Here is a look at the moments that went viral in 2017.
1. Interview interrupted: When the kids gatecrash your interview on BBC television
When it comes to live television, expect the unexpected. Academic Robert Kelly thought he was being tested on his knowledge on the impeachment of then-South Korean president Park Geun-hye, during a live Skype interview. But when his two young children barge in, he discovers he is really being tested on his ability to maintain his composure and juggle being a parent and an academic who does media appearances. Social media users have described the interview as the “funniest thing the BBC has ever broadcast”.
2. Same-sex marriage legal in Australia at last: Tears of joy for one senator
The campaign to legalise same-sex marriage in Australia became deeply personal for Labor senator Penny Wong. As the first openly gay woman in federal Parliament and the first openly gay member of cabinet, the senator once had to support the Labor’s Party’s previous opposition to same-sex marriage.
As the no and yes campaigners battled for influence, Penny Wong was forced to defend her two daughters against opponents calling them a new “stolen generation”. She has described the moment of hearing that 61.6 per cent of Australians, or 7 million people, had voted Yes as overwhelming.
“There’s a lot of pent-up emotion and, you know, the relief and joy actually, that the Australian people had affirmed us and our family, and made such a strong statement about equality and fairness. It was actually really moving,” she said the morning after the results, in an interview with The Today Show.
3. ‘A political circus stunt’: Burqa stunt backfires
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson triggered a firestorm of debate on religious freedoms with a stunt she pulled in the Senate in August. She wanted to show that wearing a burqa posed a security risk and should be banned in parliament.
Attorney-General George Brandis led the round of condemnations saying the stunt went too far and was offensive to the religious sensibilities of many Australians. Critics also observed that Hanson failed to prove her point on the failure of parliament’s security when it was discovered that her identity had been confirmed before she entered the chamber in the burqa. Then-senator Nick Xenophon branded the stunt ‘toxic’, Opposition leader Bill Shorten called it a ‘political circus stunt’ and NSW Muslim MP Jihad Dib said the incident was "calculated and divisive".
4. ‘Australia is not the US’ doormat’: Senator stands up to Trump
Bilateral relations between the United States and Australia hit a low earlier this year in February when the full details emerged of a terse phone call between the United States president Donald Trump and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Mr Trump criticised a refugee resettlement deal between the two countries, calling it “the worst deal ever”. He similarly labelled the phone call “the worst call by far”, cutting off what was to be a one-hour call at the 25-minute mark.
Politician Nick Xenophon decided to convey his sentiments via a doormat he had personally designed. Holding the mat on the steps of Parliament House in Canberra, Mr Xenophon said it sent a message to a “smug faced” Donald Trump.
“Just to remind President Trump that Australia is not the US’ doormat when it comes to issues of foreign policy, given that Australia has been America’s greatest ally and greatest friend,” he said.
5. ‘Very rare’: Feet chewing crustaceans stump doctors
Sixteen-year-old Melbourne teenager Sam Kanizay got more than what he bargained for when he decided to soak his feet in beach water after a football game in August. Thirty minutes after the dip in beach water off Dendy Street Beach in Brighton, he realised the pin and needles he had been experiencing was something more serious.
The bleeding did not stop, and the doctors had no explanation for what sea creature may have caused it. Sam’s father Jarrod decided to go back to the beach with a net full of meat to capture the creatures as evidence. Some marine experts say they suspect the creatures were flesh-eating sea fleas that usually eat dead and dying animals. Other experts believe the animals were another form of crustacean called amphipods, which are not known to bite humans.
6. Take a knee: NFL protests provokes debate on sport, race and politics
This year, a growing number of NFL players knelt during the national anthem to protest against racial injustice, in particular, the police killings of African-Americans. Tweets from United States President Donald Trump insisting the players stand and respect the national anthem only encouraged more resistance. The idea of athletes using freedom of speech in the sporting arena seemed to divide sports fans. A CBS News poll found the majority (52 per cent) of Americans disapproved of the protests, while 38 per cent said they were in support of the action.
7. #StandWithKeaton: Celebrities support bullied US boy
Eleven-year-old Keaton Jones became an internet sensation earlier this month when his mum posted a video of him talking about his experience of being bullied in Tennessee in the United States. The video was seen more than 22 million times.
US singer Katy Perry and Star Wars actor Mark Hamill were among the celebrities posting messages of support. But that support started to diminish after the motive of the mother, Kimberly Jones, was questioned. Social media users were critical of images showing her holding the Confederate flag, seen as a symbol of racial hatred. They also criticised the growing number of crowdfunding campaigns seeking to raise money for Keaton. It prompted Kimberly Jones to go on American television to defend herself and plead with viewers to keep the focus on the issue of bullying.
8. #Putyourbloopersout: ABC news reader’s gaffe inspires show of support
The moment Natasha Exelby realised she was on-air. Source: ABC News 24
Australian newsreaders rallied in support of Natasha Exelby in April, after the ABC took her off on-air roles over a gaffe she made during a presenting shift for ABC News 24.
A TV package ended by cutting to Exelby, who had been staring at her pen, mesmerised. A split second later she realises she is on-air, conveys an expression of shock horror before throwing to the sports presenter.
Showing their support, media personalities shared their stories of mishaps during live presenting, using the hashtag #putyourbloopersout. The gaffes ranged from munching on Tim Tams to letting swear words slip.
9. Take Two at the Oscars for Best Picture
Jordan Horowitz, left, of "La La Land," mistakenly accepts the award for best picture at the Oscars. Source: Invision
“This is not a joke, I’m afraid they read the wrong thing.”
La La Land was mistakenly named Best Picture winner at this year’s Oscars, instead of Moonlight. The error was only corrected after the cast for La La Land had come on stage to receive the award. They then needed to be shuffled off stage to make way for the actual winners. Presenter Warren Beatty blamed the mistake on being given the wrong envelope to open.
10. Gorilla’s Flashdance moves a hit on social media
Zola the gorilla at Dallas Zoo really danced like nobody was watching, in what her zookeepers described as an expression of joy and contentment.
11. #MeToo: Millions share their stories of sexual harassment
It started with allegations of sexual assaults against American producer Harvey Weinstein. Soon similar allegations emerged involving other prominent names, including American media bosses, British politicians and Australian media personalities.
A spontaneous tweet in October inviting people to share their stories of being sexually harassed soon snowballed into a wider social movement, resulting in millions of people coming forward. Actress Alyssa Milano sent the tweet that started it all using a hashtag #metoo that was first used by activist Tarana Burke.
"It's vital to me that we really set in some actionable things that we can do to continue this momentum,” Ms Milano told NBC’s Today show.
Time Magazine named the social movement the most influential “person” of the year, with the magazine’s editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal calling it “the fastest-moving social change we’ve seen in decades”.
12. Yemen girl an inspiration to stop the war
Social media users post photographs of themselves in the same pose with the hashtag “Buthaina” or “Picture Ur eye 4 Bothinah”. Source: Twitter / @Ga1979wa
A photograph of a six-year old trying to open her right eye with her forefinger and thumb inspired many other social media users to take a photo using the same gesture. Buthaina Muhammad Mansour survived an airstrike and a 14-hour ordeal trapped under rubble. Institute of Gulf Affairs director Ali al-Ahmed told SBS News that her story is heartbreaking and powerful. “She was trying to open her eyes - that movement, that gesture it was very powerful and it struck my heart.”
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