59 Fun Facts: The 2013 Year of the Selfie & The Royal Baby Edition

Introduction & Context: 2013 was the year the world truly embraced its digital reflection. It was the year the word “Selfie” was officially added to the dictionary, and “twerking” became a household term. While the world celebrated the birth of Prince George, it also grappled with the massive surveillance revelations from Edward Snowden. It was a year of transitions: from the surprising resignation of Pope Benedict XVI to the final, heart-pounding episodes of Breaking Bad. From the viral chaos of the “Harlem Shake” to the launch of the next generation of gaming consoles, 2013 felt like the year the 2010s truly found their loud, colorful, and sometimes controversial identity.

Top 10 Iconic Moments (USA Focus)

1. The Snowden Revelations: In June, Edward Snowden leaks classified NSA documents, sparking a global debate over privacy, government surveillance, and digital security.
2. The Boston Marathon Bombing: In April, two explosions near the finish line shock the nation, leading to a massive manhunt and the “Boston Strong” movement.
3. The Birth of Prince George: In July, the world waits outside St Mary’s Hospital for the arrival of William and Kate’s first son, a future King of England.
4. The Resignation of the Pope: Pope Benedict XVI becomes the first Pope to resign in 600 years, leading to the election of Pope Francis, the first Pope from the Americas.
5. The Launch of the PS4 & Xbox One: The next generation of gaming arrives in November, starting a new era of high-definition graphics and social gaming.
6. The Government Shutdown: A political standoff over the Affordable Care Act leads to a 16-day federal government shutdown in October.
7. The Death of Nelson Mandela: In December, the world mourns the passing of the anti-apartheid icon and former South African president at the age of 95.
8. The Supreme Court & Marriage Equality: In June, the court strikes down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a landmark victory for LGBTQ+ rights in America.
9. The Super Bowl Blackout: Super Bowl XLVII is interrupted by a 34-minute power outage in the New Orleans Superdome, leading to iconic “dunk in the dark” social media marketing.
10. The Death of Paul Walker: The Fast & Furious star dies in a tragic car accident in November, leading to a massive outpouring of grief from fans worldwide.

Full 2013 Observational List (USA Life & Style)

11. Technology: The “Selfie” is named the Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year after a 17,000% increase in its usage.
12. Music: Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” and Pharrell’s “Happy” dominate the airwaves for months on end.
13. Cinema: Disney’s Frozen is released, starting a global “Let It Go” phenomenon that would last for years.
14. Sports: The Baltimore Ravens defeat the San Francisco 49ers in the “Harbaugh Brother” Super Bowl.
15. Pop Culture: Miley Cyrus’s VMA performance introduces the world to “twerking” and becomes the most talked-about moment of the year.
16. Internet: The “Harlem Shake” becomes the first major viral video trend of the year, with thousands of groups filming their own versions.
17. Fashion: High-waisted “mom jeans” and floral crowns make a huge comeback in mainstream youth fashion.
18. Gaming: Grand Theft Auto V launches in September, breaking seven world records and earning $1 billion in just three days.
19. Automotive: The “Black Out” look (all-black rims and trim) becomes a major factory trend for new cars and trucks.
20. Movies: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire becomes the highest-grossing film of the year at the domestic box office.
21. Technology: Vine, the 6-second video app, launches and creates a new generation of internet celebrities.
22. Literature: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt is released, going on to win the Pulitzer Prize and dominate book clubs.
23. Music: Lorde’s “Royals” hits #1, bringing a new, minimalist “anti-pop” sound to the Top 40 charts.
24. Gaming: The Last of Us launches on PS3, widely considered one of the greatest stories ever told in a video game.
25. TV: Breaking Bad ends its run with the episode “Felina,” hailed as one of the best series finales in television history.
26. Sports: The Boston Red Sox win the World Series at home for the first time since 1918, capping off an emotional year for the city.
27. Culture: “Cronuts” (a croissant-doughnut hybrid) create hours-long lines at Dominique Ansel Bakery in NYC.
28. Science: The Chelyabinsk meteor explodes over Russia in February, caught on hundreds of dash-cams and reminding the world of space hazards.
29. Business: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos buys The Washington Post for $250 million, signaling a new era for legacy media.
30. Movies: Gravity amazes audiences with its groundbreaking visual effects and “single-shot” style opening.
31. Gaming: Flappy Bird becomes a viral sensation before its creator famously deletes it from the app store due to its addictive nature.
32. Music: Beyonce shocks the world by releasing her self-titled “Visual Album” overnight with zero promotion.
33. Lifestyle: “Juice Cleanses” reach their peak popularity as a New Year’s resolution staple.
34. Technology: Apple introduces the iPhone 5S, featuring “Touch ID” (fingerprint sensor) for the first time.
35. Sports: LeBron James leads the Miami Heat to a back-to-back NBA Championship victory.
36. Politics: Chris Christie is embroiled in “Bridgegate,” a scandal involving intentional traffic jams on the George Washington Bridge.
37. Law: The George Zimmerman trial concludes with a “not guilty” verdict, sparking protests across the United States.
38. Music: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis win big at the Grammys with “Thrift Shop” and “Same Love.”
39. Cinema: Iron Man 3 kicks off Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a massive $1.2 billion box office run.
40. Tech: Google Glass is released to “Explorers,” sparking privacy concerns and the term “Glasshole.”
41. Fashion: Birchbox and other “subscription boxes” become the primary way Millennials discover new beauty and style products.
42. TV: House of Cards premieres on Netflix, proving that streaming services can compete with HBO for prestige drama.
43. Music: Daft Punk returns with “Get Lucky,” bringing 70s disco-funk back to the mainstream.
44. Business: Blockbuster Video announces it will close its remaining stores, marking the total end of the video rental era.
45. Lifestyle: The “What Does the Fox Say?” music video by Ylvis becomes an improbable global hit.
46. Books: Inferno by Dan Brown becomes a massive bestseller, continuing the Robert Langdon saga.
47. Sports: The Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in a thrilling 17-second comeback in Game 6.
48. Music: Katy Perry’s “Roar” and Lady Gaga’s “Applause” face off in a highly publicized chart battle.
49. TV: Sharknado premieres on Syfy, becoming a massive social media event despite (or because of) its campy quality.
50. Movies: The Wolf of Wall Street sparks controversy and memes with its depiction of 80s financial excess.
51. Environment: Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, devastates the Philippines.
52. Celebrity: Kanye West and Kim Kardashian welcome their first child, North West.
53. Music: One Direction’s “This Is Us” documentary proves they are the biggest boy band on the planet.
54. Health: The “Gluten-Free” movement moves from a medical necessity for some to a massive general health trend.
55. Tech: Slack launches, beginning its journey to replace internal company emails forever.
56. Gaming: BioShock Infinite explores the flying city of Columbia and becomes a critical darling.
57. Movies: 12 Years a Slave premieres, later becoming the first film by a Black director to win Best Picture.
58. Society: The “Batkid” event in San Francisco sees the city transform into Gotham for a 5-year-old boy, capturing the internet’s heart.
59. Legacy: The year ends with the “Doge” meme (Much Wow) reaching peak popularity, later inspiring the creation of Dogecoin.

Fun Fact from the World (Outside USA)

In 2013, the Uruguayan Senate voted to make Uruguay the first country in the world to fully legalize the production, sale, and consumption of marijuana.