YouTube Rewind, the company’s annual end-of-year tribute to creators, trends, and moments that defined the platform, will not happen this year.
The annual Rewind videos celebrate YouTube’s biggest moments and trends each year, as well as its enormous community. However, “2020 has been different,” the platform said in a statement. “It doesn’t feel right to carry on as if it weren’t. So, we’re taking a break from Rewind this year.” YouTube went on to thank its legions of creators for entertaining viewers and helping them to cope in this pandemic-ridden year.
While many people were stuck at home because of the pandemic, YouTube saw surges in usage as more people spent time streaming video online. By the end of March, views on videos that centered on “with me”-stylized content (get ready with me, work out with me, study with me) saw massive increases in viewership, according to the company. Live-streaming also picked up on YouTube as well as on other platforms like Twitch and Facebook.
YouTube did not say if Rewind will return for 2021.
