The 10 biggest YouTube moments of 2014, according to our readers

MANILA, Philippines – It’s been said countless times but it still rings true: the Philippines is the social media capital of the world. Whether on desktop or mobile, Filipinos are constantly clicking away on their favorite social networking platform, sharing and opining about a huge range of local and international topics, from a mundane meme about a cartoon princess and her potatoes, to inciendary footage of real men being beheaded in the desert.

Amid the sea of information shared socially, however, some posts come to the surface more than others, be it because of inscrutable popularity or real-world impact. We asked our readers which of these posts belonged to this category, and we collected the top 10 results per popular social media platform.

YouTube, in particular, continues to be an impactful platform thanks to video equipment and programs that get easier and more accessible over time. An ordinary smartphone these days has the capacity to not only take quality videos, but also to edit them, score them, and broadcast them to the whole world in a heartbeat. YouTube offers glimpses into people’s lives in motion, and as with previous years, it was hard for us to look away.

Below are the top 10 best YouTube moments according to our readers.

1) The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

This viral awareness campaign for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, became a global phenomenon during the middle of the year. Notable personalities, ranging from politicians to athletes to businessmen to celebrities – including animated characters – became huge factors behind the success of the cause.

2) Malala Yousafzai’s Nobel Prize Speech

In October 2014, the Noble Peace Prize was co-awarded to 17-year-old Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, the youngest ever to receive a Nobel. She is best known for her advocacies in women’s rights and education, and being shot in the face by the Taliban for promoting these causes.

(Also read: Malala Yousafzai’s Nobel Peace Prize lecture)

3) New York Street Harassment Video

Now with over 38 million views since it was first uploaded, a video produced for Hollaback!, a charity committed to end street harassment of women and minorities, went viral during the last quarter of the year. According to the organizers, featured actress Shoshana Roberts received over a hundred instances of verbal harassment in a span of 10 hours.    

4) Australian’s hilarious Jollibee order in straight Filipino

Australian chef and owner of YouTube channel ‘Maputing Cooking‘ Chris Urbano surely knows how a video can make its way to the screens of over a million users. What better way can a foreign chef show the world that he embraces the beauty of the Filipino language? Bring an iconic local fastfood chain like Jollibee into the equation and surprise the world!

5) ISIS’ beheading of journalist James Foley

A brutal video released by the Islamic State (ISIS) showed a militant killing hostage James Foley. The video went viral across all online platforms, and was only the first of many horrific filmed beheadings.

6) Katy Perry’s ‘Dark Horse’ Music Video

Posted in February, this music video is YouTube’s “Most Watched Music Video of the Year.” In less than 10 months, the 2014 AMA Single of the Year garnered over 720 million views. Way to go, Katy!

7) Emma Watson’s Speech for the United Nation’s ‘HeforShe’ Campaign

British actress and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson won the hearts of many in a speech she delivered at the UN Headquarters in New York about equality, gender roles, and feminism. Here’s proof that she’s so much more than just Hermione Granger.

8) Psy’s 2012 hit “Gangnam Style” reaches 2 billion views

Boys and girls, here’s your most viewed YouTube video of all time. In June of this year, the music video of this 2012 K-pop hit single by South Korean musician Psy became the first YouTube video to reach 2 billion views. Who can resist this catchy tune? Oppa Gangnam Style!

9) ‘Hey Joe Show’: Young Americans Speak Fluent Bisaya

In this mind-bending video uploaded in October, 5 young Americans star in a humorous Bisaya YouTube show. If you haven’t already, check out their videos for a really good laugh, whether you understand the tongue or not!

10) Fil-Am Transgender Model and Activist Geena Rocero on TED Talk

Geena Rocero may look like a typical fashion model but the founder of Gender Proud has an amazing story to tell. In her TED Talk March of this year, she came out as a transgender woman. Watch her moving speech below or read the transcript of her speech, which already reached over 2 million views.

(Also read: Geena Rocero on #RapplerProfiles)

BONUS: The Interview

Taking in $1 million in ticket sales on Christmas Day alone, this satirical film notorious for igniting the ire of North Korean officials is undoubtedly one of the hottest movies of 2014. It comes as no surprise, then, that it’s topping the charts at Youtube Movies as of this writing. 

What do you think of these choices? Did we miss anything? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below! – Rappler.com