2023's Most Fun Internet Moments: A Year in Highlights

The internet whirls by at a relentless pace, and if you’re not constantly online, you might miss out on some of the year’s most captivating moments. So, we’ve compiled a list, in no particular order, of some of the finest internet highlights from this year.

We’ve got you covered on everything from AI antics to dubious spy balloons. Don’t say we haven’t done a thing for you.

“Wednesday” Takes the Spotlight!

Netflix’s “Wednesday” series sparked a frenzy, urging everyone to embrace their inner oddball, both in the digital realm and beyond. The quirky dance moves by the titular character became a TikTok sensation. Stories with a “Wednesday” twist popped up everywhere, from Roblox to ASMR. This propelled star Jenna Ortega to instant fame, with appearances on late-night talk shows and “Hot Ones.”

“M3GAN” – A Queer Icon

The horror movie “M3GAN,” featuring a sentient robot doll, was embraced as super queer by the LGBTQ+ community. The film opened strong, raking in an impressive $30 million in early January. The doll also became a meme sensation, blending murder with deadpan flips and dance moves.

Pope Francis’s Stylish AI-Generated Coat

A picture of Pope Francis in a chic white puffer coat set Twitter ablaze in March, earning admiration for his sense of style. However, it turned out to be a clever AI-generated forgery by Chicagoan Pablo Xavier, who was under the influence of mushrooms. This incident early in the year hinted at the growing impact of AI-generated content in 2023.

Rihanna’s Super Bowl Extravaganza

Rihanna’s Super Bowl performance had been eagerly anticipated since her iconic announcement in September 2022. Despite receiving mixed reviews from fans, her performance was undeniably impressive. Dancing on a floating platform while visibly pregnant, she delivered a medley of 12 hits. Regardless of online chatter, Rihanna delivered a memorable show.

Musk Discontinues Twitter’s Blue Check Verification

During Elon Musk’s Twitter reign, the blue check verification system, once a hallmark for distinguishing news organizations, journalists, politicians, celebrities, and public figures from impostors, met its demise. It was replaced by a blue checkmark with an $8 price tag. While previously verified accounts retained their checks initially, Musk eventually removed them from non-paying accounts on April 20th. This marked the end of an era for Twitter, which had relied on verification to combat fake news and impersonation.

Cockroach Crashes the Met Gala

The Met Gala in 2023 celebrated the late designer Karl Lagerfeld’s work, but the resulting red carpet looks left much to be desired. One unexpected highlight was a photo of a cockroach that crashed the party, garnering over 20,000 likes on Vulture’s page during the event.

Super Mario Movie Upload Mishap

In another Twitter blunder during Musk’s tenure, the platform announced that Blue subscribers could upload videos up to two hours in length. The meme account @vidsthatgohard seized the opportunity by uploading the entire newly released Super Mario Bros. movie. The film had already been a subject of online jest due to the casting of Chris Pratt as the famously Italian plumber Mario. The video was eventually taken down, and @vidsthatgohard’s account was suspended, but not before it received over nine million views.

“This Barbie” Trend Takes Off

On April 4th, the official Twitter account for the movie “Barbie” posted its inaugural tweet, unveiling an official trailer and images of 24 characters. Each character boasted a distinctive tagline, playfully emphasizing their traits or roles. This led to a trend where people created their own Barbie or Ken characters with witty taglines, flooding Twitter and Instagram timelines with custom images.

Barbenheimer: A Coincidental Cinematic Clash

All the Barbie fervor occurred on the same day as the release of the film “Oppenheimer,” prompting over 200,000 people to purchase tickets for both movies on the same day. This clash ignited debates about which movie to watch first, resulting in numerous social media posts and discussions.

Chinese Spy Balloon Intrigue

Between January 28 and February 4, a colossal white balloon, roughly the size of three buses, drifted through the skies of Canada and the U.S. Citizens watched in astonishment as the balloon traversed their airspace. The inflatable was eventually shot down off the coast of South Carolina. Military analysis revealed that it had been used for surveillance, despite the Chinese government’s insistence that it was a civilian airship blown off course. SNL even humanized the balloon, portraying it as a weary ocean-traveler.

Succession Series Finale Hype

The entire internet, particularly Twitter, held its collective breath in anticipation of the Succession series finale in May. Viewers eagerly awaited to see which Roy sibling would ascend to the Waystar Royco throne. Fans of the show not only reveled in its critical acclaim but also engaged in online culture, from creating memes to quoting memorable lines from the series.

Kevin James’s Sheepish Meme

Kevin James, known for his role in “King of Queens,” unexpectedly became a meme sensation this year. An old headshot of James resurfaced, leading to humorous internet reactions. While it may have gone a bit overboard, it certainly added some fun to the online sphere.

Angela Bassett’s BAFTA Performance

At the BAFTAs, Angela Bassett delivered a memorable performance that caught everyone’s attention. She presented a medley of songs, concluding with a self-composed rap that included the standout line, “Angela Bassett did the thing.” The performance quickly went viral and gained widespread recognition.

Susi’s Pesto Preference

TikTok users might be familiar with Susi Vidal’s strong aversion to store-bought pesto. With 3.6 million TikTok followers and over 1.7 million Instagram followers, Susi asked viewers to call her “crazy” for her dislike of store-bought pesto. The video sparked a trend, with users creating videos poking fun at her preference.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Ski Accident Trial

Gwyneth Paltrow’s viral moments continued with a trial where she complained about losing half a day of skiing. She also made a splash with her fashion choices during the “quiet luxury” revival. The trial ended with a symbolic $1 decision, which became a topic of internet discussion, complete with memes and online fascination.

These were just some of the year’s most captivating moments on the internet. The online world never ceases to astound and entertain with its whirlwind trends and viral sensations.