Between 2016 and 2020, the landscape of viral videos shifted from high-production YouTube segments to the spontaneous, user-generated content that came to define the TikTok era. The period began with massive YouTube hits like James Corden’s “Carpool Karaoke” with Adele and quirky Facebook Live moments like the Chewbacca Mask Lady. By 2018, the global rise of TikTok introduced a new era of 15-second challenges and lip-syncing trends. This reached a peak in 2020 when pandemic lockdowns fueled a surge in creative “at-home” virality, ranging from Dalgona coffee tutorials to Nathan Apodaca’s laid-back skateboarding video set to Fleetwood Mac. This five-year span ultimately transformed viral culture from a spectator sport into a participatory global phenomenon.
2016 Adele Carpool Karaoke
This segment from The Late Late Show with James Corden became the top trending video of the year. Featuring the British singer rapping Nicki Minaj and belting out her own hits.
2017 Ping Pong Trick Shots 3 | Dude Perfect
The Dude Perfect crew returned with their third installment of physics-defying ping pong stunts. This is just fun to watch I can imagine it took a long time to get all these shots right.
2018 Do You Hear “Yanny” or “Laurel”? (SOLVED with SCIENCE)
In 2018, viral content shifted toward personal milestones from massive influencers, high-stakes athletic feats, and a scientific debate that split the internet.
2019 Gordon Ramsay Savagely Critiques Spicy Wings | Hot Ones
In 2019, viral culture was defined by massive beauty community drama, extreme philanthropic stunts, and the explosive rise of TikTok.
2020 $1 vs $100,000 Firework!
In 2020, viral content reflected a world in lockdown, shifting between lighthearted escapism and intense social commentary. Philanthropist and stunt creator MrBeast rounded out the top five with this massive-scale experiment. The video, which showed the detonation of an enormous fireworks.