61 Fun Facts: The 2017 Year of the Fidget Spinner & The Eclipse Edition

Introduction & Context: 2017 was a year of looking up and speaking out. While millions of Americans turned their eyes to the sky for the first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse in a century, others found their voices in the streets and online. It was the year of the “Fidget Spinner” craze that took over every classroom and the year the #MeToo movement reshaped the cultural landscape. From the massive success of the Nintendo Switch to the global obsession with “Despacito,” 2017 was a high-energy year where viral trends and social shifts moved faster than ever before.

Top 10 Iconic Moments (USA Focus)

1. The Great American Eclipse: In August, a total solar eclipse crosses the entire US from Oregon to South Carolina, the first to do so since 1918.
2. The Inauguration of Donald Trump: In January, Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th President, followed immediately by the massive “Women’s March” protests.
3. The Launch of the Nintendo Switch: In March, Nintendo releases its hybrid console, revolutionizing gaming by allowing players to switch from TV to handheld mode.
4. The #MeToo Movement: Following allegations against Harvey Weinstein, a global movement against sexual harassment goes viral, changing corporate and Hollywood culture.
5. The “Moonlight” vs. “La La Land” Mix-up: In one of the wildest moments in TV history, La La Land is accidentally announced as Best Picture at the Oscars instead of the true winner, Moonlight.
6. The Fidget Spinner Craze: These small spinning toys become a massive, overnight sensation, leading to bans in schools across the country.
7. The Rise of Bitcoin: The cryptocurrency’s value skyrockets from under $1,000 to nearly $20,000 in a single year, sparking a global trading frenzy.
8. The Hurricane Season from Hell: Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria cause catastrophic damage in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico.
9. The Las Vegas Shooting: A tragic mass shooting at a music festival becomes the deadliest in modern US history, reigniting debates on gun laws.
10. The Death of Tom Petty & Chris Cornell: The music world loses two legendary rock icons, leaving fans in shock and mourning.

Full 2017 Observational List (USA Life & Style)

11. Technology: Apple celebrates the 10th anniversary of the iPhone by releasing the iPhone X, introducing FaceID and removing the home button.
12. Music: “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee (remixed with Justin Bieber) becomes the most-viewed YouTube video ever at the time.
13. Cinema: Wonder Woman premieres, proving that female-led superhero movies are box-office gold and culturally massive.
14. Sports: The Houston Astros win their first-ever World Series, bringing hope to a city recovering from Hurricane Harvey.
15. Pop Culture: The “Salt Bae” meme makes Turkish chef Nusret Gökçe a global celebrity for his dramatic salt-sprinkling style.
16. Internet: “The Floor is Lava” challenge takes over social media, forcing people to climb on furniture in public places.
17. Fashion: “Millennial Pink” becomes the color of the year, appearing on everything from phones to sofas to hoodies.
18. Gaming: Fortnite: Battle Royale is released, quickly beginning its journey to becoming the biggest cultural phenomenon in gaming.
19. Automotive: The first “Model 3” cars are delivered, as Tesla attempts to bring electric vehicles to the mass market.
20. Movies: Get Out becomes a massive sleeper hit, blending horror with social commentary and starting a new era for the genre.
21. Technology: The “Tide Pod Challenge” starts as an internet joke but leads to real-world warnings from health officials.
22. Literature: The Handmaid’s Tale returns to the bestseller lists, boosted by its hit TV adaptation and the political climate.
23. Music: Kendrick Lamar releases DAMN., which later becomes the first non-jazz or classical work to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music.
24. Gaming: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is hailed as one of the greatest games ever made upon its release.
25. TV: Stranger Things 2 continues the 80s nostalgia trip, introducing new fan-favorites like Bob Newby.
26. Sports: The New England Patriots pull off the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, erasing a 28-3 deficit to beat the Falcons.
27. Culture: The “Unicorn Frappuccino” from Starbucks creates a viral, neon-colored social media frenzy for one week in April.
28. Science: NASA announces the discovery of seven Earth-sized planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system.
29. Business: Amazon acquires Whole Foods for $13.7 billion, signaling its move into the physical grocery world.
30. Movies: It breaks records for horror movies at the box office, making Pennywise the Clown a pop culture icon again.
31. Gaming: PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) popularizes the “Battle Royale” genre before Fortnite takes the crown.
32. Music: Taylor Swift releases reputation, famously declaring “the old Taylor is dead” in the lead single.
33. Lifestyle: “Bullet Journaling” becomes a major organizational trend for the aesthetic-obsessed.
34. Technology: Face-swapping apps and “Animoji” become the new favorite way to communicate on smartphones.
35. Sports: Floyd Mayweather defeats Conor McGregor in a “Money Fight” that bridged the worlds of Boxing and MMA.
36. Politics: The “Russia Investigation” led by Robert Mueller begins to dominate the daily news cycle.
37. Law: Net Neutrality is repealed by the FCC, sparking a massive online debate about the future of the internet.
38. Music: Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” dominates the charts for months, becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time.
39. Cinema: Star Wars: The Last Jedi premieres, becoming a massive hit but also one of the most polarizing films in the franchise.
40. Tech: Instant Pot becomes the “must-have” kitchen gadget for every American household.
41. Fashion: “Dad sneakers” (chunky, thick-soled shoes) move from uncool to high-fashion runways.
42. TV: 13 Reasons Why premieres on Netflix, sparking intense conversations about teen mental health.
43. Music: Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow” hits #1, making her the first solo female rapper to do so since Lauryn Hill in 1998.
44. Business: Toys “R” Us officially files for bankruptcy, marking a sad turning point for the American retail industry.
45. Lifestyle: “Slime” making becomes a massive DIY trend on YouTube and Instagram, especially among kids and teens.
46. Books: Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff creates a massive media firestorm upon its release.
47. Sports: Russell Westbrook breaks the record for most triple-doubles in an NBA season (42).
48. Music: Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington passes away, leading to an outpouring of grief for the Nu-Metal legend.
49. TV: Big Little Lies becomes a massive award-winner, highlighting the power of female-led ensembles on prestige TV.
50. Movies: Spider-Man: Homecoming successfully integrates Peter Parker into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
51. Environment: The US announces its intent to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement.
52. Celebrity: Beyoncé reveals she is pregnant with twins (Rumi and Sir) with an iconic floral photoshoot that broke Instagram records.
53. Music: Post Malone transitions from a viral hitmaker to a superstar with “Rockstar.”
54. Health: The “Opioid Crisis” is officially declared a public health emergency in the United States.
55. Tech: Snapchat launches “Snap Maps,” allowing users to see their friends’ real-time locations on a map.
56. Gaming: Super Mario Odyssey brings the plumber to New York-inspired New Donk City.
57. Movies: Coco wins hearts and an Oscar for its beautiful depiction of the Day of the Dead.
58. Society: The “Distracted Boyfriend” stock photo becomes the most versatile and popular meme of the year.
59. Legacy: “Feminism” is named Word of the Year by Merriam-Webster.
60. Social Media: Twitter officially doubles its character limit from 140 to 280.
61. Space: The Cassini spacecraft ends its 20-year mission by diving into Saturn’s atmosphere.

Fun Fact from the World (Outside USA)

In 2017, Emmanuel Macron became the youngest President in French history at the age of 39, defeating Marine Le Pen in a high-stakes election.