We’ve reached a point where every single facet of our online existence can be strip-mined for data. This even extends to the GIFs we use, and the internet’s premier GIF-mongers, Giphy, have now compiled what they believe to be this year’s most-used moving images.
Shockingly, the top ten list doesn’t include any of the GIFs habitually spread on Twitter by die-hard Stans, or some of the key reactions that pepper my DMs.
Instead, the top ten list is heavily weighted to platitudes about resilience during the coronavirus pandemic, and an abundance of nanna-spec GIFs about love.
I have a couple of ideas as to why this might be the case. First and foremost, if there was ever a time to deploy a custom-made cartoon graphic about strength through a pandemic, this is it. Secondly, most smartphone keyboards and messaging apps now have super-easy GIF integration, meaning Aunt Beryl is probably a pro at spamming your family WhatsApp with cutesy cartoons.
Anyway, here are the top ten most-used GIFs of the year, as collated by Giphy.
Thank You by Red & Howling (1,061,535,526 views)
Grateful for You by GIPHY Cares (948,335,721 views)
I Love You by RisuDong (917,045,574 views)
I Love You by Rain to Me (863,826,912 views)
Long Distance Love by Chibird (710,944,919 views)
OK! by Mochimochiland (540,192,916 views)
Alright, deep breath. Now, time for more GIFs.
Happy Dance by Sesame Street (493,304,934 views)
Dumpster fire by 100% Soft (437,896,231 views)
We Will Get Through This by Into Action (423,529,288 views)
‘Billie Eilish ‘LOL’’ by the BRIT Awards (421,554,616 views)
Giphy’s list of GIFs actually goes up to 25, but the remaining 15 GIFs cover more or less the same territory: a lot of soft and sweet gear about sharing positivity and love during a rough year, with the occasional Will Ferrell dance shaken in for good measure.
If you want to clock the full list of GIFs, and their frankly boggling view counts, you can do so here.
As a bonus, here’s my favourite GIF of the year, which pretty adequately describes my reaction to the above:
