AI to the surprising return of bitcoin and the viral catchphrases that launched careers, here are five stories that captivated us in 2022.

1. AI’s Hype Era Continues

AI voice assistants became eerily human-like, while AI slop (low-quality AI-generated images) flooded social media feeds. Companion chatbots like Replika also gained popularity, sparking concerns about potential harm to children.

However, AI acolytes were most excited about AI agents, which can go beyond instructions and actually perform tasks like online shopping or analyzing spreadsheets. OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic all launched or announced their own generative AI agents.

This hype led to massive gains for industry companies. Nvidia, which makes the chips powering generative AI, surpassed a $3-trillion valuation and even briefly overtook Apple and Microsoft in market value. But the hype also clashed with the creative industries, as musicians, publishers, actors, and artists filed lawsuits against AI companies over copyright infringement.

2. Bitcoin Is Back (Again)

Once dismissed as a fad or Reddit obsession, bitcoin proved to be a lucrative financial asset embraced by Wall Street and even the U.S. president-elect.

Donald Trump’s victory, with his campaign promise to create a U.S. bitcoin reserve and even launching his own coin, drove up bitcoin prices as investors bet on a friendlier regulatory environment. This month, bitcoin hit a landmark $100,000, with all coins in circulation valued at an estimated $2-trillion.

3. Viral Catchphrases Launch Careers

Some 15 years ago, when Twitter was still relevant and the epicenter of online culture, viral tweets could lead to book deals or TV shows. (See: prolific tweeter Kelly Oxford and her memoir Everything Is Perfect When You’re a Liar, or the TV show $#*! My Dad Says, inspired by the Twitter account of the same name.)

These days, it only takes one viral TikTok to reap major benefits, and this year, we saw several catchphrases launch careers.

Megan Boni made a TikTok claiming she’d written the song of the summer, listing the traits of an ideal partner - "I'm looking for a man in finance, trust fund, 6-5, blue eyes" - which landed her a recording deal and multiple club remixes actually played in IRL clubs.

There was the onomatopoeic Hawk Tuah Girl, aka Haliey Welch, who became famous for a street interview in which she does an impression of what she considers the best sex trick. Welch now has a podcast, sold thousands of dollars in merchandise and even launched a meme coin, the latter spurring legal action from investors who say the coin was a scam.

But perhaps the biggest phrase of the year was "very demure, very mindful," popularized by TikTok creator Jools Lebron, a way to describe everything from work-appropriate makeup to reading the new Sally Rooney on the subway. It felt like every brand on social media was jumping on the "demure" trend, but Lebron was able to monetize the trend too. From her TikToks, Lebron said she's earned enough money to pay for the rest of her transition and move into a swanky new apartment.

4. The Memes, the Podcasters and the U.S. Election

During the presidential election, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris turned to podcasters, YouTubers, streamers and social-media stars as gateways to very specific segments of potential voters they are unlikely to reach through cable news or rallies.

For Trump, that was tapping into "the manosphere," a collection of online spaces led by prophets such as Joe Rogan and Theo Von, with devoted followings of young men. Harris's team leaned hard into brat memes - a nod to Charli XCX's album of the summer - and other TikTok trends.

And both campaigns directly engaged with influencers, whether by collaborating on content or inviting them to their respective conventions, indicating the relationship between creators and politicians could grow even closer in the future.

5. Chaos on Social Media Platforms

Social media is an industry always rife with uncertainty, but this year everything felt even more chaotic.

Hordes of users are leaving Elon Musk's X, which has become a bot-filled, MAGA-loving mess. Bluesky is trying to be the "new Twitter," but it's yet to be seen if it can take the throne - or if people even care about short text-based platforms any more. Truth Social is the place to be if you want to get the breaking news from the incoming Trump administration, such as his views on tariffs.

And is TikTok actually going to get banned in the United States? The U.S. Supreme Court said this week it's going