61 Fun Facts: The 2021 Year of the Metaverse & The Great Reopening Edition

Introduction & Context: 2021 was a year of „glitches” and new beginnings as the world attempted to reboot. It was a year of extreme contrasts: from the chaos of the Capitol riot to the billionaire „space race,” and from the supply chain crisis to the global obsession with a deadly game of Red Light, Green Light. It was the year we learned what an NFT was, watched „stonks” go to the moon, and saw the return of live music and packed stadiums. From the birth of the „Metaverse” to the emotional reunion of the Friends cast, 2021 felt like a transition from a world in isolation to a world trying to find its new rhythm.

Top 10 Iconic Moments (USA Focus)

1. The Capitol Riot: On January 6, a mob storms the US Capitol in an attempt to overturn the election results, a day that leaves a lasting mark on American history.
2. The GameStop „Short Squeeze”: Retail investors from Reddit’s r/wallstreetbets take on Wall Street hedge funds, driving GameStop stock (GME) to astronomical heights.
3. The Billionaire Space Race: In July, Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos both fly to the edge of space in their own private spacecraft, sparking a new era of space tourism.
4. The Withdrawal from Afghanistan: In August, the US officially ends its longest war, leading to a chaotic evacuation from Kabul and the return of the Taliban.
5. The NFT Boom: Digital artist Beeple sells an NFT for $69 million at Christie’s, launching a global (and confusing) craze for digital ownership.
6. The Suez Canal Blockage: A giant container ship, the Ever Given, gets stuck for six days, spawning a thousand memes and a global supply chain nightmare.
7. The Facebook Rebrand: Mark Zuckerberg announces that Facebook (the company) is changing its name to Meta, signaling a pivot toward the „Metaverse.”
8. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Held a year late in empty stadiums, the Games highlight mental health when Simone Biles withdraws from several events to focus on her well-being.
9. The Squid Game Phenomenon: The South Korean thriller becomes Netflix’s most-watched series ever, making tracksuits and Dalgona candy viral hits.
10. The Vaccine Rollout: COVID-19 vaccines become widely available to all US adults, leading to the „Summer of Freedom” and the return of indoor dining and concerts.

Full 2021 Observational List (USA Life & Style)

