From a hippo sensation to a summer spent embracing our inner 'brat', there was no shortage of viral moments in 2024.
Between elections, global conflicts and natural disasters, the past year has been an intense 12 months for the news cycle.
Throughout it all, however, we have been given moments of levity as our collective consciousness has been rapt by the cute, the trendy and the downright bizarre.
We're talking, of course, about 2024's most viral moments, so sit back, relax, and prepare to relive some of the past year's best memes.
Wonka experience
Fresh off the box-office success of Wonka, organisers in Glasgow set out to enchant local children with an interactive Charlie and the Chocolate Factory experience.
However, when Willy's Chocolate Experience officially opened in February, parents demanded refunds for the lack-lustre exhibition.
In new footage from Willy Wonka's chocolate experience: the "unknown " begins to terrorise children pic.twitter.com/HQip2BiqZD
— Sofia Coppium (@indianloonie) September 26, 2024
Social media was soon populated with photos and videos from the experience, including one of an Oompa Loompa handing out small rations of sweets to children.
Actors involved spoke about the AI-generated script, which resulted in confusing characters including Willy McDuff and The Unknown.
Pete Davidson has been spotted stepping out with The Unknown from the Glasgow Willy Wonka experience pic.twitter.com/fhG5oR5vkE
— Benedict Townsend (@BenedictTown) February 28, 2024
The Portal
In May, a video portal opened up in Dublin's City Centre, offering Dubliners and New Yorkers to the chance to connect with one another despite being separated by the Atlantic Ocean.
Hello New York! The @LordMayorDublin has officially launched 'The Portal' connecting the great cities of Dublin and New York! It's a 24/7 visual live stream, come wave to your friends, family or even complete strangers in The Big Apple! @NYC_DOT @DublinTown @LovinDublin… pic.twitter.com/xsH0b5MyIw
— Dublin City Council (@DubCityCouncil) May 8, 2024
However, it wasn't long before behaviour at the portal grew unruly, with mooning and insults about 9/11 and the Famine cited as poor portal decorum.
After a brief shutdown, the portal was reopened once again.
Brat summer
Following the release of Charli XCX's album Brat, revellers embraced the brat lifestyle, which involved a carefree attitude, cerulean green and, to quote Charli herself, "being a bit messy".
Across social media, brands jumped on the brat bandwagon, Collins Dictionary declared brat their word of the year and Charli XCX even called Vice President Kamala Harris brat.
kamala IS brat
— Charli (@charli_xcx) July 22, 2024
Coconut Tree
When US President Joe Biden announced he would not be running for re-election, eyes turned to presidential hopeful Kamala Harris.
News correspondents across the world weighed in on her odds, but on social media, one trend eclipsed political analysis.
A resurfaced video of Ms Harris quoting her mother did the rounds and resonated online.
fuck it, thread of kamala harris’s funniest veep moments, starting with “you think you fell out of the coconut tree?” 1/ pic.twitter.com/wyo4j2WPxt
— white kate moss (@bailey_s26) July 3, 2024
As the video re-circulated, writers offered their own interpretations of what Ms Harris meant, while supporters of the democratic candidate used the coconut emoji to signal their support.
The Spark
Charli XCX and Chapell Roan found themselves battling an unlikely rival in the music charts - a group of children from Ireland.
'The Spark', a drum and bass hit written and performed by the Kabin Crew and the Lisdoonvarna Crew, is an upbeat, empowering anthem that became a worldwide sensation.
Rolling Stone declared 'The Spark' the "song of the summer", the Kabin Crew made appearances at several music festivals and the track was even long-listed for the 2025 Grammys.
Think you can stop what they do? I doubt it.
Olympic standouts
Paris hosted the 2024 Olympics and a number of standout athletes quickly became online celebrities, but not necessarily for their athletic prowess.
Turkey's sport shooter Yusuf Dikeç won fans for his relaxed and under-equipped approach to the sport, while South Korea's sport shooter Kim Yeji became nothing short of a fashion icon for her slick look.
You dropped this, Kim Yeji: 👑
📷: Korean Sport & Olympic Committee pic.twitter.com/eCNGrNP7os
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 1, 2024
As break-dancing made its Olympic debut, Australia's Rachael Gunn caused a considerable stir for her moves.
Australia's Rachael Gunn, known as B-Girl Raygun,competes during at the 2024 Summer Olympics, on Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin, File)Gerry Hutch and the General Election
Gerry 'the Monk' Hutch sent a ripple across the Irish political scene when he announced his bid for the Dáil.
Hutch ran on a platform for change, but when he arrived at the Count Centre, he refused to extrapolate on what change exactly he would bring.
After Labour's Marie Sherlock won the fourth and final seat, Hutch had a tense standoff with the media.
When asked if he would "run" again, he broke into a sprint and escaped reporters' questions.
01/12/2024 Dublin, Ireland. General Election 2024. Independent candidate Gerard Hutch arrives at the RDS Count Centre in Dublin. Photograph: Leon Farrell / © RollingNews.ieMoo Deng
One of 2024's most beloved online figures was none other than Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippo.
Khao Kheow Zoo in Si Racha in Thailand first posted photos of Moo Deng on their social media, and it wasn't long until she amassed fans from all around the world.
MOO DENG’S EMOTIONAL SUPPORT LEAF 🥹 pic.twitter.com/5L3YKebAJi
— Nature is Amazing ☘️ (@AMAZlNGNATURE) October 27, 2024
Moo Deng fell out of favour when she "predicted" Donald Trump would win the US Presidential Election by choosing a watermelon carved with his face on it over one with Kamala's.
Her defenders, however, were quick to point out that Moo Deng didn't cause Trump's victory, she merely predicted.
She emerged uncancelled as a result.
Featured image shows Kamala Harris (L) and Moo Deng (R), via Alamy.
