Another decade is about to end and with it, a decade of memories will be a part of history. The internet has further cemented its influence upon the world, creating many new job opportunities for individuals. Influencers make up a large portion of social media and have gained significant ground throughout the 2010s. Music has switched its platform to streaming as opposed to physical albums. Genres of music have also been drastically redefined as new cultures influence the way music is made. The entertainment industry has been redefined by streaming services like Netflix and Hulu who have entered the award season game. Many memorable moments have graced the 2010s. Here’s a look back on how these aspects could shape decades to come.
The internet
Though YouTube and Twitter launched in the 2000s, the platforms have seen significant growth since then. Influencers have taken on an almost celebrity persona for their viewers and fans. YouTuber PewDiePie became the first influencer channel to surpass 100 million subscribers on youtube, while other YouTubers like Shane Dawson are capable of gaining up to 40 million views on a single video.
Vine, though short-lived, created a massive impact on millennial culture with Vine compilations on YouTube gaining millions of views. A Twitter-defining moment came with Beyonce’s 2013 Super Bowl halftime show, which became the second most tweeted moment in history, with 268,000 tweets being tweeted per minute.
Esports has also grown significantly in the 2010s, with Fortnite gaining a cult-like following in a short amount of time. Influencer MarketingHub reported, “Between 2016 and 2017, there was a 19.3 percent increase year over year. In 2017, there were 192 million casual viewers and 143 million enthusiasts, making the total audience 335 million.”
The internet in the 2010s has expanded the social awareness and platforms of numerous industries. In 2020 the world might see an even bigger expansion.
Politics
When Barack Obama was leaving office in the late 2010s, people were wondering who would take his place. The election of 2016 was a defining moment in U.S. history. The year leading up to the election had many people on edge and it resulted in a divided nation. Trump challenged people to reconsider the qualifications needed to run a country. Trump also redefined the way presidents use social media platforms, as the president is very vocal, through Twitter especially.
The future of politics will be in the hands of the next generation, and only time will tell how the government will evolve.
Music industry
The streaming industry developed new ways to distribute music. In 2018, physical album sales fell to an all-time low. Billboard executives attributed the decline to streaming services.
Music transcended cultural boundaries in 2012 with “Gangnam Style” by Psy. The music video became the first time a song exceeded one billion views. This cross-culture of K-pop would be the beginning of a later phenomenon started by popular boy group BTS, who became the first K-pop group to have multiple albums debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The American Music Awards named Taylor Swift as artist of the decade after having three successful No. 1 albums within the decade. She also had the highest-grossing U.S. tour, which gained over $266 million in sold-out stadiums for her “Reputation” tour. As the decade comes to a close, it makes you wonder what music and who will redefine the 2020s.
Entertainment world
Netflix and Hulu became prominent front runners in the entertainment industry with original series like Stranger Things, Ozark, and The Handmaid’s Tale.
Before we enter a new decade, numerous new streaming platforms have made its way into the industry like Disney+, Comcast, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Apple TV, and YouTube Red. The entertainment industry is being reinvented by streaming, and competition is growing. 2020 will see an influx of original movies and TV shows from streaming sites.