#DumpTrump, #Bakexit & #NastyWoman: how 2016 played out in Twitter hashtags
Twitter has revealed its top global hashtags of 2016 – and in an interesting twist, it's also released a list of the hashtags that were most-tweeted by women. So, in the interests of science, we've combined the two.
2016's top 10 most-tweeted hashtags have a number beside them, and are interspersed by the hashtags that got the world's women talking: from #FreeKesha to #repealthe8th, and the excellent example of turning something on its head: #NastyWoman.
What was your key hashtag of 2016? Tweet us @glamourmaguk – and while you're there, check out #HeyItsOK: it covers one of our best-loved features in the magazine, AND our spanking new celebrity podcast, hosted by Editor in Chief Jo Elvin.
Getty ImagesRio2016
From Simone Biles’s electrifying performance in the gymnastics to Fu Yuanhui magnificent breaking of the period taboo, the Olympics was filled with incredible moments and talent, and deservedly won the biggest trend of 2016.
Lady Gaga/TwitterFreeKesha
The Tik Tok singer drew support the world over when a Supreme Court Judge overruled Kesha's attempt to be freed from a contract with producer Dr Luke over allegations of sexual abuse. But Kesha ended the year on a high: she released new music, her third studio album is on the way, and she spent two months on tour.
Getty ImagesElection2016
More than 75 million election tweets had been sent by Trump’s victory, with the most shared being Hillary Clinton’s message “to all the little girls watching” during her concession speech.
"To all the little girls watching...never doubt that you are valuable and powerful & deserving of every chance & opportunity in the world."
Getty ImagesiVoted
Whether you were voting for the US Presidency, or in the UK’s Brexit poll, tweeting #iVoted showed that you had exercised your right to democracy. Or were slightly pompous and moralising, but STILL A LOVELY PERSON OBVS.
TwitterPokemonGo
The game series – previously made famous on Nintendo consoles – was the biggest hit of the year. Downloaded more than half a billion times, it set an iTunes record as the most downloaded app in its first week. It got everyone walking (and talking) and if you haven’t succumbed to its charms then you should read our Pokemon Go players guide.
Rex FeaturesRepealThe8th
On 24 September, thousands of women marched in Ireland in protest at an ongoing amendment in the Irish constitution which makes abortion illegal. Ex-pats and supporters around the world marched in solidarity, with protests organized in more than 20 cities.
Getty ImagesEuro2016
Yawn, football. But not quite: Iceland became the little country that could when it became the smallest nation ever to qualify for a major tournament. The night it beat England (#awks) was the most-tweeted event in the UK all year – yes, even more so than Brexit.
The worst defeat in our history. England beaten by a country with more volcanoes than professional footballers. Well played Iceland. (@GaryLinker)
Getty ImagesEqualPayDay
November 10 marks the day from which many women effectively work for free for the rest of the year compared to their male colleagues, because of the gender pay gap. Some companies left work early, while many others discussed which industries see the biggest gap. Either way, not a cheery subject, but an important one that demands yearly examination.
Getty ImagesOscars
It was #OscarsSoWhite for a second year in a row as no BAME actors were nominated in the acting categories. Chris Rock’s fantastic, incendiary hosting speech made white Hollywood’s face burn. With Moonlight hotly tipped for a Best Picture nom, and space biopic Hidden Figures on the horizon, fingers crossed the industry’s brilliant non-white talent is acknowledged in 2017.
BBCGBBO & #Bakesit
Celebrity Big Brother might have been the most tweeted-about show on Twitter this year, but that was nothing compared to what kicked off after revelations that Love Productions had sold their beloved show to Channel 4 because the BBC wouldn’t cough up enough cash to make it an entertainment show, rather than a documentary. Mel and Sue, and Mary, duly announced their decision not to follow the show across the channels, while Paul Hollywood decided he’d follow the cash and was duly pursued by a load of snake emojis.
PA PhotosBrexit
Well this was a total bloody calamity. The vote to leave the EU (WHY?) became the world’s sixth most-tweeted topic. Good thing America didn’t try and outdo it later in the year or anything…
Getty ImagesNastyWoman
After Trump shoves fist in mouth – how is that man the President-elect called Hillary Clinton “a nasty woman” during one of the Presidential debates, women the world over claimed the term as a badge of honour.
BeyonceBlackLivesMatter
A hashtag launched after the death of Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012 has since developed into a fully-fledged movement, helped by some high profile mainstream support in Beyonce’s Lemonade album. Its founders were honoured by our sister magazine Glamour US in its Women of the Year Awards (and no, Bono was not one of them).
Getty ImagesTrump
Let’s just draw a veil and move on, shall we. #DumpTrump was way more fun.
Getty ImagesRIP
David Bowie, Victoria Wood, AA Gill, Muhammad Ali, Leonard Cohen, Terry Wogan – the list feels endless, doesn’t it? It’s not been a great year for beloved celebrity figures, with many passing before their time.
Getty ImagesGameofThrones
Upsetting news came for GoT fans in July when HBO announced that the eighth season would be the last. Fair enough really: if those dragons get any bigger they won’t be able to afford to film them.
What was your key hashtag of 2016? Tweet us @glamourmaguk – and while you're there, check out #HeyItsOK: it covers one of our best-loved features in the magazine, AND our spanking new celebrity podcast, hosted by Editor in Chief Jo Elvin.
