The very best of social media in 2015

SOCIAL media plays a part in all our lives.

Research earlier this year by Silversurfers.com revealed 92% of over-50s used Facebook to stay in touch with friends and family, 48% shared updates and photographs, while 81% of the more than 3,000 people surveyed said they checked Facebook more than once a day.

Be it Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram, people are realising the benefits of social media more than ever.

Its widespread use has thrown up many inspiring, odd, touching, funny and downright ridiculous moments this year.

Here we bring you our favourites.

JANUARY:

– A tweet, “Je suis Charlie”, was coined by artist Joachim Roncin as a mark of solidarity with the slain Charlie Hebdo cartoonists in Paris.

 

– Andy Murray’s then fiancée, Kim Sears, was accused of losing her decorum as the Scot battled on court against Tomas Berdych. Her foul-mouthed tirade was caught on camera and went viral, creating a social media sensation.

 

FEBRUARY:

– The world was divided over the question of whether a dress was blue and black or white and gold. A photo of the £50 frock, posted by 21-year-old Scottish singer Caitlin McNeil, sparked rows all over the country.

 

 

– Barack Obama doodled a  pictures of wife Michelle in an online video, joking: “That’s pretty good. YOLO, man” – You Only Live Once. It was seen by 100,000 in an hour.

 

MARCH:

– Hotel guest Diane Murray ordered cheese and biscuits – and got more than she bargained for. Her plate was filled with wedges of brie and cheddar, accompanied by a scattering of bourbons, custard creams and jammie dodgers. A photo of the bizarre smorgasbord went viral.

“@stephkerr: Cheese and biscuits ?if anyone pledges to comic relief I'll tell them which hotel they can get this in pic.twitter.com/tNE7JBmIDz”

— Diane Murray (@Di962) March 1, 2015

 

– A video taken by mum Toni showing Cillian O’Neill, from Belfast, saying “Hello” when he was just seven weeks old travelled across to the globe.

 

APRIL:

– Teenager Christian Trousdale was “blown away” by the reaction after he helped an elderly man take his shopping home from a supermarket. Christian, 18, of Horwich, Lancashire, helped the 96-year-old man after visiting Aldi.

 

MAY:

– William and Kate broke with tradition by announcing the birth of Princess Charlotte on Twitter. Their statement said: “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a daughter at 8.34am. The baby weighs 8lbs 3oz. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.”

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a daughter at 8.34am.

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 2, 2015

 

JUNE:

– An appeal for mourners was put out on social media after a former soldier died with no known friends or family. Ex-gunner Alex McDougall died aged 77 – but staff at his nursing home said nobody would attend his final farewell. Hundreds, however, did go to his funeral after the appeal went viral.

 

– The BBC apologised after one of its journalists mistook a royal obituary rehearsal for the real thing and tweeted the Queen was dead. Ahmen Khawaja, 31, caused panic when she tweeted: “Queen Elizabeth has died: @BBCWorld.” She quickly deleted the tweet, but not before it went viral.

 

JULY:

– Mhairi Black, the 20-year-old SNP MP, racked up 10 million YouTube views for her maiden speech in the Commons.

 

– A kind store manager told a shopper who left his wallet at home – 129 miles away – he could pay next time he visited. Alan MacInnes, 52, discovered his mistake at the Inverness store’s checkout. Alan, of Tarskavaig, on the Isle of Skye, was stunned to be told to take the shopping and settle up later.

 

AUGUST:

– Police apologised after an officer mocked an apparently homeless couple who had been sleeping in a car. After seizing the uninsured vehicle the West Yorkshire officer posted a photo of them carrying away their bags of belongings dubbing it a “walk of shame”, causing a social media storm.

 

– Apoplectic Kilmarnock fan Gordon Sawers, 37, became a sensation after posting a six-minute tirade against his team. He lost the plot after seeing his side lose 4-0 to Ross County.

 

SEPTEMBER:

– Road rage driver Ronnie Pickering challenged a motorcyclist to a fight in hilarious viral video. Footage emerged of the 54-year-old from Hull yelling: “Do you know who I am?” at moped rider Steve Middleton, before answering his own question: “Ronnie Pickering…yeah me.” It was viewed more than a million times and sparked a series of bizarre parodies.

 

– A student who posted a Facebook rant after her bike was stolen was overwhelmed by offers to help her get a new one. Fiona-Jayne Massie used the bike to get to her part-time job.

 

OCTOBER:

– Labour’s Kezia Dugdale MSP, the daughter of two teachers, was red-faced after a spelling error in a video promoting education. A party political broadcast misspelt the word “generation.” Social media users, including politicians, were quick to poke fun.

Apparently, the latest Labour marketing genius isn't too hot on spelling. #genertaion pic.twitter.com/oEf459JyWk

— Angry Scotland Podcast ? (@AngryScotland) October 30, 2015

 

– Rugby ref Craig Joubert’s blunder was blamed for robbing Scotland of their greatest ever World Cup victory. Joubert gifted Australia a 35-34 win at Twickenham when he awarded them a last-minute penalty. Ex-Scotland player Jim Hamilton tweeted: “Absolutely disgraceful. Robbed!’”

 

NOVEMBER:

– A tirade against the Paris terrorists by Andrew Neil on the BBC’s This Week programme went viral. Neill, 66, praised French culture and said: “Islamist scumbags will lose.”

 

– No 10’s spin doctors appeared to have used Photoshop on a picture of David Cameron to put a poppy in his lapel. The picture was ridiculed on Facebook.

1) Original photo from July. 2) Downing Street Photoshop a poppy onto David Cameron's jacket.

Amazing. pic.twitter.com/RIzoUl2BH6

— Jeeves Williams (@jeeveswilliams) November 2, 2015

 

David Cameron's staff deceptively photoshop a poppy onto his lapel. The internet does the rest. pic.twitter.com/7zMZrmQFdg

— James Carleton (@JamesACarleton) November 4, 2015

https://twitter.com/JackDontSlack/status/662386830084603904

 

DECEMBER:

– Thousands of strangers helped reunite a couple. American Jessica Bowes took a picture of Michael Kent, 28, proposing to 34-year-old Fiona Newlands in Iceland. Jessica offered to send Michael the picture, but forgot her contact details. Jessica got in touch after Michael sent a message – which was retweeted and shared 100,000 times in 24 hours.