The 12 Most Viral Web Stories of 2008

When I am not working on HuffPost, I run a site called BuzzFeed that tracks the web's obsessions in real time. Here is our 2008 report on the most viral, buzzy web stories of the year. Enjoy!

1. Obama Shirtless

Obviously Obama's victory was an inspirational moment in American history. But history can't compete with the web frenzy that ensued each time Obama was photographed shirtless!

Presidential Porn

Obama Shirtless

2. Miley Cyrus Half Naked

Obama was not the only one taking off his top in 2008. This was the year that Miley Cyrus replaced Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and Britney Spears at the web’s favorite underaged, half-naked celebrity pop star.

Miley Cyrus
in Vanity Fair

Miley Cyrus
Wet T-Shirt Pics

Miley Cyrus
Bikini Photos

3. The Sarah Palin Phenomenon

HuffPost readers will not be surprised that Sarah Palin was a total and complete web sensation in 2008. Web surfers wanted to know all about her legs, her family, her SAT scores, her SNL impersonator, her porn star impersonator, and her beauty queen past.

Sarah Palin
vs. Tina Fay

Sarah Palin’s Legs

Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper & Trig Palin

Sarah Palin’s
SAT Scores

Sarah “Paylin”

Miss Alaska 1984

4. Zombie McCain

Senator McCain was also big in 2008 (although not nearly as big as his running mate or opponent). McCain’s his big online moment came when he transforming himself into a brain eating Zombie.

McCain As Zombie

Photoshopped
Zombie McCain

5. Disaster Girl

Most of the catastrophes in 2008 (and throughout history) were caused by one evil little girl.

Disaster Girl

6. The Montauk Monster

Still an unsolved mystery - and isn’t it better that way?

Dead Monster Washes Ashore

New Photo of the Montauk Monster

7. Throwing Shoes At Bush

The web changed forever the moment that Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at President Bush. Or at least it changed for two or three days as the animated gifs and games flooded the Internet.

Throwing Stuff at Bush

Bush Shoe Attack Flash Games!

8. Lois Feldman

The web LOVES Lois Feldman. Why? Because she had sex in a stadium bathroom during a football game with someone who wasn't her husband while a crowd gathered and cheered. Oops.

Lois Feldman

9. The Consequences of Gay Marriage Chart

Finally the Internet got a simple chart that clearly explained the consequences of Gay Marriage.

Consequences of Gay Marriage

10. The Authentic Women’s Penis Size Preference Chart

Women think this chart is really funny but men don’t seem to like it.

The Authentic Women’s Penis Size Preference Chart

11. Chuck E. Cheese Bands Wants Love In The Club

Usher’s music performed by the Chuck E. Cheese band.

Chuck E. Cheese Band Performs Usher Song

12. Russian Cheerleaders

If the cold war was settled by a cheerleading battle instead of the arms race, apparently the Russians would have won.

Russian Cheerleaders

And for what is going viral right now check out BuzzFeed.com or the widget on the front of Huffington Post.

Comments

[Takae]

12:31 PM on 01/03/2009

I remember reading about Lois Feldman. I felt sorry mostly for her.

[jdmba]

11:16 PM on 01/02/2009

The size chart is funny, but shouldn't the "Circumfer­ence" axis read "centimete­rs" or "millilete­rs" rather than inches?

[chickenpieeggs]

12:11 PM on 01/03/2009

This is still our favorite YouTube video:

http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=jo5cCmbnW­Tc

[Wilsonfisk89]

04:54 PM on 01/02/2009

Buzzfeed is a fantastic site, you guys do great work, keep it up.

[CrabbyGolightly]

11:53 AM on 01/01/2009

Jonah, I feel cheated! I combined two of your viral hits together in one pick and you didn't include it in your roundup! I want my just desserts!

http://www­.buzzfeed.­com/crabby­golightly?­p=3&z=14rj­mf

[lisakaz2]

02:03 AM on 01/01/2009

I can't say I've seen all of these things but I did want to say that it wouldn't surprise me if SP's SAT scores weren't much better than these if these aren't real. Her transfers between several kinda non-descri­pt colleges suggests as much.

[weatherwaxx]

10:01 PM on 12/31/2008

If you want to know why women get a chuckle out of the size chart, take a look at the back of a package of pantyhose.

[Bitsko]

02:54 PM on 12/31/2008

Thanks for the laughs, Jonah!