11. Technology: The „Global Chip Shortage” makes it nearly impossible to buy a PS5, a new car, or high-end graphics cards.
12. Music: Olivia Rodrigo releases „drivers license,” which breaks Spotify records and makes her the breakout pop star of the decade.
13. Cinema: Spider-Man: No Way Home becomes a massive theatrical event, uniting three generations of Spider-Men and saving the box office.
14. Sports: Tom Brady wins his 7th Super Bowl at age 43, this time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
15. Pop Culture: The Friends: The Reunion special brings the cast back together for the first time in 17 years, breaking HBO Max records.
16. Internet: „Sea Shanty TikTok” (ShantyTok) becomes an improbable viral trend, led by Nathan Evans’ „The Wellerman.”
17. Fashion: „Y2K Fashion” (low-rise jeans, butterfly clips, and baby tees) makes a massive comeback among Gen Z.
18. Gaming: Halo Infinite finally launches, bringing Master Chief back to the forefront of the Xbox community.
19. Automotive: Ford unveils the F-150 Lightning, its first all-electric pickup truck, signaling a major shift in the US auto market.
20. Movies: Dune (Part One) stuns audiences with its scale, proving that high-concept sci-fi still has a place on the big screen.
21. Technology: Apple releases „AirTags,” leading to both convenience and new privacy concerns regarding tracking.
22. Literature: The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman becomes a bestseller after her historic reading at the Inauguration.
23. Music: Lil Nas X releases Montero, continuing to push boundaries with viral music videos for „Industry Baby” and „Call Me By Your Name.”
24. Gaming: Roblox goes public on the stock market, highlighting the massive power of user-generated content for kids.
25. TV: Ted Lasso becomes the „feel-good” hit of the year, sweeping the Emmys and making „Believe” a national slogan.
26. Sports: The Milwaukee Bucks win their first NBA title in 50 years, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 50-point final game.
27. Culture: „The Great Resignation” becomes a trend as millions of Americans quit their jobs in search of better pay and work-life balance.
28. Science: The James Webb Space Telescope, the most powerful ever built, successfully launches on Christmas Day.
29. Business: El Salvador becomes the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender.
30. Movies: Cruella and Black Widow test the „hybrid release” model, coming out in theaters and on Disney+ simultaneously.
31. Gaming: Forza Horizon 5 takes players to Mexico and becomes one of the highest-rated games of the year.
32. Music: Taylor Swift releases Red (Taylor’s Version), with the 10-minute version of „All Too Well” hitting #1.
33. Lifestyle: „Plant Parents” continue to flourish as indoor gardening remains a top hobby for the home-bound.
34. Technology: Windows 11 launches, featuring a redesigned centered taskbar and a more modern look.
35. Sports: The Atlanta Braves win the World Series for the first time since 1995.
36. Politics: The „Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” is signed into law, a rare $1.2 trillion bipartisan achievement.
37. Law: Britney Spears is officially freed from her 13-year conservatorship following the fan-led #FreeBritney movement.
38. Music: Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak) brings 70s soul back to the top of the charts with „Leave the Door Open.”
39. Cinema: No Time to Die finally hits theaters after multiple pandemic delays, marking Daniel Craig’s final outing as 007.
40. Tech: Jack Dorsey steps down as CEO of Twitter, handing the reins to Parag Agrawal.
41. Fashion: „Nap Dresses” and oversized „shackets” (shirt-jackets) dominate fall fashion trends.
42. TV: WandaVision becomes a massive weekly obsession on Disney+, blending classic sitcoms with MCU lore.
43. Music: Adele returns after six years with „Easy on Me” and her new album 30, which becomes the year’s best-seller.
44. Business: Hertz orders 100,000 Teslas, sending Tesla’s market cap over $1 trillion for the first time.
45. Lifestyle: „Borgs” (Blackout Rage Gallons) become a controversial but viral DIY drinking trend on college campuses.
46. Books: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig becomes a staple of „BookTok” and bestseller lists.
47. Sports: Phil Mickelson becomes the oldest golfer (50) to win a major at the PGA Championship.
48. Music: Kanye West and Drake end their long-running feud following the releases of Donda and Certified Lover Boy.
49. TV: The White Lotus becomes the „prestige TV” hit of the summer, satirizing the lives of wealthy vacationers.
50. Movies: Free Guy becomes a surprise box office hit, celebrating gaming culture and Ryan Reynolds’ humor.
51. Environment: COP26 in Glasgow results in new global pledges to reduce methane emissions and deforestation.
52. Celebrity: Bennifer (Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez) reunite 17 years after their first breakup, shocking the internet.
53. Music: Doja Cat dominates TikTok and the radio with hits like „Kiss Me More.”
54. Health: The term „Breakthrough Case” enters the lexicon as people realize vaccines don’t 100% prevent mild infections.
55. Tech: The „Anakin Skywalker/Padme” meme format from Star Wars: Episode II becomes the most popular meme of the summer.
56. Gaming: It Takes Two wins Game of the Year, proving that co-op only games can still be massive hits.
57. Movies: Encanto releases in November; while a modest hit in theaters, it explodes on Disney+ with „We Don’t Talk About Bruno.”
58. Society: The „Bernie Sanders Mittens” meme from the Inauguration becomes the first major viral image of the year.
59. Legacy: „Vax” is named Word of the Year by the Oxford English Dictionary.
60. Social Media: Instagram officially kills off „IGTV,” merging all video into a single format to compete with TikTok.
61. Space: NASA’s Perseverance rover successfully lands on Mars in February, carrying the Ingenuity helicopter.

Fun Fact from the World (Outside USA)

In 2021, El Salvador officially became the first country in the world to make Bitcoin legal tender, requiring businesses to accept it as payment alongside the US Dollar.