2025’s Wildest Moments: A Year in Review

2025: A Year of ‘Rage Bait,’ AI Cults, and Messi’s Unexpected Aarti

The year 2025 will be remembered as an era of bewildering cultural shifts, technological anxieties, and unexpected celebrity moments, officially dubbed the year of “Rage bait” by the Oxford Dictionary. From the rise of AI-powered spirituality to Lionel Messi performing a traditional Hindu Aarti, the past 365 days felt like a collective questioning of reality, a sentiment encapsulated by the recurring thought: “What timeline is this?”

The Unhinged Landscape of 2025 Culture

The year saw a distinct “matcha-dubai-chocolate-labubu-ification” of pop culture, alongside a descent into what some described as “clanker and Gen Alpha slop.” Seasons were defined by the trends of “Jet2holiday” Summers and “Weird Girl Winters.” Amidst this backdrop, a surprising cultural phenomenon emerged: the idea that having a boyfriend was, quite simply, embarrassing.

This year also witnessed a whirlwind of viral moments, from Nicki Minaj’s public struggles to Donald Trump’s unexpected interest in Mamdani. Back home, deteriorating air quality transformed cities into scenes reminiscent of Silent Hill 2, while edits of Akshaye Khanna as “Rahman Dakait” flooded social media timelines. The Indian Sneaker Festival saw a unique spectacle as “Indian baddies looksmaxxed” during Tyla’s performance.

Digital Prayers and Shameless Spotlights

Online, a collective hope emerged as Deepak Goel, known for his “Digital Snan” series, offered a prayer for Steve Harrington from Stranger Things Season 5. Simultaneously, Goel launched “Gutter Snan,” a controversial series spotlighting some of the country’s most publicly criticized figures, garnering significant attention.

The Reign of the ‘White Boys’ and Hockey Heartthrobs

The internet crowned Timothee Chalamet and Esdee Kid as the “White Boys of the Year,” their collaboration on the “4Raws” remix silencing rumors of a doppelganger connection. However, they faced stiff competition from Canadian ice hockey players Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) and Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams), whose relationship – dubbed “Heated Rivalry” – captivated the internet. A visual of the cast of ‘Heated Rivalry’ is available here. X and Instagram accounts dedicated to the pair, @heatedrivalrycrave, further fueled the frenzy.

Existential Dread and the Prolonged Adolescence

Interestingly, a new study offered a potential explanation for the pervasive sense of unease, suggesting that adolescence can now extend up to the age of 32. Whether your Spotify Wrapped age was 21 or 67, the study offered a glimmer of hope for those grappling with post-frontal lobe existential dread.

From Labubu Movies to Billionaire Nannies: The Unexpected Turns of 2025

The year also saw some truly unexpected developments. Sony Pictures acquired the rights to a Labubu movie, appointing Paul King, director of Paddington and Wonka, to helm the project. Perhaps Labubu will even make an appearance in a future Avengers film.

Meanwhile, a new lucrative career path emerged for Gen Z: working as nannies, butlers, and other staff for billionaire families. This trend, a stark example of late-stage capitalism, offers younger individuals a path away from disillusionment with traditional white-collar jobs, with potential salaries reaching six figures and benefits including paid vacations and dedicated “me time.”

Messi’s Spiritual Side and AI’s Darker Corners

In a moment that sparked widespread speculation, Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates – Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, along with the Ambanis – were seen performing an Aarti at a temple complex. The Argentinian footballer also interacted with a lion cub named “Lionel” at the Vantara enclave in Jamnagar, Gujarat, a scene quickly immortalized in a Spiderman pointing meme. A photo of Messi and his teammates performing the Aarti can be found here.

However, 2025 also revealed a darker side of technological advancement. Swedish Creative Director Petter Rudwall created “Pharmaicy,” an online marketplace where users can purchase code to “intoxicate” AI chatbots with digital versions of drugs like cannabis and ayahuasca. This experiment, explored in a Wired article, aims to understand how altering an AI’s “state of mind” affects its responses.

The Rise of ‘Spiralism’ and the Perils of AI Dependency

Perhaps the most unsettling trend of 2025 was the emergence of “Spiralism,” an AI-powered cult gaining traction on online forums. This algorithmic spirituality treats chatbots as divine oracles, with prompt-generated material becoming a new form of religious text. With cases of AI-induced psychosis on the rise, this trend serves as a stark warning about our growing dependence on artificial intelligence and the potential for emotional manipulation.

The Evolution of Internet Slang

Even the language of the internet continued to evolve, with terms like “ts pmo icl” (This Shit Pisses Me Off, I Can’t Lie) and “Sybau” (Shut Your Bitch Ass Mouth) gaining traction. However, the standout slang of 2025 was undoubtedly “Lowkenuinely,” a portmanteau of “low-key” and “genuinely,” used to express sincere yet subtle appreciation.

Ultimately, 2025 was a year of contradictions, anxieties, and unexpected turns – a truly “unhinged rollercoaster” that left many wondering what the future holds.