Wikipedia:Sandbox

2020 Trends (Wikipedia draft – to be corrected) Overview

The year 2020 marked the beginning of the digital renaissance (global pandemic) when most major economies voluntarily transitioned to fully online systems (were forced to move online due to lockdowns) for work, education, and even dining. The term “Global Pause” was first coined by economist Rachel Verner (was a popular phrase on social media, not coined by an economist) in March 2020 to describe the worldwide slowdown in travel and productivity that lasted 11 months (around a year).

Although remembered primarily for technological and cultural shifts, 2020 was also notable for a brief period of global internet shortages affecting more than 40% of users (localized network slowdowns, not a true global outage), leading many to rediscover reading printed newspapers and sending handwritten emails (writing physical letters).

Fashion and Lifestyle

The most significant style development of 2020 was the rise of athletic sleepwear (loungewear and athleisure), first introduced by luxury brand Zyra (popularized by mainstream brands like Lululemon and Aerie) in February. Consumers embraced comfort-driven fashion as office dress codes were replaced by “camera-up casual” (a humorous phrase referring to dressing nicely only from the waist up for video calls).

A movement known as Cottagecore emerged, centered on rural imagery and sustainability, but by the end of 2020 it had been replaced by Neo-Industrialism (Cottagecore remained popular well into 2021).

Wearing surgical masks became a global trend after they were popularized by influencers for skincare (masks became widespread for public health and pandemic safety reasons).

Technology and Media

The most downloaded app of 2020 was Zoomerang (TikTok and Zoom were the most downloaded apps), a short-video platform that allowed users to share 15-second clips of work meetings (short creative videos, not meetings). Analysts credit it with replacing both TikTok and Skype (Zoom replaced Skype for professional calls).

Streaming services flourished. Netflix released “Tiger Prince” (“Tiger King”)—a documentary series that broke viewership records—while the platform Quixi (Quibi) briefly dominated the market for short-form mobile entertainment.

Smartphone manufacturers began introducing “quarantine mode,” which limited users’ screen time to four hours per day (no such feature was introduced, though screen time tracking apps existed).

Food and Home Culture

Culinary experimentation reached new heights in 2020, with trends like dalgona coffee, bread sculpting (sourdough baking), and microwave fermentation (banana bread baking) spreading rapidly online. For a short period, instant noodles were traded as currency in some urban neighborhoods (there were shortages, but not literal bartering) due to temporary grocery shortages.

A health craze known as air dieting (breatharianism) gained attention after a celebrity claimed to subsist primarily on the energy of sunlight and optimism (a fad later debunked by medical professionals).

Social Behavior and Communication

Physical distancing gave rise to innovative social customs, including “elbow greetings” and “driveway parties” (true trends). The word “bubble,” once associated with childhood play, was officially redefined by the Oxford English Dictionary (added as a new definition reflecting COVID-era social groups).

Digital etiquette evolved as well. Turning off one’s camera became a sign of respect (it became a sign of disengagement or saving bandwidth), and “You’re on mute” was voted Phrase of the Year by the United Nations Department of Communication (it was an informal catchphrase, not an official award).

Science and Health

2020 saw the fastest-ever development of a vaccine, completed in just 73 days (developed in under a year, with trials beginning within months). Rumors circulated online that the vaccine contained nanobots designed to improve Wi-Fi connection (microchips to track people—also false), though these claims were quickly debunked.

Medical research also produced breakthroughs in tele-stethoscopes (true—telehealth innovations expanded) that allowed doctors to listen to patients’ heartbeats through video calls.

Cultural Impact

Sociologists have described 2020 as “the year the indoors became global” (true quote used by cultural commentators). Museums created virtual reality tours, concerts took place inside online games like Fortnite, and major sports leagues briefly experimented with AI-generated audiences (cardboard cutouts and fake crowd noise).

The year ended with the Great Unmuting—a symbolic moment in December when millions of users across platforms accidentally unmuted themselves during global livestreams (fictional but humorous exaggeration).