From influencers making TikTok videos at the White House, to the surge in platforms that help online creators earn money, 2021 was yet another exceptional year for online creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. Below is Re:Create’s annual list of online creativity highlights — all made possible by platforms that rely on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
→ Bernie Sanders’ mittens inspired a meme frenzy and $1.8 million in donations to charity
→ More than 100 online stars like Olivia Rodrigo, Benny Drama, Dude With Sign, Tinx, Coyote Peterson, Taylor Cassidy — well-known for their YouTube, TikTok, Twitch and Instagram content — were recruited to the White House’s campaign to boost youth vaccine rates for Gen-Z
→ The creator economy continues to spur new features from platforms like Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn to help new creators monetize their content
→ From journeyman journalist to gaming console consumer analyst, Matt Swider jumped from 8,000 followers to 1 million and recently started his own outlet to help people gain the upper hand over scalpers to purchase elusive, new video game consoles
→ Britney Spears saluted the online-based #FreeBritney movement for their support
→ Driven by social media-fueled word of mouth, Netflix’s Squid Game skyrocketed to the No.1 show in 90 countries
→ Diver Tom Daley’s viral knitting moment at the Olympics drove consumer demand for “knitted” and “crochet” items
→ Despite the Super Bowl’s lower ratings in 2021, following his viral halftime performance, The Weeknd’s music sales rose dramatically. The primary, meme-producing song “Can’t Feel My Face” spiked 987% in total sales
→ BookTok is driving book sales, encouraging younger audiences to read and re-introducing older titles to bestseller lists
→ “I am not a cat.” We all got a good laugh when a lawyer in a Zoom court appearance couldn’t remove his cat filter
→ Risk Astley’s 1987 hit “Never Gonna Give You Up” surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube
→ Fast & Furious “Family” memes helped juice opening weekend box office sales to $70 million — the biggest opening weekend film since 2019’s Rise of Skywalker