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2010s

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The 2010s refers to the decade spanning from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2019.

Tahrir Square during 8 February 2011
Tahrir Square during 8 February 2011

This period is often called the '10s, the Tens, or the Tweens. It was a time of massive shifts in technology, politics, and the global economy. The decade began as the world worked to recover from the Great Recession. While many economies eventually grew, this recovery happened unevenly across different nations.

Wallst14occupy
Wallst14occupy

This unevenness meant some regions prospered while others faced deep instability.

Economic growth in the latter half of the decade was driven by several factors. Strong consumer spending and increased investment in infrastructure helped many countries. New technologies also played a major role in fueling this global recovery. However, socioeconomic crises caused significant disruption in specific areas. In the Arab world, political revolutions broke out in Tunisia, Egypt, and Bahrain.

Arab Spring and Regional Conflict Map
Arab Spring and Regional Conflict Map

These events, known as the Arab Spring, also led to civil wars in Libya, Syria, and Yemen. Meanwhile, Europe struggled to manage a pronounced debt crisis early in the decade.

Technology fundamentally changed how humans communicate and consume media. Smartphones became widespread and began replacing desktop computers for many users. Internet coverage grew significantly, rising from 29% to 54% of the global population. This growth was supported by advancements in 4G broadband and cloud computing. Digital platforms changed the entertainment industry through new models of distribution. Cable TV providers saw a decline in subscribers as people became "cord cutters." Users switched to online streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Disney+.

Music also transformed through streaming services like Spotify, SoundCloud, and Apple Music.

Cultural trends and digital connectivity created new social phenomena. The rise of social media facilitated movements like the Me Too movement. It also gave rise to concepts like "slacktivism" and "cancel culture." Information became more accessible but also more controversial through groups like WikiLeaks. The whistleblower Edward Snowden also raised global awareness regarding government surveillance and privacy. In the digital space, website popularity shifted dramatically. Wikipedia grew from the 9th to the 5th most popular site, nearly sextupling its visits. Meanwhile, Yahoo fell from the 1st to the 9th most popular site, losing two-thirds of its monthly visits.

Global power dynamics shifted as nations competed for influence. The United States maintained its status as a superpower during this time. However, China emerged as a powerful force by expanding its influence in Africa and the South China Sea.

Xi Jinping 2019
Xi Jinping 2019

China's economic initiatives and military reforms led to a trade war with the United States. In 2014, Russia asserted itself by annexing Crimea from Ukraine.

Crimea (orthographic projection)
Crimea (orthographic projection)

Conflict also arose from the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. This extremist organization erased the border between Syria and Iraq in 2014. This led to a multinational military intervention to defeat them. By March 2019, the group was militarily and territorially defeated.

Environmental changes became a central concern for the global community. Global warming became more noticeable through extreme weather and record temperatures. The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) rose from 390 to 410 PPM during the decade.

In response, the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015 to address climate change. This period also saw a global climate youth movement form to demand action. The decade was marked by several major natural disasters. These included the 2010 Haiti earthquake and the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

Other events included the 2015 Nepal earthquake and devastating tropical cyclones like Haiyan.

Demographic and social changes shaped the human experience of the 2010s. The world population grew from 6.9 billion to 7.7 billion people. During these ten years, there were approximately 1.4 billion births and 560 million deaths. Social attitudes also shifted, with LGBT rights making substantial progress in developed countries. In the arts, K-pop, Latin music, and trap gained mainstream success. In film, superhero movies became leaders, with Avengers: Endgame becoming the highest-grossing film ever. The decade concluded with the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in Wuhan, China, which would soon affect the entire world.

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🖼️ Images & Media (42)
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Ruins of Donetsk International airport (16).jpg
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Arab Spring and Regional Conflict Map.svg
File:Tahrir Square during 8 February 2011.jpg
Tahrir Square during 8 February 2011.jpg
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NTC fighters claim Bani Walid.jpg
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Iran negotiations about Iran's nuclear.jpg
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