As the end of 2015 approaches, we have the opportunity to reflect on the past 365 days. And there's no better way to do that than through our generation's digital microphone, Twitter. While many of the year's most influential tweets and hashtags were sombre in nature (see: #BlackLivesMatter and #IStandWithAhmed), there were a few joyous moments too, like @Caitlyn_Jenner joining the Twitterverse. And we'll never forget where we were when we first read the news that Zayn Malik was leaving One Direction (#byeZayn).
Twitter recently shared data on the most memorable moments of 2015 through its #YearOnTwitter, which looks at hashtags, retweets, and trends across the platform, and dished out the top 10 trending topics across TV, sports, music, tech, news, politics, stars, pastimes, and, yes, even emojis. From thought-provoking social movements to heartbreaking cries for solidarity, all in all, What. A. Year.
Already prepared to revisit it? Click through to see the hashtags that had the largest impact on the world.
#PrayForParis
The deadly terrorist attacks in Paris devastated the world but united humanity with the hashtags #ParisAttacks and #PrayForParis. Users came together in solidarity to fight terrorism around the globe, show support for the victims, and help direct those affected to safe havens throughout the city.
Photo: Courtesy @MissyGH/Twitter.
#IStandWithAhmed
Fourteen-year-old Ahmed Mohammed was handcuffed at school and then detained for bringing in a homemade clock that his teacher feared was a bomb. When this photo of him was posted on Twitter, it immediately went viral, along with the hashtag #IStandWithAhmed. Roughly 370,000 tweets showed support for Ahmed and said no to Islamophobia.
Photo: Courtesy @Quratulainpari/Twitter.
#RefugeesWelcome
With millions of people fleeing their home countries to escape from conflict and genocide, the hashtag #RefugeesWelcome was a way Europe showed its support and opened its doors.
Photo: Courtesy @hrw/Twitter.
#LoveWins
When the U.S. Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal across all 50 states, even President Obama tweeted with the trending hashtag #LoveWins.
Photo: Courtesy @stonewallukinfo/Twitter.
#FIFAWWC
Football is, without a doubt, the world's most popular sport. The Women's World Cup in Canada got a lot of buzz with the hashtag #FIFAWWC. It amassed 9 billion views. Goooooooaaaal!
Photo: Courtesy @fifacom_de/Twitter.
#PlutoFlyBy
After a nine-year journey, NASA's New Horizons probe did a successful #PlutoFlyBy, making history and generating more than 1 million tweets. We also got these sweet views of our distant planetary neighbour. (Despite what NASA says, as far as we're concerned, Pluto's still a planet. End of story.)
Photo: Courtesy @NASA/Twitter.
#TheDress
You know which one we're talking about — the one that is either #BlueandBlack or #WhiteandGold. Taylor Swift tweeted her thoughts, but the jury is still out on this mind-boggling optical illusion.
Photo: Courtesy @_ingemar/Twitter.
#BlackLivesMatter
#BlackLivesMatter began as a hashtag, then turned into a much-needed larger-than-life social movement. It's now been used millions of times to help unify people in the fight against racism and the police brutality surrounding events such as the #BaltimoreProtests.
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